Adam, William, & Co

Sectors:

  • Construction Other construction & civil engineering exc railways, roads & inland navigations
  • Property activities Residential property development & management

Notes:

Established 1764 as property developers and builders by the sons of the architect, William Adam, c1689-1748. They were John, Robert, James and William, the latter being primarily responsible for the management of the business. From the start it was a very large business. Their first project was the development of the Adelphi, close to the Thames in central London, as a fashionable residential area between 1768 and 1775. They continued property development, eg Fitzroy Square, but also speculated in high risk projects such as a patent for the application of stucco and the Battersea & Sand End Co, formed to manufacture saltpetre. On many projects they lost heavily and in 1801, when only William was still living, the business was bankrupt

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