Collection GB 0074 LMA/4572 - BOODLE'S CLUB

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0074 LMA/4572

Title

BOODLE'S CLUB

Date(s)

  • 1762-2009 (Creation)

Level of description

Collection

Extent and medium

3.75 linear metres.

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Boodle's is a gentlemen's club founded in 1762 by Lord Shelburne (who later became Prime Minister) and other individuals who were opposed to many of the key government policies of the day. They met regularly at a tavern at 49-51 Pall Mall to discuss political issues and exchange ideas. The tavern was owned by the coffee house proprietor William Almack and the principal waiter was Edward Boodle. It is believed at some point Boodle took over the tavern and this is why the club became known as Boodle's.

In 1783, the club moved to 28 Saint James's Street, which was designed by John Crunden in 1775 and originally used by the Savoir Vivre Club. The ground floor was renovated by John Buonarotti Papworth between 1821 and 1834. It has a very fine interior including a beautiful eighteenth century saloon.

Until 1897, Boodle's was a proprietary club meaning it was run for the profit of the owner under the direction of a board of managers. Since 1897, Boodle's has been owned and run by the members.

In the early days, Boodle's was not only a political club but also a place for wining and dining, gaming and betting. In the nineteenth century, the club became less political. The club is now a place where members can meet, dine and engage in social activities.

Members have included David Hume; Adam Smith; Edward Gibbon; William Cavendish, 5th Duke of Devonshire; Charles Fox; Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington; William Wilberforce; Beau Brummell; Ian Fleming; David Niven; John Profumo and Julian Fellowes. Winston Churchill was an honorary member.

Archival history

GB 0074 LMA/4572 1762-2009 Collection 3.75 linear metres. Boodle's Club , members' club

Boodle's is a gentlemen's club founded in 1762 by Lord Shelburne (who later became Prime Minister) and other individuals who were opposed to many of the key government policies of the day. They met regularly at a tavern at 49-51 Pall Mall to discuss political issues and exchange ideas. The tavern was owned by the coffee house proprietor William Almack and the principal waiter was Edward Boodle. It is believed at some point Boodle took over the tavern and this is why the club became known as Boodle's.

In 1783, the club moved to 28 Saint James's Street, which was designed by John Crunden in 1775 and originally used by the Savoir Vivre Club. The ground floor was renovated by John Buonarotti Papworth between 1821 and 1834. It has a very fine interior including a beautiful eighteenth century saloon.

Until 1897, Boodle's was a proprietary club meaning it was run for the profit of the owner under the direction of a board of managers. Since 1897, Boodle's has been owned and run by the members.

In the early days, Boodle's was not only a political club but also a place for wining and dining, gaming and betting. In the nineteenth century, the club became less political. The club is now a place where members can meet, dine and engage in social activities.

Members have included David Hume; Adam Smith; Edward Gibbon; William Cavendish, 5th Duke of Devonshire; Charles Fox; Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington; William Wilberforce; Beau Brummell; Ian Fleming; David Niven; John Profumo and Julian Fellowes. Winston Churchill was an honorary member.

Records deposited in 2010 with one additional item gifted in 2015.

Records of Boodle's Club. The collection includes club books; registers of managers; rule books; minutes of the general committee, management committee, wine committee and debenture holders; papers and correspondence of the chairmen; signature books; candidates books; temporary honorary members books; registers of subscriptions; lists of members; bedroom reservation books; betting books; card books; minutes, accounts, papers and correspondence of masters of foxhounds committee; record of golfing society matches; papers relating to members' trips; papers relating to royal events; members' requirements books; weighing books; beverage stock books; sale particulars; papers relating to lease; plans, papers and photographs relating to building work; inventories and valuations; library catalogue, photographs of exterior and interior of 28 Saint James's Street; engraving plates and proofs for Christmas card designs; menus; invitations; guides

Please note that access to this collection is only by written consent of the depositor.

These records are arranged as follows:

LMA/4572/A: Proprietary Club: Administration;
LMA/4572/B: Members' Club: Administration;
LMA/4572/C: Chairman;
LMA/4572/D: Members;
LMA/4572/E: Staff;
LMA/4572/F: Finance;
LMA/4572/G: Stock;
LMA/4572/H: Property;
LMA/4572/I: Ephemera, Photographs and Printed Material.

Access by written permission only.

Copyright to this collection rests with the depositor.
English

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

See also Brook's Club (ACC/2371), Army and Navy Club (LMA/4179) and Travellers' Club (LMA/4519).

For more information see Boodle's 1762-1962. A Short History by Roger Fulford, 1962 (42.6 BOO) and Boodle's Apocrypha: A Story of Men and Their Club in London by Stephen R. Hill, 2009 (42.6 HIL)
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997. Prepared May to September 2011, updated May 2015 City of Westminster Boodle's Club , members' club Sport Ball sports Entertainment Golf Drinking establishments Cultural heritage Customs and traditions Hunting Fox hunting Gambling Leisure Leisure time activities Clubs Members' clubs London England UK Western Europe Europe Pall Mall Piccadilly Westminster

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Records deposited in 2010 with one additional item gifted in 2015.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Records of Boodle's Club. The collection includes club books; registers of managers; rule books; minutes of the general committee, management committee, wine committee and debenture holders; papers and correspondence of the chairmen; signature books; candidates books; temporary honorary members books; registers of subscriptions; lists of members; bedroom reservation books; betting books; card books; minutes, accounts, papers and correspondence of masters of foxhounds committee; record of golfing society matches; papers relating to members' trips; papers relating to royal events; members' requirements books; weighing books; beverage stock books; sale particulars; papers relating to lease; plans, papers and photographs relating to building work; inventories and valuations; library catalogue, photographs of exterior and interior of 28 Saint James's Street; engraving plates and proofs for Christmas card designs; menus; invitations; guides

Please note that access to this collection is only by written consent of the depositor.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

These records are arranged as follows:

LMA/4572/A: Proprietary Club: Administration;
LMA/4572/B: Members' Club: Administration;
LMA/4572/C: Chairman;
LMA/4572/D: Members;
LMA/4572/E: Staff;
LMA/4572/F: Finance;
LMA/4572/G: Stock;
LMA/4572/H: Property;
LMA/4572/I: Ephemera, Photographs and Printed Material.

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Access by written permission only.

Conditions governing reproduction

Copyright to this collection rests with the depositor.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

See also Brook's Club (ACC/2371), Army and Navy Club (LMA/4179) and Travellers' Club (LMA/4519).

Finding aids

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Subject access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

London Metropolitan Archives

Rules and/or conventions used

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area