The Female Coterie
Encyclopedia
The Female Coterie was the title given to a group of "ladies of quality" which met at Almack's
Assembly Rooms in 18th century London
. Horace Walpole described their activities as meeting every morning "either to play cards, chat or do whatever else they please". Dinner and supper were provided, followed by loo. The founding members were Mrs Fitzroy, Lady Pembroke
, Mrs Meynell, Lady Molyneux, Miss Pelham and Miss Lloyd.
The New Female Coterie was founded by Lady Harrington who had been blackballed by the founders of the original Female Coterie. This group of demimondaines
met in a brothel
owned by Sarah Pendergast.
Almack's
Almack's Assembly Rooms was a social club in London from 1765 to 1871 and one of the first to admit both men and women. It was one of a limited number of upper class mixed-sex public social venues in the British capital in an era when the most important venues for the hectic social season were the...
Assembly Rooms in 18th century London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Horace Walpole described their activities as meeting every morning "either to play cards, chat or do whatever else they please". Dinner and supper were provided, followed by loo. The founding members were Mrs Fitzroy, Lady Pembroke
Elizabeth Herbert, Countess of Pembroke and Montgomery
Elizabeth Herbert, Countess of Pembroke and Montgomery was the daughter of Charles Spencer and Elizabeth Trevor.-Biography:Born Elizabeth Spencer to Charles Spencer, 3rd Duke of Marlborough and Elizabeth Trevor....
, Mrs Meynell, Lady Molyneux, Miss Pelham and Miss Lloyd.
The New Female Coterie was founded by Lady Harrington who had been blackballed by the founders of the original Female Coterie. This group of demimondaines
Demimonde
Demi-monde refers to a group of people who live hedonistic lifestyles, usually in a flagrant and conspicuous manner. The term was commonly used in Europe from the late 18th to the early 20th century, and modern use often refers to that period...
met in a brothel
Brothel
Brothels are business establishments where patrons can engage in sexual activities with prostitutes. Brothels are known under a variety of names, including bordello, cathouse, knocking shop, whorehouse, strumpet house, sporting house, house of ill repute, house of prostitution, and bawdy house...
owned by Sarah Pendergast.