Turf Club (Gentlemen's Club)
Encyclopedia
The Turf Club is a London
gentlemen's club
, established in 1861. It is currently located at 5 Carlton House Terrace
.
, officially sanctioned by the Portland Club in 1864.
Members had originally wished to call themselves simply The Club until it was discovered that they had been beaten to it: a hundred years or so earlier the name had been claimed by Dr Johnson and Sir Joshua Reynolds for their renowned dining society.
The Turf Club moved in 1875 to the corner of Piccadilly
and Clarges Street. The new building at 85 Piccadilly, designed by John Norton
, remained the clubhouse for ninety years until the Club decided to sell the extremely valuable freehold.
In 1965, the Turf Club moved to its current home at 5 Carlton House Terrace
, SW1Y 5AQ, overlooking the Mall
. Carlton House Terrace
itself was designed and built by John Nash
, the famous Regency architect, between 1827 and 1833. The lease on Number 5 was held by the Earls of Caledon
from 1830 until 1929, and its residents included Lord Palmerston; John Hay
, the U.S. Ambassador
; Emerald, Lady Cunard
(mother of Nancy Cunard
); and Harry Gordon Selfridge
, founder of Selfridges
.
Some quotations about this English aristocratic bastion include:
In December 2008, it was reported by the Daily Mail
that the Princes William
and Harry, sons of the Prince of Wales
, had been given membership to the 'patrician haunt'. In the same article it was written that the annual members' fee was £1000.
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...
, established in 1861. It is currently located at 5 Carlton House Terrace
Carlton House Terrace
Carlton House Terrace refers to a street in the St. James's district of the City of Westminster in London, England, and in particular to two terraces of white stucco-faced houses on the south side of the street overlooking St. James's Park. These terraces were built in 1827–32 to overall designs by...
.
History
Founded in 1861, the Turf Club began life as the Arlington, with premises in Bennett Street, Piccadilly.Nevill, op. cit., p. 218 It was while there that members drew up the laws of whistWhist
Whist is a classic English trick-taking card game which was played widely in the 18th and 19th centuries. It derives from the 16th century game of Trump or Ruff, via Ruff and Honours...
, officially sanctioned by the Portland Club in 1864.
Members had originally wished to call themselves simply The Club until it was discovered that they had been beaten to it: a hundred years or so earlier the name had been claimed by Dr Johnson and Sir Joshua Reynolds for their renowned dining society.
The Turf Club moved in 1875 to the corner of 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...
and Clarges Street. The new building at 85 Piccadilly, designed by John Norton
John Norton (architect)
John Norton was an English architect who designed country houses, churches and a number of commercial buildings. He was born and educated in Bristol...
, remained the clubhouse for ninety years until the Club decided to sell the extremely valuable freehold.
In 1965, the Turf Club moved to its current home at 5 Carlton House Terrace
Carlton House Terrace
Carlton House Terrace refers to a street in the St. James's district of the City of Westminster in London, England, and in particular to two terraces of white stucco-faced houses on the south side of the street overlooking St. James's Park. These terraces were built in 1827–32 to overall designs by...
, SW1Y 5AQ, overlooking the Mall
The Mall (London)
The Mall in central London is the road running from Buckingham Palace at its western end to Admiralty Arch and on to Trafalgar Square at its eastern end. It then crosses Spring Gardens, which was where the Metropolitan Board of Works and, for a number of years, the London County Council were...
. Carlton House Terrace
Carlton House Terrace
Carlton House Terrace refers to a street in the St. James's district of the City of Westminster in London, England, and in particular to two terraces of white stucco-faced houses on the south side of the street overlooking St. James's Park. These terraces were built in 1827–32 to overall designs by...
itself was designed and built by John Nash
John Nash (architect)
John Nash was a British architect responsible for much of the layout of Regency London.-Biography:Born in Lambeth, London, the son of a Welsh millwright, Nash trained with the architect Sir Robert Taylor. He established his own practice in 1777, but his career was initially unsuccessful and...
, the famous Regency architect, between 1827 and 1833. The lease on Number 5 was held by the Earls of Caledon
Earl of Caledon
Earl of Caledon, of Caledon, County Tyrone, is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1800 for James Alexander, 1st Viscount Caledon. He was a merchant who had made an enormous fortune in India. He also represented the constituency of Londonderry City in the Irish House of Commons...
from 1830 until 1929, and its residents included Lord Palmerston; John Hay
John Hay
John Milton Hay was an American statesman, diplomat, author, journalist, and private secretary and assistant to Abraham Lincoln.-Early life:...
, the U.S. Ambassador
United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom
The office of United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom was traditionally, and still is very much so today due to the Special Relationship, the most prestigious position in the United States Foreign Service...
; Emerald, Lady Cunard
Maud Cunard
Maud Alice Burke , later Lady Cunard, known as Emerald, was an American-born, London-based society hostess. She had long relationships with the novelist George Moore and the conductor Thomas Beecham, and was the muse of the former and a champion of and fund-raiser for the latter...
(mother of Nancy Cunard
Nancy Cunard
Nancy Clara Cunard was a writer, heiress and political activist. She was born into the British upper class but strongly rejected her family's values, devoting much of her life to fighting racism and fascism...
); and Harry Gordon Selfridge
Harry Gordon Selfridge
Harry Gordon Selfridge, Sr. was an American-born retail magnate, who founded the British department store Selfridges.-Early years:...
, founder of Selfridges
Selfridges
Selfridges, AKA Selfridges & Co, is a chain of high end department stores in the United Kingdom. It was founded by Harry Gordon Selfridge. The flagship store in London's Oxford Street is the second largest shop in the UK and was opened on 15 March 1909.More recently, three other stores have been...
.
Some quotations about this English aristocratic bastion include:
- "There are . . . few members who are not of particularly blue blood who have succeeded in passing the portals of the Turf Club, which is a pretty close preserve for the aristocracy." [1904]
- "Probably the most exclusive club in London." [1911]
- "Socially it was extremely pleasant, the majority of the members being principally engaged in amusing themselves." [1920]
- "At the turn of the [Twentieth] century, when many clubs were forced to admit a wider range of members, the Turf remained notably exclusive. It has always been particularly well off for Dukes." [1979]
- "A younger edition of White'sWhite'sWhite's is a London gentlemen's club, established at 4 Chesterfield Street in 1693 by Italian immigrant Francesco Bianco . Originally it was established to sell hot chocolate, a rare and expensive commodity at the time...
." [1979]
- "It is the most beautiful gentlemen's club in London and has the youngest membership." [1984]
In December 2008, it was reported by the Daily Mail
Daily Mail
The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
that the Princes William
Prince William of Wales
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge KG , is the elder son of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Diana, Princess of Wales, and third eldest grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
and Harry, sons of the Prince of Wales
Charles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
, had been given membership to the 'patrician haunt'. In the same article it was written that the annual members' fee was £1000.
See also
External links
- Turf Club.co.uk - official website (now shut down, as the members "don't want it")
- "Princes go to ground at the Turf Club"