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The Only Club to Join: Almack's Assembly Rooms

© Viola Ashford

"[Almack's] is the subject of the nocturnal visions of thousands of both sexes in the fashionable world," wrote James Grant in his book, The Great Metropolis. "It is the subject of their daydreams."

This extremely fashionable and exclusive club began as a gambling club in 1715. However, in the Regency era, it became an Assembly Room for glamorous dances and balls. Seven patronesses, or Society ladies, including Princess Esterhazy and the Russian Countess Lieven, governed Almack's, deciding on rules of admission, dress, and behavior. The slightest concern about a girl's reputation could prevent her being admitted to this club which gave one entrée into the highest ranks of society and a much greater likelihood of making a 'good marriage'. Even the rules governing the admission of gentlemen (who had many more rights than women generally in that era) were extremely strict, but very arbitrary and inconsistent. Younger sons, for example, were often not admitted, especially if they were considered to be roués by the patronesses, but older sons entitled to inherit their father's wealth were often admitted regardless of their reputation. Even the clothes requirements were stringent. Gentlemen, for example, had to wear knee breeches and white cravats. They were refused admission if they wore trousers. One story concerns the Duke of Wellington, who was refused entry for wearing trousers. He apparently accepted this and quietly walked away.

Admission to Almack's, it was said, could make or break entire families so it was extremely desirable to be given a voucher allowing one to enter this sought-after club. The Season at Almack's began in the second week of April lasting until the middle of July. Balls were held every Wednesday night during the Season. The Patronesses even had the power to decide on a debutante's dancing partners when she was granted admission.

Although nights at Almack's were supposed to be very dull, they consisted of gambling and all-night dancing which sounds like fun. Supper was served at 11 p.m. Supper was often described in the literature of the time as quite awful, consisting as it did of weak lemonade, weak tea, stale cakes and thin slices of bread and butter.

Introduction of the Waltz

The waltz originally began in Germany where it was derived from folk-dancing. Many couples favoured this new and controversial style of dancing which enabled them to hold each other closely as they whirled about the room. This closeness was frowned upon. A German writer even set out to prove that "the waltz is a main source of the weakness of body and mind of our generation" in a book which was very popular.

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