London Clubs: Their History & Treasures

London Clubs: Their History & Treasures

The modern club, with its luxuries and comforts, has its origin in the tavern and coffee-house of a long-past age. The resorts in question have long since entirely changed their character, although they were once important features of London life, and were used by all classes for purposes of conviviality and conversation. The appellation club seems to have come into use at the time when coffee-houses began to be popular in London. The first notable London club, of course, was the Mermaid, in Broad Street, which was supposed to have been founded by Raleigh, and which was the reputed scene of many witty combats between Shakespeare and Ben Jonson. The latter himself originated another clubthe Apollowhich had its meetings at the Devil Tavern, near Temple Bar. In course of time many landlords perceived the advantage which would accrue to their business from the setting apart of special rooms for privileged 2customers; and gradually a number of fairly exclusive clubs came into being. Thus Toms, a coffee-house till 1764, in that year, by a guinea subscription, was easily converted into a fashionable club. In the same way Whites and the Cocoa-tree changed their character from chocolate-house to club. When once a house had customers enough of standing and good repute, well acquainted with each other, it was quite worth while to purchase the power of excluding all but subscribers, and to turn the place into a club; for by such a proceeding undesirable characters, who could obtain constant admission to an open house, were at once kept outside the doors. ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 60472
Author: Nevill, Ralph
Release Date: Oct 12, 2019
Format: eBook
Language: English