40-592: The Caledonian Club is a prestigious Scottish-focused London members' club located at 9 Halkin Street SW1, near Belgrave Square in Belgravia , London , SW1. The Club has a significant history intertwined with both the military and civilian facets of British society and continues to serve as a social hub for individuals of Scottish descent or those with an interest in Scottish culture. Although it began as
80-549: A Gentleman's only club, full membership was extended to women in 2010. The Club was founded in 1891 by Scotsman Neville Campbell. Initially a proprietary club (owned by an individual rather than its members), it was located at Waterpark House in Charles II Street , St James's , SW1. Within a few years, due to the popularity of the Club, the premises were changed to 30 Charles Street, St James's , SW1 which had belonged to
120-603: A formal dress code, with jackets, ties and polished black shoes for men, and the equivalent formality for women, however, dress codes are more relaxed on Friday, the weekend and in the summer. In 2012 the Club launched its own tartan, designed by Kinloch Anderson, based on the sett of the Clan Campbell after the founder of the Club, Neville Campbell. Red from the Clan Morrison tartan was included as 9 Halkin Street
160-505: Is 2 hectares (4.9 acres) in size and contains mature plane , chestnut and lime trees, and various shrubs. Its gravel walks were laid in 1854, with privet hedges planted around its perimeter. Wooden pergolas and shelters stand within, and it features a tennis court. The garden is listed Grade II on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens . Sculptures in the gardens include Statue of Christopher Columbus , Statue of Prince Henry
200-540: The Beresford family and at about the same time it became a limited company. After the death of the Club owner, Robertson Lawson, in April 1917, the members purchased the remaining assets of the company, transitioning the club to a member-owned establishment in 1918. The Club was formally inaugurated as a members' club at Derby House, St James's Square, with its first General Meeting held on 8 March 1918. This pivotal change
240-677: The Embassy of Turkey since 1954. In the early part of the 20th century, it was the London home of the Earls of Harewood . 45 Belgrave Square was the home of Caroline Beresford, Duchess of Montrose (1818–1894), who used the pseudonym "Mr Manton", also of Sefton Lodge, Newmarket, a notable racehorse owner, a "wildly extravagant woman" who "strode across the racing scene". It is now the Malaysian High Commission. It featured in
280-786: The First World War . In the Second World War , Derby House was destroyed during the Blitz on 16 November 1940, leading to a temporary relocation to the East India & Sports Club and later to the Devonshire Club . In 1946, under the chairmanship of Donald Black, efforts were made to secure a new clubhouse and the current premises in Halkin Street were acquired. The current building at No. 9 Halkin Street
320-847: The Groucho Club (established in 1985), Soho House (1995) and Home House (1998); similar clubs operate in other cities and countries: for example, the CORE Club was established in New York City in 2005. These typically offer memberships by subscription and are owned and run as commercial concerns. They offer similar facilities such as food, drink, comfortable surroundings, venue hire and in many cases accommodation. Mobile working (using phone and email) had put pressure on traditional London clubs, some of which discouraged use of mobiles and laptops, or discussion of business matters. By contrast, business-oriented private members' clubs combine
360-652: The Royal Family and the British upper class. The Caledonian Club offers a range of first-class facilities and services, including a Dining Room, Drawing Room, Library, Bar, snooker room, outside terrace, small Business Centre, as well as a variety of function rooms that cater to events, meetings, and weddings. The bar of the Club has over 200 whiskies and a growing collection of Scottish gins. Members can also use changing rooms with showers and access to Belgrave Square gardens for tennis and outside gym. For accommodation,
400-662: The West End of London from the late 17th century onwards, were highly exclusive, offering aristocratic and wealthy men a refuge from work and family. The eligibility of potential members depended on their class and gender, with women banned from joining any of them. Early clubs also provided an environment for gambling, illegal outside of members-only establishments. Individuals needed to be formally proposed for membership, and candidates were subject to election by committees which scrutinised individuals' character and suitability. Several private members' clubs for women were established in
440-555: The 1954 film The Million Pound Note , as the spot where the actor Gregory Peck lost the note in the wind. 48 Belgrave Square serves as the residence of the Mexican ambassador . 49 Belgrave Square , also known as Herbert House , was the home of Sidney Herbert, 1st Baron Herbert of Lea , and then Charles Gordon-Lennox, 6th Duke of Richmond . It is currently the residence of the Argentine ambassador. The private communal garden
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#1732773082311480-568: The 20th century, the house was purchased by the British soldier and politician Ernest George Pretyman and his wife, Lady Beatrice, daughter of George Bridgeman, 4th Earl of Bradford . In 1935, after Pretyman's death, it was sold to Grace, Lady Dance . On 12 May 1953, it was reopened by the Duke of Gloucester as the base of the Hispanic and Luso-Brazilian Council, which remained until it moved to 14-15 Belgrave Square in 2013. Since 2021, it has become
520-487: The Club offers 39 en-suite bedrooms to members and their guests. The Club hosts a wide range of events throughout the year, including an annual Burns Night Supper, St Andrew's Dinner and Caledonian Club Ball. The Club has several societies, including: The Club also maintains reciprocal membership arrangements with over 60 other clubs, in the United Kingdom and internationally, including: The Club maintains
560-642: The Colonies, until he died there in 1846; Chips Channon from 1935 to 1958; and later housed the Institute of Directors , followed by the British Plastics Federation . 10 Belgrave Square was the London home of William Cavendish, 7th Duke of Devonshire . 11 Belgrave Square serves as the Embassy of Portugal . 12 Belgrave Square was the home of Gilbert Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, 1st Earl of Ancaster . 13 Belgrave Square
600-529: The Earl was also forced to house his famed "Bridgewater Collection of Pictures" here, using bedrooms, dining rooms, hallways, etc. The collection reopened to the public once it moved back to Bridgewater House in 1851. 19–20 Belgrave Square houses the Bruneian High Commission. Previously, No. 20 was the London home of the 9th Baron Barnard . 21–23 Belgrave Square has been the Embassy of
640-604: The Embassy since 2006, and is also headquarters of the Romanian Cultural Institute in London. 2 Belgrave Square was first leased ( c. 1829) to James Goding , whose Lion Brewery on the south bank of the River Thames was denoted by the iconic South Bank Lion and Twickenham Stadium Lion . Later residents included James Hamilton, 2nd Duke of Abercorn , Edward Balfour and Nathaniel Clayton. In
680-628: The Federal Republic of Germany since 1955. The buildings were leased for 99 years in 1953, and converted into a combined property. 24 Belgrave Square is now the Embassy of Spain . In the early part of the 20th century, it was known as Downshire House and was the London residence of Lord and Lady Pirrie . Lord Pirrie was the chairman of Harland & Wolff , a leading shipbuilding firm located in Belfast , Ireland. One evening in July 1907,
720-508: The Grosvenor family, the Dukes of Westminster . The club has seen various modernizations over the years, including the addition double bedrooms in 1969, a terrace in 1994, and a new five-storey wing with a terrace garden, which was opened by Queen Elizabeth II on St Andrew's Day 2006. The Club's membership included notable individuals such as: The Club also maintains strong links with
760-463: The Navigator and the 1st Marquess of Westminster , a bust of George Basevi , and a sculpture entitled Homage to Leonardo by Italian sculptor Enzo Plazzotta . From its construction until the Second World War the square saw building rentals and longer leases by the upper echelons of capitalists seeking further influence, status or socialising in the capital. Such success was immediate. This
800-599: The Pirries hosted J. Bruce Ismay and his wife Florence for dinner. Ismay was the managing director of White Star Line , one of the main shipping lines of the North Atlantic. Harland and Wolff constructed all of White Star's vessels, with their main rival being Cunard Line . Cunard's newest vessel, the Lusitania , the largest ship in the world, was just two months before entering service. Pirrie and Ismay discussed
840-605: The Second World War the square was used as a tank park; most of the houses were afterwards converted into offices for charities and institutes. The 21st century has seen more domestic leases granted, such as three by the Grosvenor Estate in 2004. The buildings on the square are listed . In this highest category are: 1 Belgrave Square was the official residence of the ambassadors of Romania from 1936 to 2005. The building has continued to host events for
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#1732773082311880-755: The Speedway Control Board. 32 Belgrave Square was an overseas residence of Heidi Horten . 33 Belgrave Square was home to the banker Maurice Ruffer , and later to the Spiritualist Association of Great Britain . 34 Belgrave Square served as the embassy of the German Democratic Republic until German reunification in 1990. It currently houses the British-German Association . 36 Belgrave Square , known as Ingestre House ,
920-478: The college relocated in October 2013, and was home to two MPs, Sir Ralph Howard and Pandeli Ralli . Leontine, Lady Sassoon was in residence from 1929 to 1952. She is said to have held parties for soldiers during the Second World War, while part of the property was used as a Red Cross supply depot. No.17 was taken over by the Institute of Metals in 1956; the college arrived in 1974. 18 Belgrave Square has been
960-423: The cream-coloured projecting corner houses. In addition there are detached mansion houses in three of the corners, and a private central garden. Numbering is anticlockwise from the north: NW terrace, No.s1 to 11; west corner mansion, No.12; SW terrace, No.s13 to 23; south corner mansion, No.24; SE terrace. No.s25 to 36; east corner mansion, No.37; NE terrace No.s38 to 48. The slightly later north corner mansion No.49
1000-683: The home of the Austrian Embassy since 1866. It is the only building of those used by the Austro-Hungarian Empire 's Foreign Service that is still used today by diplomats of the Republic of Austria . Between 1846 and 1851, it was inhabited by Sir Francis Egerton (born Leveson-Gower), the 1st Earl of Ellesmere , and his family. Owing to the rebuilding of Cleveland House in St. James's, which would be renamed Bridgewater House ,
1040-787: The late 19th century; among them the Alexandra Club , the Ladies' Institute, the Ladies' Athenaeum and the University Women's Club . Many of the traditional gentlemen's clubs now allow women as members, though a few, including - until May 2024 - the Garrick Club in London's Covent Garden , still refuse women membership. More modern but otherwise similar private members' clubs have since been established. Most of these, however, are for-profit commercial enterprises neither owned nor controlled by members. London examples include
1080-427: The new ships during the dinner, and how to respond to their competition. Their discussions led to the original propositions behind the construction of the newest and the then largest class of ocean liner in the world. The names of these new ocean liners would be RMS Olympic , RMS Titanic and HMHS Britannic . 25 Belgrave Square has been the Embassy of Norway since 1949. 28 Belgrave Square
1120-410: The original scheme of property contractor Thomas Cubitt who engaged George Basevi for all of the terraces for the 2nd Earl Grosvenor , later the 1st Marquess of Westminster, in the 1820s. Most of the houses were occupied by 1840. The square takes its name from one of the Duke of Westminster 's subsidiary titles, Viscount Belgrave. The village and former manor house of Belgrave, Cheshire , were among
1160-573: The residence to Lalit Modi the former chairman of the Indian Premier League. 3 Belgrave Square was the London home of the Duke of Kent ; in 1935, it was the birthplace of the current Duke , and in the following year that of Princess Alexandra . 4 Belgrave Square was the home of Admiral of the Fleet Sir Charles Ogle . 5 Belgrave Square was the home of Sir George Murray , Secretary of State for War and
1200-418: The rural landholdings associated with the main home and gardens of the senior branch of the family, Eaton Hall . Today, many embassies occupy buildings on all four sides. The square is perfectly 650 feet (200 m) across, inclusive of small porch projections. The square is surrounded by four terraces, three of eleven houses and the fourth (south-east) of twelve. These houses are all white stucco except for
1240-450: The style, food and drink of a contemporary private members' club with the business facilities of a serviced office or coworking space. Notable examples of private members' clubs include: This organization-related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Belgrave Square Belgrave Square is a large 19th-century garden square in London. It is the centrepiece of Belgravia , and its architecture resembles
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1280-828: Was built for Hugh Morrison. The colour influences include the saltire and the Club's crest. 51°30′03″N 0°09′10″W / 51.5007°N 0.1529°W / 51.5007; -0.1529 Private members%27 club Private members' clubs are organisations which provide social and other facilities to members who typically pay a membership fee for access and use. Most are owned and controlled by their members even to this day. Some were originally gentlemen's clubs to which members first had to be elected; others are more modern commercial establishments with no class or gender bar, typically offering food, drink, comfortable surroundings, venue hire and business facilities, in return for members paying subscription or membership fees. The first gentlemen's clubs, mostly established in
1320-565: Was constructed in 1916, on the site of a former Episcopal Chapel 'Belgravia Chapel'. It was commissioned by Hugh Morrison , a Conservative MP for Salisbury, to be his private residence in London. Morrison was a significant figure in British history, and was instrumental in preserving Stonehenge from modern encroachment in the late 1920s. Morrison employed the architect Detmar Jellings Blow following their prior collaboration to design his country home, Fonthill House in Wiltshire. The building
1360-601: Was designed in early Neo-Georgian style with a Jacobean style porch. After Morrison's death the building was later used as a club for ladies and then a Nuffield Officers' Club , before it was acquired and opened by the Caledonian Club on 17 October 1946. The freehold of the property is owned by the Grosvenor Estates, and Halkin Street derives its name from Halkyn Castle , the Flintshire seat of
1400-423: Was drawn up by Cubitt (not to be confused with his son George, another architect, ennobled as Lord Ashcombe) for Sidney Herbert in 1851. The terraces were designed by George Basevi . The largest corner mansion, No.37 ( Seaford House ), was designed by Philip Hardwick . No.12 was designed by Robert Smirke . The square features statues of Christopher Columbus , Simón Bolívar , José de San Martín , Prince Henry
1440-464: Was encapsulated by the decision of another of London's leading freeholders and estate planners, the Duke of Bedford , to choose No.6 as London accommodation rather than any house on his own Bloomsbury estate, which had lost its aristocratic cachet. The square has included embassies since its first century, including the German Embassy , which occupies three houses on the west side. During
1480-565: Was leased by Queen Victoria as a home for her mother, the widowed Duchess of Kent . 37 Belgrave Square , now known as Seaford House , was built in 1842 by Philip Hardwick for the Earl of Sefton . In 1902, the house was remodelled for Lord Howard de Walden (who was also Baron Seaford). It is now the home of the Royal College of Defence Studies . 38 Belgrave Square was the home of Bruce Wasserstein . 43 Belgrave Square has been
1520-478: Was led by John Stewart Murray, 8th Duke of Atholl , who served as the Chairman from 1908 to 1919. He envisioned the Club as " the representative national club and headquarters for Scotsmen in London ," welcoming those with close ties to Scotland through birth, education, or direct descent. During both World Wars, the Club played a significant role in supporting its members, with over two hundred members lost during
1560-584: Was the home of Robert Carew, 3rd Baron Carew , who died there on 29 April 1923. It is now the home of the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia . 29 Belgrave Square is where Sir Winston Churchill received his first cabinet appointment in 1906, from the Prime Minister at that time, Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman . 31 Belgrave Square was the home of the Royal Automobile Club Motor Sports Association and
1600-516: Was the home of William Lygon, 7th Earl Beauchamp . It was also used by the St John Ambulance Brigade as a base during the First World War . 16 Belgrave Square was the home for many years of geographer and geologist Sir Roderick Impey Murchison and his wife, geologist Charlotte Murchison ; it was later home to Charles Henry Crompton-Roberts . 17 Belgrave Square was the base of the Royal College of Psychiatrists until
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