English Club of Pau, France

The English Club of Pau is a private social club also known in French as le Cercle Anglais. It owns and conserves a decorative arts and book collection listed as a French monument historique (ISMH).[1][2] The English Club’s mission includes an annual open house during the Journées de Patrimoine (European Heritage Days) and for reserved non-profit group tours, conferences, member publications and club member activities, all concentrated on the education and promotion of Pau’s former Anglo-American Colony. It is housed at the Villa Lawrance by the City of Pau.

Early 20th century post cards of the English Club, Place Royale, Pau

History
La villa Lawrance, historical property of the city of Pau, residence of the Cercle Anglais and the Académie de Béarn

A British Colony men’s reading room dating back to 1828 was chartered February 26, 1856 as the English Literary Society (Société Littéraire Anglaise) which became The English Club in 1859.[3] Originally, the club was located at la Place Royale. It then moved across the Place Royale in 1871 to the building that would be its home until 1957 when it moved into the main salon of the former Hotel Gassion.[4] Addition moves in 1990 to the Villa Regina, then the Villa Riquoir in 1996. In 2002, the City of Pau agreed to host the English Club and its collections at Villa Lawrance.[5] For many years, members were permitted to list the English Club as the seat for sporting clubs, including the Pau Hunt, Polo Club and Pau Golf Club.[6][5]

Collection

The collection includes 19th and early 20th century English language books (mostly housed at the municipal archives). The English Club’s art collection includes works by Allen Culpepper Sealy (1850-1927), Jean Heîd « Hed » (1890-1957), Harry La Montagne (1869-1959) Paul Mirat (1885 – 1966), Viscount Henri de Vaufreland (1873 – 1957) and Eugene Blocaille (1873 - 1961). It also includes horse racing, cross county and steeple chase memorabilia of the Pau Hound (Drag) and portraits of past members.

Chairmen of the English Club

Notable members and Honored Guests

Royal Visitors

Edward VII

The Prince of Wales, future Edward VIII[11][12]

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gollark: ||They get the infinity stones from the past but an evil nebula goes to the future and brings thanos back to the future so they have to kill thanos again.||
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gollark: ||thanos is in it||
gollark: They're not run on boot, though, so it's uninstallation.

References
  1. Delage, Benoist (30 July 2014). "Portant Inscription d'Objets Mobiliers au Titre des Monuments Historiques". Arrèté Préfectoral N° 2014/ENV/05.
  2. "Objets Mobiliers Inscrits au Titre des Monuments Historiques au Cercle Anglais". Ministère de la Culture. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  3. Laitty, François (26 February 1856). "authorisation of the constitution for the Société Littéraire Anglaise". Arrèté Préfectoral des Basse Pyrénées.
  4. "Ancien Hôtel de Gassion, actuellement cercle de jeux". Ministère de la Culture. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  5. Sabin, Pierre Henri; Malet, Maxine; Pivert, Léon Pierre (2007). Le Cercle Anglais, Tourism climatique et période anglaise. Le Cercle Anglais.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. Duloum, Joseph (1970). Les Anglaise dans les Pyrénées et les Débuts du Tourisme Pyrénéen (1736 – 1896). Les Amis du Musée Pyrénéen.
  7. "Notes Mondaines". Pau Saison. 1929–1936.CS1 maint: date format (link)
  8. Miller, Mary R. (2006). Baroness of Hobcaw. The Life of Belle W. Baruch. Columbia, South Carolina: The University of South Carolina Press. ISBN 978-1-57003-959-1.
  9. Lebrun, Jean (2014). Notre Chanel (French). Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule: Bleu Autour. ISBN 2358480584.
  10. McAllister, Ward (1890). Society as I have Found it. New York: Cassell Publishing Company.
  11. "Biarritz Regrets Wales' Departure". The Sunday Star Washington D.C.: 20. 26 May 1926.
  12. Tucoo-Chala, Pierre (1979). Pau, Ville Anglaise.
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