Brooks's facts for kids
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| Formation | 1764 |
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| Type | Gentlemen's club |
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Club secretary
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Ian Faul |
Brooks's is a very old and famous gentlemen's club located on St James's Street in London. A gentlemen's club is a private social club, usually for men, where they can meet, relax, and enjoy activities together. Brooks's is known as one of the oldest and most exclusive clubs of its kind in the world.
Contents
History of Brooks's Club
How Brooks's Started
In January 1762, a private group was formed by Messrs. Boothby and James. They started this group after they were "blackballed" from another club called White's. To be "blackballed" means to be rejected from joining a club, often by a secret vote. This original group later split into two, forming the beginnings of both Brooks's and Boodle's clubs.
The club that would become Brooks's was officially started in March 1764. It was founded by twenty-seven important members of the Whig political party. The Whigs were a major political group in Britain at the time. Famous founders included the Duke of Portland and Duke of Roxburghe. Charles James Fox, a very well-known politician, joined the club the next year when he was only sixteen!
The Almack's Era
The club first met at 49 Pall Mall, which used to be a tavern owned by William Almack. Because of this, the club became known simply as Almack's. Many fashionable young men, sometimes called "Macaronis" (meaning very stylish and trendy), would go there. They enjoyed eating, drinking, and playing games of chance.
Building the New Clubhouse
In September 1777, William Brooks, who managed Almack's, decided to build a new clubhouse. He was a wine merchant and also lent money. He hired a famous architect named Henry Holland to design the building. The new club was built on St James's Street, right next to the old location.
William Brooks paid for the whole building himself. It was finished in October 1778. All the members of Almack's were invited to join the new club. Brooks's idea worked! All the members quickly moved to the new building. From then on, the club was named Brooks's, after William Brooks. Sadly, William Brooks himself passed away in 1782 and did not get to enjoy his success for very long.
The Clubhouse Design
The new clubhouse was built using yellow bricks and Portland stone. It was designed in a Palladian style, which was popular at the time. This style is known for its grand and balanced look.
Inside, the main rooms on the first floor were the Great Subscription Room, the Small Drawing Room, and the Card Room. The interior design was in a neoclassical style. This means it used ideas from ancient Greek and Roman art and architecture. The Great Subscription Room had a special curved ceiling called a "barrel vault." The building's inside stayed mostly the same until 1889. At that time, a nearby building was bought and connected to Brooks's, making the club even bigger.
Club Activities and Gambling
Historically, a big part of Brooks's was its rooms for playing games. Members would often play card games like whist and hazard. They would sometimes play all night long. Many interesting and unusual bets were recorded in the club's betting book.
Later Years
In 1978, another club called the St James's Club joined with Brooks's. This added new members, including some European royalty, diplomats, and writers. Brooks's also houses a collection of portraits from the Dilettanti Society, an old group interested in art and architecture. The club also has historical ties to the Hellfire Club, another famous 18th-century society.
Notable Former Members
Brooks's has had many famous members throughout its history. Here are a few examples:
- Charles James Fox (1749–1806) - A very important British politician.
- William Pitt the Younger (1759–1806) - A former Prime Minister of Great Britain.
- William Wilberforce (1759–1833) - A leader in the movement to end slavery.
- George IV (1762–1830) - Who later became King of the United Kingdom.
- Henry Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston (1784–1865) - Another important British Prime Minister.
See also
- The Club (dining club), a dining club, which dined at Brooks.
- List of London's gentlemen's clubs
Sources
- Edward Walford; Old and New London: Volume 4, pp. 140–164; 1878
- F. H. W. Sheppard, ed.; Survey of London: volumes 29 and 30: St James Westminster, Part 1, pp. 325–338; 1960.
- Christopher Hibbert; London, the Biography of a City; 1969; William Morrow, NY
- Robert Phipps Dod; Parliamentary Companion (various editions)
