The Victoria Working Men's Club was a working men's club at 275 Sandycombe Road[1] in Kew, Richmond, London which operated from 1892[2][3] until 2015, when the building it occupied was sold to a property developer. In February 2017 Richmond upon Thames Council approved a planning application to demolish the building, and erect a new community building and six flats.[4]
The building
The club was housed in Victoria & St John's, a building in timber[5] clad with corrugated iron, which from 1876 to 1889 had been an iron church on the opposite side of Sandycombe Road, housing St Luke's Church and St Luke's School.[3] It was moved to its present position in 1889 when the current St Luke's Church was built in The Avenue.[3] Its close association with the history of Kew led to it being listed in 2005 by the local council as a Building of Townscape Merit.[6][7]
The club
Alderman James Weeks Szlumper, an engineer and major benefactor of Darell Road School, who had also been mayor of Richmond,[8] was, for many years, the club's president and patron.[8][9]
The club was renowned for the amount of money it raised to send cigarettes to British soldiers at the front in the First World War.[3] It was visited by four overseas prime ministers and many British government ministers and by members of the British Royal Family.[3] A photograph shows Alderman Szlumper seated between the Duke and Duchess of York (later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth).[8] David Blomfield, former Chairman of the Richmond Local History Society, said: "In all, the club boasted of visits from 50 such VIPs over seven years – probably a unique record for a club of its size, and most certainly for one set in such accommodation".[3]
Current use
The building continued to be used by the club as a billiards hall until 2015; it is now empty. As of 2016, an extension at the back of the building was still used by a school for Japanese martial arts.[10]
In February 2017 Richmond upon Thames Council approved a planning application to demolish the building, and erect a new community building and six flats.[4]
References
- ^ Richardson, David (2003). "Victoria and St John's Working Men's Club". Local History and Heritage: Community Archive. London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
- ^ "The churches" (PDF). Conservation Area Study: Kew Road no. 55, Kew Gardens no. 15 & Lawn Crescent no. 20. London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. May 2007. p. 4. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f Blomfield, David (1994). Kew Past. Phillimore & Co Ltd. pp. 116–117. ISBN 0-85033923-5.
- ^ a b Angus, Robert (23 February 2017). "The Town and Country Planning Act 1990, (as amended) Decision Notice Application: 16/0905/FUL" (PDF). London Borough of Richmond upon Thames.
- ^ "275 Sandycombe Road, Richmond upon Thames". Move Hut. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
- ^ "Locally listed buildings". London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. 21 January 2015. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
- ^ "Buildings of Townscape Merit" (PDF). London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. Retrieved 16 August 2016.
- ^ a b c Stearn, Roger T (2007). "Patrons and potatoes: Aspects of an Edwardian council school". Richmond History: Journal of the Richmond Local History Society. 28: 78–79.
- ^ Szlumper, James 1834–1926 Sir James Szlumper Cuttings Files, 1869-1919. Richmond upon Thames Local Studies Library and Archive. GB 358 DC56 on the Archives Hub website. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
- ^ "Welcome to the Anglo Japanese Martial Arts School". Retrieved 4 February 2016.