CLUBS AND THE PROFESSIONS A change was by now coming over the institution of the club. With the increase in population and more grandiose ideas, it was found necessary to allocate such centres to varied tastes and oc cupations, and thus whereas previously the statesman and the sol dier, the literary man and the artist, had more or less congregated in common centres, clubs specially designed for different profes sions and callings began to be established, and club-houses of splendid proportions sprang up under the hands of well-known architects about that area of Pall Mall and St. James's which has for long been the special home of such places. At the same time the taste for bohemianism, which reached its height during the first half of the 19th century, resulted in the foundation of a variety of clubs which enjoyed a more or less extended life, and a few of which still exist although in a gradually increasing state of sophistication. Before speaking of these, the great political clubs must be noticed. Of these, in virtue of its age and wealth of associations, comes White's, evolved from the Chocolate House of that name and started by Francis White in 1693 in a house on the site of Boodle's. Later it crossed the road to a spot now form ing the northern portion of Arthur's. In 1755 another move was made, to where its rebuilt club-house now stands with all its memories of over two centuries on its head, and its famous betting book. Brooks's, which represents the opposite political camp, originated in an establishment set up by Almack (not to be con founded with his more famous Assembly Rooms, in King street) in Pall Mall under his own name, that of Brooks appearing first in 1774, four years after which date the club was moved to St. James's street, to premises built for it by Holland.
Another club which inhabits its original home is Boodle's (1762), first known as The Scavoir Vivre, but taking its present name from Boodle, who succeeded to the management about I 1 years later. Boodle's club-house is so much in the style of the Adam brothers that it has always been regarded as their work, although there is a question as to whether or not they really had a hand in its design. It should perhaps rather be included among social clubs, such as the St. James's (which has also a diplomatic air), known once as the Coventry House Club from the beautiful mansion in Piccadilly which it has occupied since 1769, 12 years after its foundation; or The Travellers (another diplomatic cen tre) in Pall Mall, which was started in 1819, but did not blossom forth in Barry's club-house till 1832; or those other social centres such as The Windham (1828) ; The Bachelors' 0880; Arthur's (1811); The Union (1804), once in Pall Mall, then in Trafalgar square, and now in Carlton House terrace ; the Wellington (1885) ; the Cocoa Tree (1746), The Thatched House (on the site of the famous Thatched House Tavern), which grew out of the Civil Service Club, in 1865, etc.
Of the political clubs, other than White's and Brooks's, the Carlton (1831) and the Reform (1834) are the two outstanding examples, and both occupy premises of important architectural character : the last named being probably from this point of view the most impressive structure of its kind in London. To these may be added the Junior Carlton (1864) ; the Constitutional (1883) ; the St. Stephen's (1870); the National Liberal (1882) ; and the Conservative (2840); in which connection the Eighty (1880); the United (1890); The Cobden (1866) ; and the "192o" Club, are among a variety of others connected with political affairs ; these west-end clubs having their equivalents in the City, where the City Carlton (1868) ; the City Liberal, and others, have a special object in this respect; and where the City of London Club (183 2) and the Gresham (1843) are based on broader lines.