William Harnett Blanch


William Harnett Blanch

Local historian and eccentric club founder.

Location: 55 Denman Road, Peckham, SE15 5NS

Description: London historian William Harnett Blanch (1836-1900) lived here, author of the History of the Parish of Camberwell.

He is better known today as the founder of The London Thirteen Club. The met formally for luncheon to debunk superstitions on the thirteenth of every month, with thirteen dinner tables, each with thirteen settings.

Diners wore green ties with toy skeletons in their buttonholes, and meals were served by two cross-eyed waiters, who announced the start of dinner by smashing two mirrors.

To get to the dining room, guests had to follow an undertaker beneath a ladder and then sit at tables decorated with a centrepiece featuring a black cat, peacock feathers and witches' cauldrons, and were asked to spill salt before eating.

The club had numerous members including leading journalists and politicians, and all membership fees were distributed to the poor of Southwark.

Oscar Wilde famously refused to join saying that I love superstitions. They are the opponent of common sense.

Themes: LiteraryLiterary Theme  QuirkyQuirky Theme
William Harnett Blanch

Local historian and eccentric club founder.

Ranking This Month: 7/3089

Pages Hit This Month: 29


Your Comments:

Name:
Email:
Your email will ONLY be used once, to confirm the publication of your comments. We value your contribution and privacy.

Anti-spam Security: Please enter this code:


Other places nearby:


Home of Ian Fleming», 3.4km

Voltaire lived and wrote here», 3.3km

WT Stead lived here», 2.7km

Mount Pleasant - or is it?», 3.9km

Roald Dahl's Studio», 3.1km

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Home», 2.8km

Samuel Pepys birthplace», 3.1km

Da Vinci Code: Opus Dei», 5.6km

Clapham Junction & Oscar Wilde», 4.5km

2 Blokes, 1 Bookshop, No Idea», 8.4km

Location Pinpointed:


Open Street Maps», Google Maps»