The Turf Club is a

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

gentlemen's club, established in 1861 as the Arlington Club. It has been located at 5,

Carlton House Terrace Carlton House Terrace is a street in the St James's district of the City of Westminster in London. Its principal architectural feature is a pair of terraces of white stucco-faced houses on the south side of the street overlooking St. James's Pa ...

since 1965.

History

The Turf Club was founded in 1861 as the Arlington Club, with premises in Bennett Street, Piccadilly.Nevill, op. cit., p. 218 It was while there that a committee of the Arlington, consisting of George Bentinck, Sir Rainald Knightley, Charles C. Greville, H. B. Mayne, John Bushe, G. Payne, and Colonel Pipon, under the chairmanship of John Clay MP, drew up the laws of

whist Whist is a classic English trick-taking card game which was widely played in the 18th and 19th centuries. Although the rules are simple, there is scope for strategic play. History Whist is a descendant of the 16th-century game of ''trump' ...

, officially sanctioned by the Portland Club in 1864. Members had originally wished to call themselves simply The Club until it was discovered that they had been beaten to it: a hundred years or so earlier the name had been claimed by

Dr Johnson Samuel Johnson (18 September 1709 – 13 December 1784), often called Dr Johnson, was an English writer who made lasting contributions as a poet, playwright, essayist, moralist, critic, biographer, editor and lexicographer. The ''Oxford D ...

and Sir Joshua Reynolds for their renowned dining society. The Turf Club moved in 1875 to the corner of

Piccadilly Piccadilly () is a road in the City of Westminster, London, to the south of Mayfair, between Hyde Park Corner in the west and Piccadilly Circus in the east. It is part of the A4 road that connects central London to Hammersmith, Earl's Cour ...

and Clarges Street. The new building at 85 Piccadilly, designed by John Norton, remained the clubhouse for ninety years until the Club decided to sell the extremely valuable freehold.Lejeune, op. cit., p. 273 In 1965, the Turf Club moved to its current home at 5

, SW1Y 5AQ, overlooking the Mall.

itself was designed and built by John Nash, the successful Regency architect, between 1827 and 1833. The freehold of Number 5 belongs to the

Crown Estate The Crown Estate is a collection of lands and holdings in the United Kingdom belonging to the British monarch as a corporation sole, making it "the sovereign's public estate", which is neither government property nor part of the monarch's priv ...

and the lease was held by the

Earls of Caledon Earl of Caledon, of Caledon in the County of Tyrone, is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1800 for James Alexander, 1st Viscount Caledon. He was a merchant who had made an enormous fortune in India. He also represented the ...

from 1830 until 1929, and its residents included Lord Palmerston;

John Hay John Milton Hay (October 8, 1838July 1, 1905) was an American statesman and official whose career in government stretched over almost half a century. Beginning as a private secretary and assistant to Abraham Lincoln, Hay's highest office was U ...

, the

U.S. Ambassador Ambassadors of the United States are persons nominated by the president to serve as the country's diplomatic representatives to foreign nations, international organizations, and as ambassadors-at-large. Under Article II, Section 2 of the U. ...

; Emerald, Lady Cunard (mother of

Nancy Cunard Nancy Clara Cunard (10 March 1896 – 17 March 1965) was a British writer, heiress and political activist. She was born into the British upper class, and devoted much of her life to fighting racism and fascism. She became a muse to some of the ...

); and

Harry Gordon Selfridge Harry Gordon Selfridge, Sr. (11 January 1858 – 8 May 1947) was an American retail magnate who founded the London-based department store Selfridges. His 20-year leadership of Selfridges led to his becoming one of the most respected and wealthy ...

, founder of

Selfridges Selfridges, also known as Selfridges & Co., is a chain of high-end department stores in the United Kingdom that is operated by Selfridges Retail Limited, part of the Selfridges Group of department stores. It was founded by Harry Gordon Selfridg ...

Notable members

The following is a list of notable present

Turf Club (Gentlemen's Club) The Turf Club is a London gentlemen's club, established in 1861 as the Arlington Club. It has been located at 5, Carlton House Terrace since 1965. History The Turf Club was founded in 1861 as the Arlington Club, with premises in Bennett Stree ...

members with years of birth in brackets. *

Thomas Fermor-Hesketh, 3rd Baron Hesketh Thomas Alexander Fermor-Hesketh, 3rd Baron Hesketh, KBE, PC (born 28 October 1950) is a British peer and UK Independence Party politician. Early life Hesketh succeeded in the barony (and baronetcy) on 6 October 1955, aged four, when his fath ...

, KBE, PC (1950) *

John Livingstone-Learmonth John Livingstone-Learmonth is a British wine writer. He has published four books on Rhône wines Anthony Fane, 16th Earl of Westmorland Anthony David Francis Henry Fane, 16th Earl of Westmorland (born 1951), styled Lord Burghersh until 1993 (and nicknamed Burghie), is a British peer and outdoorsman. He was a member of the House of Lords from 1993 to 1999. Early life The eldest ...

(1951) *Hon.

Peregrine Moncreiffe of that Ilk The Hon. Peregrine David Euan Malcolm Hay, later Moncreiffe of that Ilk, Baron of Easter Moncreiffe and Chief of Clan Moncreiffe (born 16 February 1951), is the second son of Sir Iain Moncreiffe of that Ilk, 11th Baronet Moncreiffe and Diana De ...

(1951) *

James Spencer-Churchill, 12th Duke of Marlborough Charles James Spencer-Churchill, 12th Duke of Marlborough (born 24 November 1955), styled Earl of Sunderland until March 1972 and Marquess of Blandford until October 2014, and often known as Jamie Blandford or Jamie Marlborough, is an English ...

(1955) *Lt. Gen. Sir Barney White-Spunner, CBE (1957) *

Michael Bowes-Lyon, 18th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne Michael may refer to: People * Michael (given name), a given name * Michael (surname), including a list of people with the surname Michael Given name "Michael" * Michael (archangel), ''first'' of God's archangels in the Jewish, Christian and ...

(1957) *Alastair Morrison, 3rd Baron Margadale (1958) *

Christopher Taylour, 7th Marquess of Headfort Marquess of Headfort is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1800 for Thomas Taylour, 2nd Earl of Bective. The Marquess holds the subsidiary titles of Earl of Bective (1766), Viscount Headfort (1762), Baron Headfort, of Headfo ...

(1959) *

David Manners, 11th Duke of Rutland David Charles Robert Manners, 11th Duke of Rutland (born 8 May 1959), is a British hereditary peer and landowner. Biography Rutland is the elder son of the 10th Duke of Rutland by his second wife, the former Frances Sweeny, now the Dowager Du ...

(1959) *Hon.

Rupert Soames The Hon. Rupert Christopher Soames OBE (born 18 May 1959) is a British businessman, CEO of the outsourcing company Serco. He is a grandson of Winston Churchill, a nephew of one-time Defence Secretary Duncan Sandys and his wife Diana Churchil ...

, OBE (1959) * Patrick Meade, 8th Earl of Clanwilliam (1960) *

Charles Hay, 16th Earl of Kinnoull Charles William Harley Hay, 16th Earl of Kinnoull, (born 20 December 1962), styled Viscount Dupplin until 2013, is a Scottish hereditary peer and non-affiliated member of the House of Lords, serving as Chair of the European Union Committee. B ...

(1962) * Maurice Roche, 6th Baron Fermoy ( 1967) *

George Bingham, 8th Earl of Lucan George Charles Bingham, 8th Earl of Lucan (born 21 September 1967), styled Lord Bingham until 2016, is a British hereditary peer. Background and early life George Charles Bingham, 8th Earl of Lucan, was born on 21 September 1967, the only son ...

(1967) * Harry Lawson, 7th Baron Burnham (1968) * Clifton Wrottesley, 6th Baron Wrottesley (1968) *

Andrew Balding Andrew Matthews Balding (born 29 December 1972) is a British racehorse trainer based at Park House Stables, Kingsclere, near Newbury, Berkshire. Balding attended Caldicott School, a boys' preparatory school, and Radley College, a public school ...

(1972) *

Frederick Hervey, 8th Marquess of Bristol Frederick may refer to: People * Frederick (given name), the name Nobility Anhalt-Harzgerode *Frederick, Prince of Anhalt-Harzgerode (1613–1670) Austria * Frederick I, Duke of Austria (Babenberg), Duke of Austria from 1195 to 1198 * Frederick ...

(1979)

References

; Sources consulted * * * ''Debrett's People of Today'', 2011 ; Endnotes {{DEFAULTSORT:Turf Club (Gentlemen'S Club) Gentlemen's clubs in London 1861 establishments in England Grade I listed buildings in the City of Westminster

History

Notable members

See also

References