United Service Club
Encyclopedia
The United Service Club was a London
gentlemen's club
, now dissolved, which was established in 1815 and was disbanded in 1978. Its clubhouse was at 116 Pall Mall
, on the corner of Waterloo Place.
It was founded for the use of senior officers in the army
and navy
- those above the rank of Major or Commander - and the club was accordingly known to its members as "The Senior". Because of its emphasis on senior officers, it was considered the most prestigious of London's military clubs - reflected partly in its entry fees, which were the highest of any London club in the 1880s, although there has been some speculation this was a device to limit the number of new members.
Its clubhouse was built between 1826 and 1828 by the noted architect John Nash
(in a style mirrored by the Athenaeum
opposite), containing military friezes along the top of the building. The building was later altered and extended by Decimus Burton
between 1858-9, and then again by the firm of Thompson and Walford, in the years 1912–13 and 1929–30. It was built on the site of the former Carlton House
.
Despite the club's prestige, like many other clubs it ran into serious financial difficulties in the 1970s, and was forced to close in 1978. However, when the building was bought by the Institute of Directors
, a condition of the sale was that the IoD would retain all of the club's original fixtures and fittings, which it still does today. Although the building still stands today substantially intact, the old club building makes up only part of the IoD headquarters on Pall Mall, whose complex encompasses several neighbouring buildings which were never part of the club.
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...
gentlemen's club
Gentlemen's club
A gentlemen's club is a members-only private club of a type originally set up by and for British upper class men in the eighteenth century, and popularised by English upper-middle class men and women in the late nineteenth century. Today, some are more open about the gender and social status of...
, now dissolved, which was established in 1815 and was disbanded in 1978. Its clubhouse was at 116 Pall Mall
Pall Mall, London
Pall Mall is a street in the City of Westminster, London, and parallel to The Mall, from St. James's Street across Waterloo Place to the Haymarket; while Pall Mall East continues into Trafalgar Square. The street is a major thoroughfare in the St James's area of London, and a section of the...
, on the corner of Waterloo Place.
It was founded for the use of senior officers in the army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
and navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
- those above the rank of Major or Commander - and the club was accordingly known to its members as "The Senior". Because of its emphasis on senior officers, it was considered the most prestigious of London's military clubs - reflected partly in its entry fees, which were the highest of any London club in the 1880s, although there has been some speculation this was a device to limit the number of new members.
Its clubhouse was built between 1826 and 1828 by the noted architect John Nash
John Nash
John Nash may refer to:*John Nash , Anglo-Welsh architect*John Forbes Nash, Jr. , American mathematician, 1994 Nobel Economics laureate, subject of the book and film titled A Beautiful Mind...
(in a style mirrored by the Athenaeum
Athenaeum Club, London
The Athenaeum Club, usually just referred to as the Athenaeum, is a notable London club with its Clubhouse located at 107 Pall Mall, London, England, at the corner of Waterloo Place....
opposite), containing military friezes along the top of the building. The building was later altered and extended by Decimus Burton
Decimus Burton
Decimus Burton was a prolific English architect and garden designer, He is particularly associated with projects in the classical style in London parks, including buildings at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and London Zoo, and with the layout and architecture of the seaside towns of Fleetwood and...
between 1858-9, and then again by the firm of Thompson and Walford, in the years 1912–13 and 1929–30. It was built on the site of the former Carlton House
Carlton House
Carlton House was a mansion in London, best known as the town residence of the Prince Regent for several decades from 1783. It faced the south side of Pall Mall, and its gardens abutted St. James's Park in the St James's district of London...
.
Despite the club's prestige, like many other clubs it ran into serious financial difficulties in the 1970s, and was forced to close in 1978. However, when the building was bought by the Institute of Directors
Institute of Directors
The Institute of Directors is a UK-based organisation, established in 1903 and incorporated by royal charter in 1906 to support, represent and set standards for company directors...
, a condition of the sale was that the IoD would retain all of the club's original fixtures and fittings, which it still does today. Although the building still stands today substantially intact, the old club building makes up only part of the IoD headquarters on Pall Mall, whose complex encompasses several neighbouring buildings which were never part of the club.
External links
- IoD website - page on the old United Service Club building today
- 116 Pall Mall - website for the building today