Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1762-2009 (Creation)
Level of description
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.
Repository
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
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
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