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APPENDIX. 
METROPOLITAN PIGEON SOCIETIES AND THEIR HISTORY. 
The first society of which any record exists was founded in 1720 at the “Jacob’s Well,” in 
Barbican. To this society we trace the primitive standard (as depicted in the prints it published, 
and some of which are in the possession of Mr. Esquilant) of the Carrier, the Pouter, and the 
Almond Tumbler. During the twenty-five first years of this century, a club, exclusively for 
Almonds, Black-mottles, Beards, and Baldhead Tumblers, flourished at “The Ship” tavern, 
situated at the back of Shoreditch Church. Among its supporters were Sir John Sebright and 
Mr. Bellamy. 
The society, however, which stands out conspicuous amongst all others, is the Columbarian, 
sometimes styled the “Original Columbarian Society.” It was founded about the year 1750, and to it 
the principal pigeon societies that have since been instituted trace their parentage. The “Treatise 
on the Almond Tumbler,” published in 1802, was written by one of its members, a solicitor in 
Thavies Inn, and dedicated to the Society. The Columbarian Society laid down the Almond 
standard, citing the five properties, and which is still acknowledged, as no other standard has been 
laid down. Each house in Fleet Street has its history of the last century, and “ The Globe,” in 
that street, is noted as the first home of this society. The members subsequently removed to 
the “Queen’s Head” tavern, Holborn, next to the “Gray’s Inn” Gateway. One of its first 
members was Mr. Garle. Mr. French Stevens, one of its presidents, was a celebrated and 
successful Almond breeder. It remained the pigeon society of England until the end of the last 
century, when it came under the more enthusiastic care of Mr. Garle’s son. A period of high 
and long success now followed. The average number of its members was about thirty, and 
amongst them at one time could be counted seven members of Parliament, the others being 
bankers and other gentlemen of high social position. The names of Sir John Sebright, Messrs. 
French Stevens, Hollingsworth, Bird, Sells, Hardy, Rutley, and Harton (its last secretary), 
should be recorded amongst its prominent supporters. After an existence of a hundred years, 
however, its end came. But it had started columbiculture into a new life at the beginning 
of the nineteenth century ; and these records of its history, though few and brief, will be of 
enduring and increasing interest to all fanciers. 
The societies before mentioned had devoted their energies principally to the Almond 
Tumbler. But about 1825, to satisfy the want for a club of a more general character, “The 
Feather Club ” was founded, its principal promoter being Mr. Bellamy. Its first head-quarters 
were “ The Griffin,” Threadneedle Street, a hostelry many years ago demolished for the Royal 
Exchange improvements. After being located in Basinghall Street, and at the “ Red Fion,” in 
Fenchurch Street, its most celebrated president, Mr. Moray, who could boast that he had not been 
without pigeons sixty years, established it at the “United States” Tavern, in Liverpool Street. 
