English Gymnosophical Society
Encyclopedia
English Gymnosophical Society was a society of like minded persons established some time during the early 1920s to discuss naturism
. A few years later it renamed itself the "New Gymnosophy Society" and began holding organised meetings at The Camp
in Wickford
, Essex
in 1924 thus forming the first actual naturist club in the United Kingdom
.
Naturism
Naturism or nudism is a cultural and political movement practising, advocating and defending social nudity in private and in public. It may also refer to a lifestyle based on personal, family and/or social nudism....
. A few years later it renamed itself the "New Gymnosophy Society" and began holding organised meetings at The Camp
The Camp
The Camp was the first naturist club to be established in the United Kingdom. It was set up by someone known only as Moonella and existed at a country house near Wickford in Essex between 1924-1927. It was later replaced by a new venue called "The New Camp" near St. Albans. This and several others...
in Wickford
Wickford
Wickford is a town in the south of the English county of Essex, with a population of more than 32,500. Located approximately 30 miles east of London, it falls within the District of Basildon along with Basildon, Billericay, Laindon and Pitsea....
, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
in 1924 thus forming the first actual naturist club in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.