London's Polo Clubs in 1900: Hurlingham

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Arthur H. Beavan had this to say, in Imperial London, first published in 1901, about the Hurlingham Polo Club:

During the London season, from about four to five o'clock in the afternoon, continuous streams of carriages may be seen in the Fulham Road, all going in the same direction until after Stamford Bridge is crossed, when one set continues its course to Barn Elms, Ranelagh, while the other branches off in the direction of Hurlingham, whither the gaily-dressed occupants are bound, to witness the fashionable game of polo; and a very delightful afternoon they have if only the weather be fine.

On warm nights it is the custom to stay on after the match is over, dine to the sound of a splendid military band, and sit under the big trees, sipping coffee and enjoying a good cigar.

Hurlingham is a big place for London - fifty acres; twenty-five being given up to polo.

There is a lake of four acres, the gardens are prettily laid out, and the entire estate is belted with noble timber that almost fringes the river front.

The club-house, a delightful old creeper-covered mansion with high-pitched roof, is very roomy and comfortable; the smoking-room is delightful, cool on a hot day; the drawing-room, though plainly furnished, has a lovely view of the grounds; and the dining-rooms and cuisine are without fault.

They are costly little creatures, the price for a first-class pony running into several hundreds of pounds.

During the past few years the game has progressed by leaps and bounds.

Every season witnesses the formation of new clubs, and the fact that their rolls of membership are always quickly filled up shows that there is scope for further enterprise in the same direction.

Polo is entitled to be regarded as an established institution in the Army.

The authorities recognize its value in the training of officers, more especially of cavalry officers, and the great event of military polo - the Inter-regimental Tournament - receives their sanction and approval.

Starting from a given point, each mounted competitor jumps a couple of hurdles, carries a coracle to the ornamental lake, and crossing over to the opposite bank, finds awaiting him a dummy wounded soldier, whom he lifts into the coracle, paddles back, mounts his pony with the dummy, and, covered with glory at having rescued a wounded comrade, reaches the winning-post and wins the Cross.

Besides polo, there are pigeon-shooting and pigeon-racing matches at Hurlingham, while tennis and other games are going on more or less all through the summer.

Next: London's Polo Clubs in 1900: Ranelagh