Langham Sketch Club

The Langham Sketching Club (from which the London Sketch Club was born), was founded in 1838 and incorporated a rare and distinguished breed – the black and white illustrator. The illustrated book was the amusement centre for practically every home, and the people who produced them often became household names. The Langham could boast the cream of London's artists. Every Friday night, at seven o'clock sharp, from October to May, the members, including such all-time greats as Arthur Rackham, John Tenniel and George Keene, would get together in their studio-cum-clubhouse-cum-dining-room and draw for two hours on any given subject. These drawings were then pinned up, and a lively discussion ensued, based on the work's merit. At precisely nine-thirty, a hearty supper of bread, cheese and endless beer was served, and the rest of the evening was spent in conversation or entertainment, either amongst themselves or from any of a large selection of popular entertainers who were pleased to be associated with such worthy company.

In 1898, an absurd quarrel broke out amongst the members as to whether the suppers should be hot or cold. Foolish as it seems now, a large group, including such luminaries as Phil May, Tom Browne and Dudley Hardy (who all wanted hot), broke away from the Langham (who wanted cold) and the London Sketch Club was born. The inaugural meeting was held at the Florence Restaurant (now long gone) at seven o'clock on 1st April 1898, and the club closely followed the style and format of its rather disapproving mother, the Langham. By 1913, the club had relocated to a terrace in Marylebone Road, which became rather ignominiously the site of Woolworth's head office. In 1914, New Zealander Harry Rountree, destined to become one of Britain's finest children's illustrators, became President. Other members at the time included Harold Earnshaw and one of the few women members, his wife Mabel Lucy Attwell. Other illustrators and artists of fame included William Heath Robinson, John Hassall and Terence Cuneo. Guests included Charlie Chaplin and Stanley Holloway who as a member, entertained others there for nearly 50 years. Since 2021, the Society has met in the Upper Hall at St. Columba’s, Pont Street, London SW1X 0BD.

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