The Kitcat Club

The Duke of Marlborough in Garter Robes Giclee Print 9" x 12" $34.99 Unframed

Sir Walter Besant, in The Fascination of London, published in 1903, continues his survey of the Strand district with a look at the Kitcat Club:

Shear or Shire Lane formerly ran from the east end of Carey Street to the Strand, and formed the St Clement Danes parish boundary.

This was a narrow, dirty lane of the vilest reputation before its demolition, but it had known better days. A very famous tavern stood in the lane, first called the Cat and Fiddle, later the Trumpet, and still later the Duke of York's.

The well-known Kitcat Club met here originally.

This was a society of thirty-nine gentlemen or noblemen zealously attached to the Protestant succession in the House of Hanover, and originated about 1700.

Addison and Steele, Congreve, Vanbrugh, and others of celebrity, besides the Dukes of Somerset, Devonshire, Marlborough, Newcastle, etc, and many others, titled and untitled, were of the society.

The bookseller Tonson was the secretary, and he had his own and all their portraits painted by Sir Godfrey Kneller, who was also a member of the club.

Addison dated many of his famous essays from this address. The lane was known in the reign of the first James as Rogues' Lane.

Next: the Strand district: Lincoln's Inn Fields