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As someone who is new to writing Regency, I feel like I am sifting through a treasure trove. There are so many jewels, it is difficult to know which one to pick up and explore. But, Almack’s is a large ruby in the chest of sapphires and gold.
Henry Luttrell wrote:
“All on that magic List depends;
Fame, fortune, fashion, lovers, friends;
'Tis that which gratifies or vexes
All ranks, all ages, and both sexes.
If once to Almack's you belong,
Like monarchs you can do no wrong;
But banished thence on Wednesday night,
By Jove, you can do nothing right.”
“All on that magic List depends;
Fame, fortune, fashion, lovers, friends;
'Tis that which gratifies or vexes
All ranks, all ages, and both sexes.
If once to Almack's you belong,
Like monarchs you can do no wrong;
But banished thence on Wednesday night,
By Jove, you can do nothing right.”
Almack’s Assembly Rooms opened on 12 February 1765 on King Street, St. James. It is named after the owner, though it is unknown if this was his actual name or a pseudonym to cover his Scottish roots.
The rooms were quite elegant and hosted a ladies club for dancing and both male and females were able to gamble. It was one of the first to admit the fairer sex. But, it wasn’t until the 1790s that the ton favored the spot and the ladies club dwindled.
As it grew in popularity, it became the place for ladies of good standing to be seen by eligible gentlemen and became referred to as “The Marriage Mart”.
Almack’s was able to do this because it was necessary to obtain a voucher for the year, in order to attend. These vouchers were giving annually and were nontransferable, costing about ten guineas. Exclusivity was the key to its success. Mother’s sought after a voucher to Almack’s and those vouchers were controlled by an elite committee.
While it often kept out the nouveau riche in favor of the titled, a title did not guarantee you entrance. It was more important that a patron be well mannered and cultured. Even a duke or duchess could find themselves without a voucher.
The establishment continued this trend by closing its doors for admittance at 11 pm and only then did it serve supper. A simple fair of bread and butter, cakes, and tea with perhaps some lemonade. The point was to see and be seen.
Almack’s was in existence long after the Regency era ended and became Willis’s Room in 1871.
It is most striking to me, how little some things change. It ties us to the past and makes the stories I read and write that much more poignant.
About the Author
Tammy Andresen lives with her husband and three children just outside of Boston, Massachussetts. Her childhood was spent on the Seacoast of Maine, where she spent countless days dreaming up stories in blueberry fields and among the scrub pines that line the coast. Her mother loved to spin a yarn and Tammy spent many hours listening to her mother retell the classics. It was inevitable that at the age of 18, she headed off to Simmons College where she studied English literature and education. She never left Massachusetts but some of her heart still resides in Maine and her family visits often.
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*Find Taming a Duke’s Reckless Heart*
Written content of this post copyright © Tammy Andresen, 2016.
