Junior Athenaeum
Encyclopedia
The Junior Athenaeum Club was a now defunct gentlemen's club
formerly in Piccadilly
, London. It was founded in 1864 and occupied the house once inhabited by the Duke of Newcastle, and which had been built at great cost by his father-in-law, the late Henry Thomas Hope
. Originally called 'Hope House', it was built between 1849-50. On its completion Charles Dickens
remarked on its extravagant interior.
The Duke of Newcastle sold 'Hope House' to the Junior Athenaeum Club in 1864. Its membership was made up of members of both Houses of Parliament, members of the universities, fellows of the learned and scientific Societies, and gentlemen connected with literature, science, and art; the members were elected by ballot
. The club's rules stated that “No ballot shall be valid unless at least twenty members actually vote. One black ball shall annul ten votes, a tie shall exclude.” The entrance fee was £31 10s., with an annual subscription of £10 10s.
The club survived into the 1930s, when its building was bought and converted into a luxury Art Deco
apartment block called The Athenaeum. Today, the building is occupied by The Athenaeum Hotel.
Gentlemen's club
A gentlemen's club is a members-only private club of a type originally set up by and for British upper class men in the eighteenth century, and popularised by English upper-middle class men and women in the late nineteenth century. Today, some are more open about the gender and social status of...
formerly in Piccadilly
Piccadilly
Piccadilly is a major street in central London, running from Hyde Park Corner in the west to Piccadilly Circus in the east. It is completely within the city of Westminster. The street is part of the A4 road, London's second most important western artery. St...
, London. It was founded in 1864 and occupied the house once inhabited by the Duke of Newcastle, and which had been built at great cost by his father-in-law, the late Henry Thomas Hope
Henry Thomas Hope
Henry Thomas Hope was a British MP and patron of the arts.-Biography:He was the eldest of Thomas Hope and Louisa de la Poer Beresford's three sons, but was estranged from his brothers when he inherited their father's art collections, wealth and property along with...
. Originally called 'Hope House', it was built between 1849-50. On its completion Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
remarked on its extravagant interior.
The Duke of Newcastle sold 'Hope House' to the Junior Athenaeum Club in 1864. Its membership was made up of members of both Houses of Parliament, members of the universities, fellows of the learned and scientific Societies, and gentlemen connected with literature, science, and art; the members were elected by ballot
Ballot
A ballot is a device used to record choices made by voters. Each voter uses one ballot, and ballots are not shared. In the simplest elections, a ballot may be a simple scrap of paper on which each voter writes in the name of a candidate, but governmental elections use pre-printed to protect the...
. The club's rules stated that “No ballot shall be valid unless at least twenty members actually vote. One black ball shall annul ten votes, a tie shall exclude.” The entrance fee was £31 10s., with an annual subscription of £10 10s.
The club survived into the 1930s, when its building was bought and converted into a luxury Art Deco
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
apartment block called The Athenaeum. Today, the building is occupied by The Athenaeum Hotel.