Albemarle Club
Encyclopedia
The Albemarle Club was a private members' club at 13 Albemarle Street
, London
, founded in 1874 and open to both men and women. It was considered more bohemian
in character than the more prestigious clubs of the day.
Though successful, it was rocked by scandal
in 1895, when the Marquess of Queensberry burst in, demanding to see Oscar Wilde
, who was a member. Barred from entry by the porter, Queensberry left his calling card with the infamous note "For Oscar Wilde, posing somdomite" (sic). The card led to Wilde's failed libel action and subsequent criminal prosecution.
Because of the club's prominent place in the proceedings, and its being named at the trial, it fell into disrepute, and its membership sharply decreased. Falling on hard times, by World War I it had relocated to 37 Dover Street
, and closed some time thereafter.
The Albemarle Street site is now occupied by Dolada restaurant.
Albemarle Street
Albemarle Street is a street in Mayfair in central London, off Piccadilly. It has historic associations with Lord Byron, whose publisher John Murray was based here, and Oscar Wilde, a member of the Albemarle Club, where an insult he received led to his suing for libel and to his eventual imprisonment...
, 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...
, founded in 1874 and open to both men and women. It was considered more bohemian
Bohemian
A Bohemian is a resident of the former Kingdom of Bohemia, either in a narrow sense as the region of Bohemia proper or in a wider meaning as the whole country, now known as the Czech Republic. The word "Bohemian" was used to denote the Czech people as well as the Czech language before the word...
in character than the more prestigious clubs of the day.
Though successful, it was rocked by scandal
Scandal
A scandal is a widely publicized allegation or set of allegations that damages the reputation of an institution, individual or creed...
in 1895, when the Marquess of Queensberry burst in, demanding to see Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde
Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde was an Irish writer and poet. After writing in different forms throughout the 1880s, he became one of London's most popular playwrights in the early 1890s...
, who was a member. Barred from entry by the porter, Queensberry left his calling card with the infamous note "For Oscar Wilde, posing somdomite" (sic). The card led to Wilde's failed libel action and subsequent criminal prosecution.
Because of the club's prominent place in the proceedings, and its being named at the trial, it fell into disrepute, and its membership sharply decreased. Falling on hard times, by World War I it had relocated to 37 Dover Street
Dover Street
Dover Street is a street in Mayfair, London, England. The street is notable for its Georgian architecture as well as the location of historic London clubs and hotels, which have been frequented by world leaders and historic figures in the arts. It also hosts a number of contemporary art galleries...
, and closed some time thereafter.
The Albemarle Street site is now occupied by Dolada restaurant.