St James's Club
Encyclopedia
The St James's Club was a London
gentlemen's club
which operated between 1857 and 1978.
statesman
the second Earl Granville
and by the Marchese d'Azeglio
, Minister of Sardinia
to the Court of St. James's
, after a dispute at the Travellers' Club. Most members of the diplomatic corps
resigned from the Travellers' and joined the new club. The club's members continued to be largely diplomats and authors, and it became the home of the Dilettanti Society.
The name St James's Club had previously been used by the Travellers' Club. When the pioneer of photography William Fox Talbot
(1800–1877) was elected in 1825 to the club at 106 Pall Mall, London
, it was using that name.
According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica article Club, in 1902, the club was the smallest London gentlemen's club in terms of numbers -
, London. By 1878, it had moved into its clubhouse on Piccadilly
which had previously been Coventry House, the London residence of the Earls of Coventry
since it had been bought by George Coventry, 6th Earl of Coventry
from Sir Hugh Hunlocke in 1764, for 10,000 guineas
. Coventry House had been built in 1761 on the site of an old public house
called 'The Greyhound Inn'. The five-bay structure is neo-Palladian
in style, with alternating pediment
s on the grand floor windows, over a rusticated ground floor. The Palladian window on the side façade lights a handsome staircase. There are ceilings by Robert Adam
in rooms on the piano nobile
. Thomas Cundy
the Elder effected some remodelling, probably in 1810-11.
According to Charles Dickens, Jr
, writing in 1879:
During the Second World War
, the club was briefly the home of Ian Fleming
, the creator of James Bond
.
The club was described by Charles Graves
, writing of London clubs in Leather Armchairs (1963), as "the only one in London, or possibly anywhere else in the world, which has a separate room – and a large one at that – devoted solely to backgammon".
The club was also well known as a London venue for chess matches.
in 1978 and vacated its premises. The grand former club house at 106, Piccadilly, later became the headquarters of The International House network of language schools, founded by John Haycraft. Since October 2007, it has been the London campus of Limkokwing University of Creative Technology
, a private intercontinental university based in Malaysia.
The club has since been revived under the name St James's Club and Hotel, and is based in Park Place, London.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
gentlemen's club
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...
which operated between 1857 and 1978.
Foundation
The club was founded in 1857 by the LiberalLiberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
statesman
Statesman
A statesman is usually a politician or other notable public figure who has had a long and respected career in politics or government at the national and international level. As a term of respect, it is usually left to supporters or commentators to use the term...
the second Earl Granville
Granville Leveson-Gower, 2nd Earl Granville
Granville George Leveson Gower, 2nd Earl Granville KG, PC FRS , styled Lord Leveson until 1846, was a British Liberal statesman...
and by the Marchese d'Azeglio
Vittorio Emanuelle Taparelli
Emanuele Taparelli d'Azeglio was an Italian diplomat and politician born in Turin.-Biography:He served as a Sardinian diplomat and eventually as minister, including postings to Bavaria, Vienna, The Hague, St Petersburg, London and Paris.He was a co-founder of the St James's Club in London in 1857...
, Minister of Sardinia
Kingdom of Sardinia
The Kingdom of Sardinia consisted of the island of Sardinia first as a part of the Crown of Aragon and subsequently the Spanish Empire , and second as a part of the composite state of the House of Savoy . Its capital was originally Cagliari, in the south of the island, and later Turin, on the...
to the Court of St. James's
Court of St. James's
The Court of St James's is the royal court of the United Kingdom. It previously had the same function in the Kingdom of England and in the Kingdom of Great Britain .-Overview:...
, after a dispute at the Travellers' Club. Most members of the diplomatic corps
Diplomatic corps
The diplomatic corps or corps diplomatique is the collective body of foreign diplomats accredited to a particular country or body.The diplomatic corps may, in certain contexts, refer to the collection of accredited heads of mission who represent their countries in another state or country...
resigned from the Travellers' and joined the new club. The club's members continued to be largely diplomats and authors, and it became the home of the Dilettanti Society.
The name St James's Club had previously been used by the Travellers' Club. When the pioneer of photography William Fox Talbot
William Fox Talbot
William Henry Fox Talbot was a British inventor and a pioneer of photography. He was the inventor of calotype process, the precursor to most photographic processes of the 19th and 20th centuries. He was also a noted photographer who made major contributions to the development of photography as an...
(1800–1877) was elected in 1825 to the club at 106 Pall Mall, London
Pall Mall, London
Pall Mall is a street in the City of Westminster, London, and parallel to The Mall, from St. James's Street across Waterloo Place to the Haymarket; while Pall Mall East continues into Trafalgar Square. The street is a major thoroughfare in the St James's area of London, and a section of the...
, it was using that name.
According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica article Club, in 1902, the club was the smallest London gentlemen's club in terms of numbers -
Premises
The St James's Club was first established in Charles Street, just off the south corner of Berkeley SquareBerkeley Square
Berkeley Square is a town square in the West End of London, England, in the City of Westminster. It was originally laid out in the mid 18th century by architect William Kent...
, London. By 1878, it had moved into its clubhouse on 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...
which had previously been Coventry House, the London residence of the Earls of Coventry
Earl of Coventry
Earl of Coventry is a title that has been created twice in the Peerage of England. It was created for the first time in 1623 in favour of George Villiers, 1st Marquess of Buckingham. He was made Duke of Buckingham at the same time. For more information on this creation of the earldom, see the...
since it had been bought by George Coventry, 6th Earl of Coventry
George Coventry, 6th Earl of Coventry
George William Coventry, 6th Earl of Coventry , known as Viscount Deerhurst from 1744 to 1751, was a British peer and Tory politician....
from Sir Hugh Hunlocke in 1764, for 10,000 guineas
Guinea (British coin)
The guinea is a coin that was minted in the Kingdom of England and later in the Kingdom of Great Britain and the United Kingdom between 1663 and 1813...
. Coventry House had been built in 1761 on the site of an old public house
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
called 'The Greyhound Inn'. The five-bay structure is neo-Palladian
Palladian architecture
Palladian architecture is a European style of architecture derived from the designs of the Venetian architect Andrea Palladio . The term "Palladian" normally refers to buildings in a style inspired by Palladio's own work; that which is recognised as Palladian architecture today is an evolution of...
in style, with alternating pediment
Pediment
A pediment is a classical architectural element consisting of the triangular section found above the horizontal structure , typically supported by columns. The gable end of the pediment is surrounded by the cornice moulding...
s on the grand floor windows, over a rusticated ground floor. The Palladian window on the side façade lights a handsome staircase. There are ceilings by Robert Adam
Robert Adam
Robert Adam was a Scottish neoclassical architect, interior designer and furniture designer. He was the son of William Adam , Scotland's foremost architect of the time, and trained under him...
in rooms on the piano nobile
Piano nobile
The piano nobile is the principal floor of a large house, usually built in one of the styles of classical renaissance architecture...
. Thomas Cundy
Thomas Cundy (senior)
Thomas Cundy, the elder was born in Restowrick, St Dennis, Cornwall the eldest son of Peter and Thomasine Cundy. He trained as an architect in Plymouth before starting in practice in Pimlico, London. In 1821 he was appointed surveyor to the Grosvenor family's London estates and was involved in...
the Elder effected some remodelling, probably in 1810-11.
According to Charles Dickens, Jr
Charles Dickens, Jr
Charles Dickens, Jr, born Charles Culliford Boz Dickens , was the first child of the novelist Charles Dickens and his wife Catherine. A failed businessman, he became the editor of his father's magazine All the Year Round, and a successful writer of dictionaries...
, writing in 1879:
During the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the club was briefly the home of Ian Fleming
Ian Fleming
Ian Lancaster Fleming was a British author, journalist and Naval Intelligence Officer.Fleming is best known for creating the fictional British spy James Bond and for a series of twelve novels and nine short stories about the character, one of the biggest-selling series of fictional books of...
, the creator of James Bond
James Bond
James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
.
The club was described by Charles Graves
Charles Patrick Graves
Charles Ranke Patrick Graves was a journalist and writer.Born in Wimbledon, England, he worked on the Sunday Express, Daily Mail and many other newspapers. He published 46 books in all including the Thin Blue Line or Adventures in the RAF. His hobbies were golf and gin rummy...
, writing of London clubs in Leather Armchairs (1963), as "the only one in London, or possibly anywhere else in the world, which has a separate room – and a large one at that – devoted solely to backgammon".
The club was also well known as a London venue for chess matches.
End of the Club
After the Second World War, the gentlemen's clubs of London fell into decline. Facing financial problems, the club merged with Brooks's ClubBrooks's
Brooks's is one of London's most exclusive gentlemen's clubs, founded in 1764 by 27 men, including four dukes. From its inception, it was the meeting place for Whigs of the highest social order....
in 1978 and vacated its premises. The grand former club house at 106, Piccadilly, later became the headquarters of The International House network of language schools, founded by John Haycraft. Since October 2007, it has been the London campus of Limkokwing University of Creative Technology
Limkokwing University Of Creative Technology
Limkokwing University of Creative Technology is a private international university with a presence across three continents: Africa, Europe and Asia...
, a private intercontinental university based in Malaysia.
The club has since been revived under the name St James's Club and Hotel, and is based in Park Place, London.
Notable members
- Granville Leveson-Gower, 2nd Earl GranvilleGranville Leveson-Gower, 2nd Earl GranvilleGranville George Leveson Gower, 2nd Earl Granville KG, PC FRS , styled Lord Leveson until 1846, was a British Liberal statesman...
(1815–1891), LiberalLiberal Party (UK)The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
statesmanStatesmanA statesman is usually a politician or other notable public figure who has had a long and respected career in politics or government at the national and international level. As a term of respect, it is usually left to supporters or commentators to use the term... - Vittorio Emanuelle Taparelli, Marchese d'Azeglio (1816–1890), Minister of SardiniaKingdom of SardiniaThe Kingdom of Sardinia consisted of the island of Sardinia first as a part of the Crown of Aragon and subsequently the Spanish Empire , and second as a part of the composite state of the House of Savoy . Its capital was originally Cagliari, in the south of the island, and later Turin, on the...
- Sir Osbert SitwellOsbert SitwellSir Francis Osbert Sacheverell Sitwell, 5th Baronet, was an English writer. His elder sister was Dame Edith Louisa Sitwell and his younger brother was Sir Sacheverell Sitwell; like them he devoted his life to art and literature....
(1892–1969), author - Oliver St John GogartyOliver St. John GogartyOliver Joseph St John Gogarty was an Irish poet, author, otolaryngologist, athlete, politician, and well-known conversationalist, who served as the inspiration for Buck Mulligan in James Joyce's novel Ulysses....
(1878–1957), Anglo-Irish author - Sir Harry Verney, 4th BaronetSir Harry Verney, 4th BaronetLieutenant-Colonel Sir Harry Calvert Williams Verney, 4th Baronet , was a British Liberal politician.Verney succeeded in the baronetcy in May 1910. In the December general election of the same year he was returned to Parliament for Buckingham, a seat he held until 1918. He served under H. H...
MPMember of ParliamentA Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(1881–1974), politician - Victor Hay, 21st Earl of ErrollVictor Hay, 21st Earl of ErrollVictor Alexander Sereld Hay, 21st Earl of Erroll and 4th Baron Kilmarnock, KCMG , was a British diplomat and briefly a member of the House of Lords.-Family:...
(1870–1928), diplomat - Sir Murdoch MacdonaldMurdoch MacdonaldSir Murdoch Macdonald was a British politician.Born in Inverness, Macdonald was educated at Farraline Park Institution, Inverness....
(1866–1957), politician and engineer - Arthur Rowley, 8th Baron LangfordBaron LangfordBaron Langford, of Summerhill in the County of Meath, is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created on 1 July 1800 for Clotworthy Rowley, who had earlier represented Trim and County Meath in the Irish House of Commons...
(1870–1953), diplomat - Anatole de GrunwaldAnatole de GrunwaldAnatole "Tolly" de Grunwald was a British film producer and screenwriter.Anatole de Grunwald was born in Petrograd , Russia, the son of a diplomat in the service of Tsar Nicholas II. He was seven years old when his father was forced to flee with his family to England during the 1917 Bolshevik...
(1910–1967), film producer - Lord Ivor Spencer-ChurchillLord Ivor Spencer-ChurchillThe Lord Ivor Charles Spencer-Churchill was the younger son of the 9th Duke of Marlborough and his first wife, the former Consuelo Vanderbilt, an American railroad heiress....
(1898–1956), cousin of Winston ChurchillWinston ChurchillSir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice... - Evelyn WaughEvelyn WaughArthur Evelyn St. John Waugh , known as Evelyn Waugh, was an English writer of novels, travel books and biographies. He was also a prolific journalist and reviewer...
(1903–1966), author