Savage Club

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Coordinates: 51°30′22″N 0°07′27″W / 51.50611°N 0.12417°W / 51.50611; -0.12417
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For the Melbourne club, see Melbourne Savage Club.

Savage Club
Formation1857 (1857)[1]
TypeGentlemen's club
Purpose'The pursuit of happiness'.[1]
Websitewww.savageclub.com

The Savage Club, founded in 1857, is a gentlemen's club in London, named after the poet, Richard Savage. Members are drawn from the fields of art, drama, law, literature, music or science.

History[edit]

George Augustus Sala (ca. 1860) sent out the invitation letters to the founding meeting of the club in 1857.

The founding meeting of the Savage Club took place on 12 October 1857, at the Crown Tavern, Vinegar Yard, Drury Lane, after a letter by pro tempore honorary secretary George Augustus Sala was sent to prospective members.[2] The letter advised it would be 'a meeting of gentlemen connected with literature and the fine arts, and warmly interested in the promotion of Christian knowledge, and the sale of exciseable liquors' with a view to 'forming a social society or club'.[2] The inaugural gathering would also decide upon the new association's 'suitable designation'.[2]

Richard Savage, poet (c 1697 -1743)

Around 20 attended the first meeting including William Brough, Robert Brough, Leicester Silk Buckingham, John Deffett Francis, Gustav von Franck, Bill Hale, Sala, Dr G. L. Strauss and William Bernhardt Tegetmeier.[3]

Andrew Halliday, joint honorary secretary in 1858, and later club president, wrote in his 1867 anthology, of how the 'suitable designation' was determined:[4]

'When about a dozen of the original members were assembled in the place selected for their meetings, it became a question what the Club should be called. Every one in the room suggested a title. One said the “Addison”, another the “Johnson”, a third the “Goldsmith”, and so forth; and at last, after we had run the whole gamut of famous literary names of the modern period, a modest member in the corner suggested “The Shakespeare”. This was too much for the gravity of one of the company (the late Mr Robert Brough) whose keen sense of humour enabled him, in the midst of our enthusiasm, to perceive that we were bent on making ourselves ridiculous. “Who are we,” he said, “that we should take these great names in vain? Don’t let us be pretentious. If we must have a name, let it be a modest one — one that signifies as little as possible.” Hereupon a member called out, in a pure spirit of wantonness, “The Savage”. That keen sense of humour was again tickled. “The very thing!” he exclaimed. “No one can say that there is anything pretentious in assuming that name. If we accept Richard Savage as our godfather, it shows that there is no pride about us.” And so, in a frolicsome humour, our little society was christened the “Savage Club”.'

Illustrated menu card
Menu card for the Savage Club's 40th anniversary dinner in 1897

Many of the original members were drawn from the ranks of bohemian journalists and writers for The Illustrated London News who considered themselves unlikely to be accepted into the older, arts related Garrick Club, but, within two decades, the Savage Club itself had become 'almost respectable'.[5] The early requirement - 'a working man in literature or art' - was soon broadened to include musicians, and the club's first piano was hired in 1871, prompting Halliday to tell another member 'Hang your piano... it's ruining the Club'.[6] An associated Masonic lodge was established in 1887.

The club has hosted a variety of guests over the years including American writer and humorist Mark Twain,[7] and the Australian cricket team during its 1934 English tour.[8] In the aftermath of World War II, Oswald Mosley, founder of the British Union of Fascists, arrived as a guest of Henry Williamson, author of Tarka the Otter, but was asked to leave.[9] The club features in Arthur Conan Doyle's classic novel, The Lost World.[10]

The club moved from its original home at the Crown Tavern, the next year to the Nell Gwynne Tavern. In 1863 it moved to Gordon's Hotel in Covent Garden, then to 6–7 Adelphi Terrace, later to 9 Fitzmaurice Place, Berkeley Square, London W1, and, from 1936 to the end of 1963, Carlton House Terrace in St James's (previously the home of the Conservative statesman Lord Curzon).[11] In 1990, the club moved to a room within the National Liberal Club at 1 Whitehall Place, London SW1. In 2020 it was issued with a year's notice by the General Committee of the National Liberal Club as part of a negotiation around its future occupancy. A source at the National Liberal Club commented: "The red line for us is whether one of our members, of any sex, could use the Savage Club's bar whenever it is opened."[12] Members of the National Liberal Club (or indeed of any other non-reciprocal Club) would however not be allowed to use the Savage Club's facilities unless invited as guests, as is the case with any private Members' club, and the Savage Club does admit ladies as guests to the whole of its premises.

The club today[edit]

In 1962, the club had around 1,000 members,[11] at present, there are over 300. It remains one of the small number of London clubs that does not admit women as members, although women are admitted as guests. The club maintains a tradition of regular dinners for members and their guests, always followed by entertainment, often featuring distinguished musical performers from the club's membership.[13] Several times a year members invite ladies to share both the dinner and the entertainment, and on these occasions guests always include widows of former Savages, who are known as Rosemaries (after rosemary, a symbol of remembrance).

Illustrated menu card
Menu card for a dinner in honour of the inventor of the radio, Guglielmo Marconi, in 1903

There are also monthly lunches, which are followed by a talk given by a member or an invited guest on a subject of which he has specific expert knowledge.

Membership[edit]

Members are classified into one of six categories which best describes their main interest: art, drama, law, literature, music or science.[1][13] They must be proposed and seconded by two existing members, and if unknown by any other members, are required to attend a club function in order to meet some members. The category of membership might mirror a member's profession, though there are many members with an interest in one or more of the membership categories, but who practise none professionally. There is a range of membership fees depending on membership category.

During the weekend, members are permitted to use the East India Club in St James's Square and the Oxford and Cambridge Club in Pall Mall. There are also reciprocal arrangements with other clubs internationally.[1] Members of the Savage Club may also use accommodation at the Savile, Farmers and Lansdowne Clubs.

Notable members[edit]

The Savage Club Masonic Lodge[edit]

Illustrated menu card
Menu card for a dinner in honour of the Prince of Wales (later Edward VII) in 1882
Illustrated menu card
Menu card for a dinner in honour of Lord Kitchener of Khartoum in 1898

On 11 February 1882, the Prince of Wales (later Edward VII), attended a dinner in his honour at the Savage Club, before becoming a member.[30] The Prince suggested a Masonic lodge, associated with the club, should be formed.[31]

The Savage Club Lodge, No. 2190 received its Warrant of Constitution on 18 December 1886,[32] and was consecrated on 18 January 1887,[33] with war correspondent Sir John Richard Sommers Vine as the first Master.[34] The first treasurer was the actor Sir Henry Irving, followed by the actor Edward O'Connor Terry in 1888.[23] This tendency towards the arts continued to be reflected in the Lodge's membership for many years.[31]

The club and lodge have never been formally connected except in name.[33] Lodge membership is not restricted to Savage Club members; however, most who join still have a professional life in literature, art, drama, music, science or law.[33]

Founders of the Savage Club Lodge[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d "Introduction". Savage Club. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  2. ^ a b c "The First Letter". Savage Club. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  3. ^ Watson, Aaron (1907). The Savage Club : a medley of history, anecdote, and reminiscence. London: T. Fisher Unwin. p. 18. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  4. ^ Halliday, Andrew (1867). Savage Club Papers. London: Tinsley Brothers. pp. 12–16. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  5. ^ Nigel Cross (9 June 1988). The Common Writer: Life in Nineteenth-Century Grub Street. CUP Archive. p. 108. ISBN 978-0-521-35721-0.
  6. ^ Watson, Aaron (1907). The Savage Club : a medley of history, anecdote, and reminiscence. London: T. Fisher Unwin. pp. 26–27. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  7. ^ "Clubbing". The Business Of Being Mark Twain. Cornell University. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  8. ^ Collin Brooks (1998). Fleet Street, Press Barons and Politics: The Journals of Collin Brooks, 1932-1940. Cambridge University Press. p. 63. ISBN 978-0-521-66239-0.
  9. ^ Graham Macklin (2007). Very Deeply Dyed in Black: Sir Oswald Mosley and the Resurrection of British Fascism After 1945. I.B.Tauris. p. 51. ISBN 978-1-84511-284-4.
  10. ^ A. Conan Doyle, The Lost World (Penguin Classics, 2007)
  11. ^ a b "Savage Club In Search Of A New Home". The Times. 27 October 1962.
  12. ^ "Atticus" (Roland White), 'Men-only club too savage for Liberals', Sunday Times, 25 October 2020.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h Lewis Foreman; Susan Foreman (2005). London: A Musical Gazetteer. Yale University Press. p. 51. ISBN 978-0-300-10402-8.
  14. ^ Editor's biography in British Music of Our Time (1951)
  15. ^ Lisa Chaney (6 July 2010). Hide-And-Seek With Angels: The Life of J.M. Barrie. Random House. p. 118. ISBN 978-1-4090-6699-6.
  16. ^ "Probably only a few of the present generation will remember". Pateley Bridge & Nidderdale Herald. British Newspaper Archive. 21 October 1899. p. 2 col.2. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  17. ^ Who's Who 1910. London: A & C Black. 1910. p. 484.
  18. ^ a b c R. Tames, London: A Cultural History (OUP, 2006), p110
  19. ^ Matthews, Anne. "Bolton Abbey from the Soay by Bernard Walter Evans". lythamstannesartcollection.org. Lytham St Annes Art Collection. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  20. ^ J. Stedman, W.S. Gilbert: A Classic Victorian and His Theatre (OUP, 1996), p19
  21. ^ Summers, Jonathan. 'Mark Hambourg', notes to A–Z of Pianists, Naxos CD (2007) 8.558107–10
  22. ^ Keble Howard, My Motley Life, A Tale of Struggle. (T Fisher Unwin Ltd, 1927), p 145
  23. ^ a b Jeffrey Richards (20 January 2007). Sir Henry Irving: A Victorian Actor and His World. A&C Black. p. 288. ISBN 978-1-85285-591-8.
  24. ^ Wilson, James (2018). Noble Savages: The Savage Club and the Great War 1914-1918. ISBN 9781527229655. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
  25. ^ "British Cartoon Archive - University of Kent". www.cartoons.ac.uk. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  26. ^ "Royal Match of Tiddlywinks". 3 March 2008. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  27. ^ "British Cartoon Archive - University of Kent". www.cartoons.ac.uk. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  28. ^ D. Birch (ed) The Oxford Companion to English Literature, 7th Edition, (OUP 2009)
  29. ^ "John Worsley". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 13 March 2017.
  30. ^ Watson, Aaron (1907). The Savage Club : a medley of history, anecdote, and reminiscence. London: T. Fisher Unwin. p. 235. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
  31. ^ a b Tracy C. Davis (21 June 2007). The Economics of the British Stage 1800-1914. Cambridge University Press. p. 298. ISBN 978-0-521-03685-6.
  32. ^ "Savage Club Lodge (2190)". Lane's Masonic Records. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  33. ^ a b c "Savage Club Lodge 2190". Savage Club#The Savage Club Masonic Lodge/The Savage Club Masonic Lodge. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  34. ^ Walter H. Wills (2006). The Anglo-African Who's Who and Biographical Sketchbook, 1907. Jeppestown Press. p. 372. ISBN 978-0-9553936-3-1.

External links[edit]

Media related to Savage Club, London at Wikimedia Commons

See also[edit]

51°30′22″N 0°07′27″W / 51.50611°N 0.12417°W / 51.50611; -0.12417

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