Almack’s full name is Almack's Assembly Rooms. Holding a voucher to attend their balls was the difference between high society and low society. The purpose of these vouchers was to exclude the newly rich and the déclassé from attending.
10 Interesting Facts about Almack’s
- Almack’s was one of the first social clubs to admit both genders inside its doors.
- The ladies who ran the club were known as the Lady Patronesses of Almack's.
- There were no more than six or seven Patronesses at any time.
- The balls were held only on Wednesday nights. (Does this make hump day more or less appropriate?)
- The cost of the non-transferable annual vouchers that got you inside the doors was ten guineas.
- Almack’s did not have feasts. They served: thinly sliced day old bread, fresh butter, pound cake without frosting, lemonade and tea.
- Every Monday night for the duration of the London Season, The Lady Patronesses got together and examined the behavior of all the members. This was also when new people would be recommended for membership.
- You did not have to be wealthy to have your membership accepted and while having an aristocratic title would be in your favor, membership wasn't guaranteed.
- About a quarter of the British aristocracy (that applied) was denied membership.
- Dances were limited to country dances in order to avoid any suggestion of impropriety.
There were three types of dancing opportunities in the Regency period. Almack's is considered to be a public assembly, even though it was exclusive, because one could purchase vouchers. What other fun facts can you add?
Photo Credits: Jane Austen's World
 |
|
US $22.66 |
Sale |
 |
|
US $29.84 |
Sale |
 |
|
US $22.01 |
Sale |
 |
|
US $21.36 |
Sale |
 |
|
US $22.66 |
Sale |
 |
|
US $17.45 |
Sale |
 |
|
US $23.32 |
Sale |
 |
|
US $21.36 |
Sale |
 |
|
US $4.99 |
Sale |
 |
|
US $1.00 |
Sale |
Online Stores Tagged as:
assembly rooms,
balls,
both genders,
british aristocracy,
country dances,
frosting,
fun facts,
guineas,
hump day,
impropriety,
interesting facts,
lady patronesses,
lemonade,
london season,
monday night,
pound cake,
social clubs,
voucher,
vouchers,
wednesday nights
This post was written by...
Keira – who has written 1035 posts on Love Romance Passion.
Keira's favorite type of heroes are blind, scarred, and tortured... yes, she understands those should be separate, but all 3 at once is also nice! She enjoys historical romances best and adores audio books because great narrators turn books into auditory/mental movies (and she loves her romantic dramas like Pride and Prejudice/North and South!) Learn more about Keira in My Instant Turn Ons, Offs, and Ifs.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I knew there were a lot of rules to Almacks, but I never knew they were that involved. Or that you had to pay!
Very interesting. Almack’s is mentioned so much in hist-roms, good to know these points.
You got me. I have to confess my only knowledge comes from reading historicals. Thanks for a more thorough history.
I thought it was pretty cool too.