Hellfire Club: Difference between revisions

The membership was initially limited to twelve but soon increased. Of the original twelve, some are regularly identified: Dashwood, [[Robert Vansittart (jurist),|Robert Vansittart]], [[Thomas Potter]] the son of [[John Potter (Archbishop)|John Potter]] the [[Archbishop of Canterbury]], [[Francis Duffield]], [[Edward Thompson]] and [[Paul Whitehead(satirist)|Paul Whitehead]]. [[Benjamin Franklin]] is said to have occasionally attended the club's meetings{{ <ref>Walsh}}</ref> as a non-member during his time in England. The name [[George Bubb Dodington]], a fabulously corpulent man in his 60s, is often cited. Though hardly a gentleman, [[William Hogarth]] has been associated with the club after painting Dashwood as a Franciscian Frair {{<ref>Coppens}}</ref>. Many Hellfire Club members have been linked to Freemasonry. We see this with the Duke of Wharton, who after having his Club disbanded became the Grandmaster of England.

According to George Knowles, the first gatherings of Sir Francis' Club was originally in his family home in West Wycombe, however it was not the right place for the frivoulous activities he had planned. In 1751, [[Dashwood]] leased [[Medmenham Abbey]] on the [[Thames]] (about six miles from his childhood home of [[West Wycombe]]) {{<ref>Howard}}</ref> from a friend, [[Francis Duffield]] {{<ref>Knowles}}</ref>. On moving into the Abbey, Dashwood had expensive works done on the building including the extension of the infamous caves underneath the Abbey itself. These are now known as the [[West Wycombe Caves]] or the Hellfire Caves where tours are held regularly.