Durham Yard, south of the Strand, London, took its name from Durham House built in the 14th century for the Bishops of Durham. In 1660 it was largely demolished and the residual space, Durham Court, became an area occupied by small traders and artisans. By the mid-18th century it had declined into a virtual slum prior to becoming the site for the Adam brothers' Adelphi, begun in 1768. The ruined tower in the drawing had probably been part of the chapel of Durham House. There are pencil drawings of it by Joseph Farington who also studied under Wilson from 1763 to 1766 on pages 3 and 61 of his 1765 sketchbook at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.
