Genealogy Chat

Hello all

Wonder if anyone could help me out with this. (^_^)

In 1920, my great grandfather is listed as living at a place called 'Portman Club' in Church Street, Marylebone. No number given. I've done some searches on google, but only come up with two possibilities, there's a place 'today' called Portman early learning centre in Church Street, and also 'Portman Square'. None I feel strongly about. Does anyone know what this Portman Club might be? Or if anyone can shed light on what it might have been. Any help/tips will do, many thanks!

Rachel

Is that the only year he is listed at that address?

1901

Portman Club, 80, Church Street, St Marylebone, Marylebone, London, England

Loads of names listed

Herridge
Harris
Horton
Loads shown as boarders

Gentlemen's clubs often had accommodation for members

What is the document which gives that address for him?

1911 if you need to check it

Name: John Herridge
Age in 1911: 80
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1831
Relation to Head: Head
Gender: Male
Birth Place: Ham
Civil Parish: St Marylebone
County/Island: London
Country: England
Street address: 80-82 Church St, St Marylebone NW, London W
Marital Status: Married
Years Married: 21
Estimated Marriage Year: 1890
Occupation: PENSIONER
Registration district: St Marylebone
Registration District Number: 7
Sub-registration district: Christchurch
ED, institution, or vessel: 4
Piece: 561

That is currently the only time that I have him listed there at the moment. The document that I found it on was a military one, where he lists that as his place of address before being taken to Wormwood Scrubs (another subject I'll be asking about later on a different thread!)

Oh, I should add, he did live at 44 Church Street as a child. But this 'Portman Club' has me intrigued. His name is Thomas Thompson.

From Wikipedia list of London Gentlemen's Clubs:-

Portland Club (formerly the Stratford Club until 1825)

Established c.1815

Location: 94 Piccadilly (sharing the premises of the Naval and Military Club between 1969 and the 1990s); 69 Brook Street (current, sharing premises of the Savile Club)

Located since 1990's

Affilliation: Cards

No women members

Looks like this was a gentlemen's club where men went to gamble at card games.

Kath. x

Is this him in the 1901 census or is it one of his ancestors:-

1901 England, Wales & Scotland Census Transcription
44, Church Street, St Marylebone, Marylebone, London, England

First name(s) Last name Relationship Marital status Gender Age Birth year Occupation Birth place

Thomas Martin Thompson Head Married Male 58 1843 Confectioner & Sweets Kingsbridge
Harriett Thompson Wife Married Female 56 1845 - Marylebone, Middlesex, England
Jane Thompson Grand Daughter Single Female 5 1896 - Marylebone, Middlesex, England
Emma Watson Sister Married Female 52 1849 - Chelsea, Middlesex, England
George Thompson Son Single Male 23 1878 Builders Carman Westminster, Middlesex, England

Kath. x

So Portman and Portland are the same clubs? Makes sense. A gambling club, hmm! And they had their own room there, must have been addicted to gambling or something.

Kath, those are his relatives in 1901, Thomas Martin Thompson (1843) was his Grandfather, who he was named after. This Thomas Martin Thompson was born in 1897, though he lies in most documents and says he was born in 1895. Frank Thompson was his father, Margaret (nee Lynch) was his mother.

I can't see any reference to a Portman Club in Church Street- but there is this:

Cambridge Chronicle and Journal - Friday 27 February 1835

"A clubhouse is about to be established and is now forming, designated the PORTMAN CLUB. The house, at present, is preparing for the reception of the Members is situated in Baker Street, Portman Square; which position will constitute a great convenience to gentlemen situated in Regent's Park, and others living in its fashionable neighbourhood.

The club will be conducted on the same principles as those of the most approved London Clubs, the comfort and convenience of which are too generally known and appreciated to need any description.

The first hundred members elected will be admitted free of the entrance subscription which will be £25. Annual subscription £5.: and £1. upon registering name..."

Rachel

Please don't start another thread about the man.................just add your query to this, and indicate in the title that you have done so

Gritty, great find!!

Thanks for the help everyone! So a gentlemen's club eh. More mystery to my great grandfather, seeing as the records didn't point towards him being upper or middle class.

Jacqueline, I wasn't aware that you could alter the title, thanks for the tip for future reference!

Sorry Rachel...my mistake. I mixed up Portland and Portman.

Kath. x

I think the Portman club in Baker Street, Portman Square might be a different place. The Portman Club, Church Street is referenced in Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Marylebone in 1915:

"In North Marylebone the number of attendances at the consultations held at the
Portman Club, Church Street, under Drs. Christine Murrell and Emily Mecredy,
was 2,690, as against 2,098 in 1914..."

http://wellcomelibrary.org/moh/report/b18254299/16#?asi=0&ai=16&z=-0.4418%2C0.4247%2C2.3101%2C0.9917

No problem, Kath, thanks for searching anyway!

And Gritty, interesting, thanks once again for your detective skills. Wonder why he'd list a medical office as his place of residence though, unless he was a patient there or it was simply turned into 'flats' later on.