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The inaugural meeting of the Ladies' Caledonian Club was held in Edinburgh in January 1908. The objects of the Club were to provide residential accommodation and a meeting place for a membership of about 200. Within a month membership stood at 150. The Club premises at 139 George Street were officially opened in June, but proved inadequate almost immediately. From 1910-1915 the Club was accommodated in the Roxburgh Hotel, Charlotte Square. For the duration of the First World War, temporary memberships were introduced for the benefit of officers' wives resident in Edinburgh.
In 1915, on amalgamation with a proposed new Ladies' Club, more extensive premises were obtained at 17 Charlotte Square. Shortly before the expiry of this lease, funds were raised to purchase Numbers 13 and 14 Charlotte Square. After extensive alterations, the new premises were opened in February 1924. Here, until the outbreak of the Second World War, the Club enjoyed its most successful period, with long waiting-lists and affiliations with numerous ladies' clubs throughout Britain and abroad.
During the Second World War, the Club, like many other institutions, suffered from wartime restrictions: food-rationing, black-outs, fire-watches and the conscription of many members of staff. Temporary memberships were re-introduced. Financial difficulties increased after the war and by 1954 it had become necessary to introduce a 5-year voluntary fund. In 1962 a special appeal was launched to pay for the introduction of improved fire precautions. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s the Club's financial position was adversely affected by local and central government taxation and inflation. In 1976 capital was raised by the sale of property in Randolph Lane and gentlemen were admitted to boost smaller, less expensive, non-residential premises at 29 Queensferry Street. In accordance with a resolution passed in September 1981, the Ladies' Caledonian Club was wound up in April 1982. |