Public Schools Club
Encyclopedia
The Public Schools Club is a former London
gentlemen's club
.
There were technically two Public Schools Clubs. The first, founded in 1909 and based on Albemarle Street
, disbanded during World War I
in the light of the heavy casualties sustained among its membership.
After the war the club was re-founded in 1920 in Curzon Street
, Mayfair
. A 1937 road-widening scheme (linked to the 1935 road alterations which necessitated demolishing half of Lansdowne House
and creating the Lansdowne Club
) forced the club out of its premises, and it moved to 100 Piccadilly
, where it remained for the rest of its existence.
Suffering from dwindling membership, the club closed in 1972, merging with the East India Club
, and moving to the East India's premises in St James's Square. However, the merger has proved to be something of a takeover, as the East India naturally has no remaining members from the long-defunct East India Company
, and the Public Schools Club has imported a steady stream of members. Indeed, the East India currently claims some 40% of its members come under the 'J7' rule imported from the Public Schools Club, whereby students leaving their public school at 18 pay a £330 (as of 2009) fee in exchange for membership until the age of 25.
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...
.
There were technically two Public Schools Clubs. The first, founded in 1909 and based on Albemarle Street
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...
, disbanded during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
in the light of the heavy casualties sustained among its membership.
After the war the club was re-founded in 1920 in Curzon Street
Curzon Street
Curzon Street is located within the exclusive Mayfair district of London. The street is located entirely within the W1J postcode district and is 400 yards to the north west of Green Park tube station...
, Mayfair
Mayfair
Mayfair is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster.-History:Mayfair is named after the annual fortnight-long May Fair that took place on the site that is Shepherd Market today...
. A 1937 road-widening scheme (linked to the 1935 road alterations which necessitated demolishing half of Lansdowne House
Lansdowne House
Lansdowne House is a building to the southwest of Berkeley Square in central London, England. It was designed by Robert Adam as a private house and for most of its time as a residence it belonged to the Petty family, Marquesses of Lansdowne. Since 1935, it has been the home of the Lansdowne Club....
and creating the Lansdowne Club
Lansdowne Club
The Lansdowne Club is a London private club, which was established in 1935. It is located at 9 Fitzmaurice Place, near Berkeley Square, Mayfair, London, England....
) forced the club out of its premises, and it moved to 100 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...
, where it remained for the rest of its existence.
Suffering from dwindling membership, the club closed in 1972, merging with the East India Club
East India Club
The East India, Devonshire, Sports and Public Schools' Club, usually known as the East India Club, is a gentlemen's club founded in 1849 and situated at 16 St. James's Square in London...
, and moving to the East India's premises in St James's Square. However, the merger has proved to be something of a takeover, as the East India naturally has no remaining members from the long-defunct East India Company
East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
, and the Public Schools Club has imported a steady stream of members. Indeed, the East India currently claims some 40% of its members come under the 'J7' rule imported from the Public Schools Club, whereby students leaving their public school at 18 pay a £330 (as of 2009) fee in exchange for membership until the age of 25.