Albemarle Club

The club opened on 29 May 1874 with the aim to be available to both men and women. It formed under a committee formed of both sexes, under the presidency of James Stansfeld, Member of Parliament for Halifax.{{cite news|title=Special Correspondence|url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000076/18750602/093/0008|accessdate=22 September 2014|work=Leeds Mercury|issue=11589|via=British Newspaper Archive|date=2 June 1875|page=8|url-access=subscription}} It had initially set the limit for members at 600, with some 350 elected two weeks prior to opening.{{cite news|title=Latest|url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000250/18750506/113/0003|accessdate=22 September 2014|work=Sheffield Daily Telegraph|via=British Newspaper Archive|date=6 May 1875|page=3|issue=6209|url-access=subscription}} The club came in for criticism because of its progressive view of women's rights, but also saw supporters join its ranks such as Edward Cortenay MP.{{cite news|title=Archdeacon Matthias and Our "Wicked Women"|url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000168/18771229/011/0003|accessdate=22 September 2014|work=Isle of Man Times|issue=869|via=British Newspaper Archive|date=29 December 1877|volume=XVII|page=3|url-access=subscription}} However, it was not immediately popular and by January 1879, it had to raise the subscription fees in order to make up the shortfall due to the lack of numbers.{{cite news|title=The Albemarle Club|url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000286/18790125/019/0003|accessdate=22 September 2014|date=25 January 1879|work=North & South Shields Daily Gazette|issue=7321|via=British Newspaper Archive|page=3|volume=XXX|url-access=subscription}} A year later, it was said to have suffered from more withdrawals than new admissions and this was blamed on the poor quality of the food being served there.{{cite news|title=Our London Letter|url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000162/18800521/068/0004|accessdate=22 September 2014|work=Dundee Courier & Argus|issue=8373|via=British Newspaper Archive|date=21 May 1880|page=4|url-access=subscription}} However, by the end of the decade, memberships had reached 600 and the club was considering moving to larger premises.{{cite news|title=London Letter|url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000250/18891221/023/0005|accessdate=22 September 2014|work=Sheffield Daily Telegraph|issue=10664|via=British Newspaper Archive|date=21 December 1889|page=5|url-access=subscription}}

File:Somdomite.jpg's calling card with the handwritten offending inscription "For Oscar Wilde posing {{Sic|Som|domite|nolink=1}}". The card was marked as exhibit 'A' in Wilde's libel action.]]

On 28 February 1895, the club became notorious for being the location of the incident that began the first trial of Oscar Wilde, who was a member of the Albemarle. The Marquess of Queensberry burst into the club, demanding to see Wilde.{{cite news|title=A Scandal In High Life|url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000500/18950304/043/0005|accessdate=22 September 2014|work=The Yorkshire Herald|via=British Newspaper Archive|date=4 March 1895|page=5|issue=13649|url-access=subscription}} His entry was blocked by the porter, so instead Queensberry left a calling card with the note "For Oscar Wilde, posing {{Sic|som|domite}}".{{cite news|title=The Real Trial of Oscar Wilde|url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-00-715664-1|accessdate=22 September 2014|work=Publishers Weekly|date=27 October 2003|archive-date=24 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924041546/http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-00-715664-1|url-status=live}}{{cite news|title=Marquis of Queensberry Charged With Libel|url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000526/18950313/069/0008|accessdate=22 September 2014|work=Taunton Courier, and Western Advertiser|via=British Newspaper Archive|date=13 March 1895|page=8|issue=4504|url-access=subscription}} This resulted in Wilde's failed libel action (Wilde v. Queensberry) and subsequent criminal prosecution (Regina v. Wilde).{{cite news|title=The Prosecution of Oscar Wilde|url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000325/18950411/018/0004|accessdate=22 September 2014|work=The Citizen|volume=20|issue=87|via=British Newspaper Archive|date=11 April 1895|page=4|url-access=subscription}}

At the turn of the 20th century, the club remained successful with vacancies only usually arising through the deaths of current members.{{cite news|title=Clubs for Ladies|url=http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000226/19021101/011/0016|accessdate=22 September 2014|work=Cheltenham Looker-On|via=British Newspaper Archive|page=16|issue=3580|date=1 November 1902|url-access=subscription}}

Because of the club's prominent place in the proceedings, and its being named at the trial, it fell into disrepute. Seeking to distance itself, it moved into Ely House at 37 Dover Street in 1909.{{cite web|title=Ely House|url=http://www.mallettantiques.com/en/our-heritage/ely-house|publisher=Mallett Antiques|accessdate=22 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924044911/http://www.mallettantiques.com/en/our-heritage/ely-house|archive-date=2014-09-24|url-status=dead}} The site underwent a refit in 1910 to make the premises better suited to the club; it had previously been used as a residence for the Bishop of Ely.{{cite journal|last1=Randall|first1=Katie|title=Treasure trove|journal=Mayfair|date=January 2013|issue=14|pages=87–89|url=http://issuu.com/runwildmedia/docs/mayfair_jan_13/95|access-date=22 September 2014|archive-date=24 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924040710/http://issuu.com/runwildmedia/docs/mayfair_jan_13/95|url-status=live}} The club closed in 1941.

• List of London's gentlemen's clubs

{{reflist|30em}}

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Category:Buildings and structures in Mayfair

Category:1874 establishments in England

Category:History of the City of Westminster

Category:Defunct clubs and societies of the United Kingdom