This beautiful building just off Pall Mall, is home to the Athenaeum Club, a private members club founded in 1824 primarily for men and women with more intellectual interests. It’s sometimes known as the bishop’s club due to the large number of clergy who are members here.
It was designed by the eminent architect Decimus Burton (who was the tenth child of ten children, hence the christian name). Above the portico is a statue of the classical goddess of wisdom, Athena, from whom the club derives its name. She was also the goddess of war and handicraft, which seems a curious mix. The bas-relief frieze around the building is a copy of the frieze of the Parthenon in Athens.
The club has boasted an impressive list of members over the years, including 51 Nobel Laureates.
All very impressive. But this is not what this blog is about. It’s actually about one of its members and how they got to and from the club.
Look carefully at the left of the picture and you’ll be able to see what looks like some randomly placed stone blocks.
But look closer and they don’t seem so random.
They were actually placed here for the Duke of Wellington – apparently not the tallest of chaps – to be able to step up and mount his horse. And vice versa of course.
And I’m sure that when the duke wasn’t in attendance, other members of smaller height, welcoming the help in mounting and dismounting, would have used the steps.