Oriental Club Staircase | Look Up London

Inside Stratford House

Set back from busy Oxford Street is Stratford Place and at the very end you can find Stratford House, the beautiful building that’s now home to the Oriental Club.

Stratford House, home of the Oriental Club | Look Up London

The club has only been here since 1962 but the history of the building (and the club for that matter) go back a lot further.

History of Stratford House

Built by Edward Stratford in the 1770s, this whole chunk of land off Oxford Street was planned as a private residential development. Basically an 18th century gated community.

You can still see a fun reminder of this here.

Edward – later the 2nd Earl of Aldborough – took the end house for himself, building a palatial, Robert Adam-esque home. It’s the only Georgian survivor along this stretch of Oxford Street.

Oriental Club Morning Room | Look Up London

Stratford House remained largely the same in various private hands, used for entertaining and as a (very grand) family home. From 1819 it was occupied by Colonel Wingfield and his family. It was his decision to commission the Italian painter Biagio Rebecca whose work can still be seen, in-situ inside.

Biagio Rebecca Ceiling, Oriental Club | Look Up London

Rebecca trained in Rome and then came to London, profiting from the huge demand for Neoclassical decorative paintings.

He worked under King George IV at Carlton House (demolished 1826) and Brighton Pavilion. In 1787 he produced a beautiful proposal for the decoration of The King’s Theatre (today Her Majesty’s Theatre on Haymarket, rebuilt 1897). The painting is now in the Royal Collection.

From 1908 the owner was Lord Derby, the War Secretary 1916-18 and French Ambassador 1918-1920. He made extensive alterations, adding a third story and adding a new staircase.

Oriental Club Staircase | Look Up London

His coat of arms can still be seen within the ironwork.

Lord Derby Coat of Arms, Oriental Club | Look Up London

During the Second World War it was leased (for free) to Christie’s, the auction house who had been bombed out of their HQ in 1941 and in 1955 It was bought by Birfield Ltd who rather shockingly dug up the garden and plonked in filing cabinets and strip lighting.

Thankfully the Oriental Club have been far more sensitive owners.

History of the Oriental Club

The club, like many other examples across London, was founded on the basis of shared experience and of cultivating a community and home-from-home atmosphere.

As you’ve probably guessed by the name, it was founded by returning officers and officials who lived and worked in India and the East, at a time when Britain’s Empire was expansive.

In 1824 Major General Sir John Malcolm put together a founding committee and set down that the initial members should be “Noblemen and gentlemen associated with the administration of our Eastern empire, or who have travelled or resided in Asia, at St. Helena, in Egypt, at the Cape of Good Hope, the Mauritius, or at Constantinople.”

Malcom was Scottish, one of 17(!) children and started his career within the East India Company’s Madras Army.

He forged a lifelong friendship with the Duke of Wellington while in India and would later become the Governor of Bombay.

He also promoted diplomatic ties with Iran and even wrote a history of the country, the first of its kind in English written from Iranian sources.

Malcolm would become the first Chairman alongside The Duke of Wellington as President. 

Funnily enough Wellington was the only President, today they only have the position of Chairman. Perhaps no one felt they could fill his boots.

The Library, Oriental Club
Image Courtesy of the Oriental Club

Initially the club was based on Grosvenor Street, then moved to Hanover Square until 1961.

Today the club has a hugely diverse community of around 3,000 members (in case you were wondering women have been accepted since the early 20thC). You can find out more about membership here

Inside the Oriental Club

I’m forever surprised by historic nooks found a stone’s throw from London’s busy streets. I had to keep reminding myself that we were only a short walk from Oxford Street.

The Oriental Club is spacious and grand but also comfortable and cosy.

The Smoking Rooms

Across the walls hang the expected portraits of British-born Victorian members, some others stand out. The Club accepted non-British honoury members from 1831.

This is Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy, with an extraordinarily entrepreneurial story of 18th century rags to riches.

Born in 1783 near present-day Mumbai, his parents both died when he was 16. At the same age, under the care of his Uncle, he went to Calcutta and then China. This would become the first of many voyages, trading in cotton and opium.

He became a fabulously wealthy merchant but also channelled his wealth into philanthropy, financing infrastructure projects such as roads, hospitals, waterworks and museums in India.

He was knighted in 1843 and then made a Baron in 1857 by Queen Victoria, the first honours of their kind and predating the foundation of the Order of the Star of India (1861). 

Another favourite was this portrait of Alice.

She was first waitress hired by the Oriental Club, starting in 1916. She worked here until aged 90, starting each morning at 5.30am. There was even documentary made about her for the BBC in 1978!

I hope you enjoyed this behind-the-scenes peek at the Oriental Club. Although it’s a private club it’s previously been available to visit during Open House weekend and so fingers crossed it’ll be open this year!


More London Inspiration

Get the latest London secrets to your email
See the city from a new angle, discovering little things you miss everyday and get the latest news about upcoming tours.
Once a week. No spam, just inspiration.
Your details will never be shared with any 3rd parties

Latest Blog Posts

  • Hidden History of Golden Square | Look Up London

    Hidden History of Golden Square 

    It might not have the immediate charm of Soho Square, but Golden Square has a fascinating history (and a good reason for its messy hodge-podge of architectural styles and ages). While walking through on a sunny afternoon I was struck by how many little details......

  • Queen Anne's Alcove, Kensington Gardens | Look Up London

    The Surprising History of Queen Anne’s Alcove

    Within Kensington Garden’s Italian Gardens you can find the monumental Queen Anne’s Alcove. Not only was it designed by Christopher Wren but it has a surprising history! The Italian Gardens were laid out around 1860, spearheaded by Prince Albert. They followed a similar plan for......

  • Art Deco Details of Palladium House | Look Up London

    Palladium House | The Art Deco Beauty Opposite Liberty’s

    It’s no surprise that people fail to appreciate Palladium House. Standing opposite the glorious facade of Liberty’s, the majority of people take photos of that wonderful black and white entrance. Now, this isn’t to say that Liberty doesn’t have its own historic credentials (you can......

  • 23-24 Leinster Gardens, London’s Fake Houses

    In the streets close to Bayswater tube station you can admire row upon row of Victorian, stucco terraces. But 23 & 24 Leinster Gardens hold a sneaky surprise. They are London’s fake houses! History of Leinster Gardens Leinster Gardens was laid out around 1855 and......

  • The FANY Memorial on St Paul's, Knightsbridge

    The FANY Memorial on St Paul’s, Knightsbridge

    On the wall of St Paul’s Knightsbridge, there’s a surprising war memorial where all the names are women. It remembers the members of the Women’s Transport Service (later known as FANY). History of FANY The First Aid Nursing Yeomanry was founded back in 1907. It......

  • Oriental Club Staircase | Look Up London

    Inside Stratford House

    Set back from busy Oxford Street is Stratford Place and at the very end you can find Stratford House, the beautiful building that’s now home to the Oriental Club. The club has only been here since 1962 but the history of the building (and the......

3 Comments

  • Stewart Francis

    Reply

    Thank you, Katie. As I read your lovely acount, I thought ‘I do hope I can visit it’ — and yes, as you said at the, end, hopefully it will be open on the Open Weekend! A great find – yet another oasis in the centre of London!

    February 22, 2023 at 10:32 am
  • Wendy Johnson

    Reply

    I love the portrait of Alice, the waitress. How lovely that they have honoured her in this way.

    February 22, 2023 at 2:44 pm
  • Sheila Jenkins

    Reply

    We had an excellent talk on Sir Jamsetee Jeejeebhoy the other night at the oriental club. Very interested to see the portrait of
    Alice I will seek it out next time I’m in the club .

    April 12, 2023 at 11:01 am

Post a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

BOOK NOW