Hurlingham Club

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For the Argentine institution of the same name, see Hurlingham Club (Argentina)

The Hurlingham Club is an exclusive sports club in Fulham in southwest London, England, frequented by the social elite.

The club, founded in 1869, is situated by the River Thames in Fulham, west London, and has a beautiful Georgian clubhouse set in 42 acres of grounds. The Hurlingham provides social and sporting facilities for its members and their guests, including tennis, croquet, cricket, bowls, golf, squash and swimming (with both indoor and outdoor pools) as well as the fitness facilities provided in the Fitness Centre and gymnasium.

1 History
2 Membership
3 Notable Members
4 Facilities
5 External links

[edit] History

In 1867 Frank Heathcote obtained the leave of Richard Naylor, the Victorian capitalist, to promote pigeon shooting matches at Hurlingham. His next step was the formation of the Hurlingham Club for this purpose and 'as an agreeable country resort'. The club leased the estate from Mr Naylor in 1869 and in 1874 acquired the freehold.

The pigeon is still the club's crest. Until 1905 clouds of pigeons were released in the summer from an enclosure near what is now a tennis pavilion.

The Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII), an early patron, was a keen shot and his presence ensured the club's status and notability from the beginning. The club has recently hosted several prestigious motorshows.

Before the Second World War Hurlingham was the headquarters of British polo, and the governing body of British polo is called the Hurlingham Polo Association. However polo is no longer staged at Hurlingham after the size of the club was significantly reduced when the polo fields were compulsorily purchased by the post-war Labour government to build council housing (the Sullivan Estate).

The Guards Polo Club in Windsor Great Park has succeeded to the status of the leading British polo club.

[edit] Membership

The waiting list for membership is over fifteen years.

[edit] Notable Members

'Nasty' Nick Bateman from the first series of Big Brother, Amanda de Cadenet, Lord Fowler, Lord Temple-Morris, the 'Carry On' actress Liz Fraser, the actor Trevor Eve and his wife Sharon Maughan are all members of the Hurlingham Club.

[edit] Facilities

Hurlingham Club members enjoy sporting activities including tennis, croquet, cricket, bowls, golf, squash and swimming (with both indoor and outdoor pools) as well as fitness facilities and a gymnasium. Regular social events; games such as bridge, backgammon and chess are popular indoor pursuits. It also has a notable rackets court, of which there are few in England.