English Club of Pau, France


The English Club of Pau is a private social club also known in French as :fr:Cercle anglais|le Cercle Anglais. It owns and conserves a decorative arts and book collection listed as a French monument historique. The English Club’s mission includes an annual open house during the Journées de Patrimoine and for reserved non-profit group tours, conferences, member publications and club member activities, all concentrated on the education and promotion of Pau’s former Anglo-American Colony. It is housed at the Villa Lawrance by the City of Pau.

History

A British Colony men’s reading room dating back to 1828 was chartered February 26, 1856 as the English Literary Society which became The English Club in 1859.
Originally, the club was located at :fr:Place Royale |la Place Royale. It then moved across the Place Royale in 1871 to the building that would be its home until 1957 when it moved into the main salon of the former Hotel Gassion. Addition moves in 1990 to the Villa Regina, then the Villa Riquoir in 1996. In 2002, the City of Pau agreed to host the English Club and its collections at Villa Lawrance.
For many years, members were permitted to list the English Club as the seat for sporting clubs, including the Pau Hunt, Polo Club and Pau Golf Club.

Collection

The collection includes 19th and early 20th century English language books. The English Club’s art collection includes works by Allen Culpepper Sealy, Jean Heîd « Hed », Harry La Montagne Paul Mirat, Viscount Henri de Vaufreland and Eugene Blocaille. It also includes horse racing, cross county and steeple chase memorabilia of the Pau Hound and portraits of past members.

Notable members and Honored Guests