Travellers'...

Travellers’

Established: 1819

 

“‘If I had a conscience,’ Doctor Percival said, ‘I would not remain a member here. I’m a member because the food is the best in London’

‘I like the food at the Travellers’ just as much,’ Hargreaves said.”

-Grahame Greene, The Human Factor

Addresses:

1819-1822: 12 Waterloo Place

1822-1832: 70 Pall Mall, SW1

1832-Present: 106 Pall Mall, SW1

Entry Restrictions

Men only, on the proviso that they have “travelled out of the British islands to a distance of at least five hundred miles from London in a direct line”; a stipulation of membership is that all nominated candidates must name at least four foreign countries which they have personally visited.

 

Famous Members

Prince Talleyrand (1754-1838)

Lord Castlereagh (1769-1822)

Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington (1769-1852)

George Canning (1770-1827)

Sir Francis Beaufort (1774-1857)

Earl of Aberdeen (1784-1860)

Viscount Palmerston (1784-1865)

C.R. Cockerell (1788-1863)

Sir William Parry (1790-1855)

Sir Roderick Murchison (1792-1871)

Sir Charles Barry (1795-1860)

FitzRoy of the “Beagle” (1805-1865)

Arthur Balfour (1848-1930)

Stanley Baldwin (1867-1947)

Sir Wilfred Thesiger (1910-2003)

 

Skills Augmented:

Anthropology, Credit Rating, Other Language, History; Navigation

Areas of Speciality:

Diplomatic Relations; Foreign Affairs; Historical Matters; Travel Literature; Cartographic issues

 

History

Once peace had been restored in Europe, After the Napoleonic Wars, A group of English gentlemen – amongst them Lord Castlereagh – saw a need for an organisation which could use its experience of foreign countries and manners to facilitate new connexions with former enemies. The idea was that a Club of well-travelled individuals could provide hospitality to foreign travellers, which would then facilitate reciprocal relations overseas.

The Club was originally established at Waterloo Place, its ideals enshrined in its charter and the head of Ulysses chosen for its badge; however the premises there were soon deemed to be unfit. Charles Barry was commissioned to design and build a new headquarters and in the meantime, the Club relocated to 70 Pall Mall before taking up residence in the house which he built at 106. The building is redolent of overseas architectural influences, mainly Italianate, which spoke strongly of the Grand Tour, an essential part of any young man’s upbringing at the time. Barry received £1,500 and lifetime membership for his efforts.

 

Principal rooms in the Traveller’s Club include the Library – often cited as one of the most elegant venues in London – and the Map Room, home to many rare and important original travel documents, on the ground floor. The Bramall Room opens out onto the Carlton Gardens to allow pleasant meanderings in warmer weather.

The interior is lavishly decorated in mahogany and brass, designed also by Barry, with an ornate handrail up the main staircase, installed to allow the French Prince Talleyrand to access the upper levels in his later years. Amongst all this finery, there are also excellent examples of art, objets and decorations from across the globe.

 

“Treddleford sat in an easeful armchair in front of a slumberous fire, with a volume of verse in his hand and the comfortable consciousness that outside the club windows the rain was dripping and pattering with persistent purpose. A chill, wet October afternoon was emerging into a black, wet October evening, and the club smoking-room seemed warmer and cosier by contrast. It was an afternoon on which to be wafted away from one’s climatic surroundings, and The Golden Journey to Samarkand promised to bear Treddleford well and bravely into other lands and under other skies...”

-Saki, “A Defensive Diamond”