The Mildmay Club, 33-34 Newington Green, London

Details

Accessibility

Accessible toilet

Brief description

"Originally known as the Mildmay Radical Club, it first opened its doors in 1888 at 36 Newington Green Road. It was not universally popular going by the views of the the vicar of nearby St Matthias church, who casitigated its ‘pernicious influence among the young’.  But it brushed off such disaproval, moving in 1894 to a new clubhouse on Newington Green, near to the Unitarian chapel.  Finally, in 1900 the club we know today was built – now a Grade 2 listed building, designed by member and architect, Alfred Allen.

In 1930, the ‘Radical’ tag was dropped and it became the Mildmay Club and Institute, establishing its non-political credentials."

https://programme.openhouse.org.uk/listings/8772

"A rare example of a large purpose built metropolitan working men’s club with over 100 years of history. A once dignified building, revival Queen Anne style in the late-Victorian period, Grade II listed in 2019. There are only a handful of social (formerly working men’s) clubs left in London. The Mildmay Club on Newington Green, with its combination of a long radical history, an attractive building, and the extensive and unique facilities stands head and shoulders above all others. It is a building and a tradition that the current committee and membership is keen to preserve.

The Mildmay Club is illustrative of the social and historical trajectory of working men’s clubs. As its original name (Mildmay Radical Club) implies, it was founded as a radical political club within the Working Men’s Club and Institute Union (CIU). This had been founded in 1862 to promote an extension of the traditional ‘gentleman’s club’ to the working classes and to provide them with venues for both entertainment and self-improvement.

The clubs were originally seen as augmenting Temperance Halls as a way of providing working men with an alternative to the evils of the public house and also followed on from the tradition of working class educational institutions like the Mechanics’ Institutes and Lyceums. They were also, however, part of a tradition of radical political clubs largely derived from the Chartist movement of the 1830s.

By the early 1880s the metropolitan working men’s clubs were broadly of two kinds: social clubs and political clubs. The larger radical clubs tended to be found in London, which in terms of numbers of clubs dominated the CIU.

By the turn of the twentieth century, The Mildmay Club, although not one of the earliest, was recognised as one of the largest and most politically active of the capital’s working men’s clubs. They took part in debates and demonstrations on the political issues of the day, both national, such as the call for a legal eight-hour working day or home rule for Ireland, or local, including issues relating to London’s Board schools.

The Club was particularly involved in its opposition to the Second Boer War (1899-1902), despite many of its members being called up to fight in South Africa as members of the volunteer reserves. The founding of a rifle club in 1902, in line with many others patriotically established following the experience of the Boer War, is perhaps indicative of a tension between the radical function of a club and its establishment role of shaping ‘good’ citizens. The Mildmay rifle club was particularly successful with 200 members, reflecting a relatively affluent membership as shooting was a comparatively expensive pastime.

The heyday of the radical working men’s clubs lasted from the early 1880s to the start of the First World War after which their political influence declined and social functions within the clubs increased in importance. This change also marked a decline in the metropolitan domination of the working men's club movement.

The Mildmay Club is one of the last surviving working men’s clubs in the capital and its history and fabric illustrates the political aspect of such clubs, the early metropolitan dominance and the later pre-eminence of its leisure functions."

Address

The Mildmay Club, 33-34 Newington Green, London N16 9PR

Email

Phone

Website

https://mildmay.club/

Directions

There is no parking at the Club.

Opening Times

Always check with the venue directly for up-to-date information including opening times and admission charges as they may be subject to change

Transport

https://programme.openhouse.org.uk/listings/8772

2025: "Tube: Highbury & Islington

Train

Dalston Junction, Canonbury

Bus

236, 73, 341, 476 "

Amenities

Toilets

Accessible toilet