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It is a well known fact that an underground tunnel connects 10 Downing Street, the British Prime Minister’s residence in London, with number 12 (we’re not sure why number 11 was left out) but it is surprising just how many residences, both old and new, are harbouring hidden passages. Secret doors and passageways have been used in structures for thousands of years – the Egyptian pyramids are full of them. There is something thrilling about stumbling upon a hidden portal, like Alice plummeting down the rabbit hole; a promise of adventure to come, clandestine tales and mystery. In today’s brief compendium, we explore some of our favourites. Starting with…

Picture this: you, an ambitious, career-driven woman wanting to conquer the Big Apple but struggling to find a place to stay. Lodging costs are likely your top concern. Once upon a time not long ago, it wasn’t just about the prices holding you back, but a city-wide policy that prohibited women from checking into hotels unless accompanies by a husband. Enter women-only hotels, the unsung heroes of women’s liberation.

A delicate turn of the century book pendant that opens to reveal a tiny accordion-fold book of Joan of Arc's life.  Strung on a soft olive-green ribbon, it’s a wearable curiosity—part jewellery, part miniature time capsule—perfect for lovers of little French treasures.

Let’s pack our bags and plan a summer holiday on some beautiful island. But forget the palm trees; we’re heading up north to the land of Vikings and the country with the most islands in the world. That’s right, Sweden has more than 220,000 islands. Okay, so that number might be up for debate as that all depends on what you define as an island. Some count rocky outcrops as islands, while others prefer to only consider something with a bit more landmass like an islet, which is why you’ll find this number tends to fluctuate between 220,000 and 267,570 islands. 

Signed copies will be available for purchase at the club event on Thursday April 23rd. This event is currently full but keyholders can still attend remotely (more information here). 

Mathilde de Morny presumed many nicknames. Friends called her “Missy”, but in her artistic endeavours, she also went by the pseudonym “Yssim” (an anagram of Missy). When dressed in men’s clothing, she preferred “Max”, or sometimes “Uncle Max” or “Monsieur le Marquis”. When she arrived in Paris in the 1880s, De Morny made her debut on the social scene wearing ball gowns, but soon found the confidence to defy social conventions not only through her relationships with women but also through experimenting with gender identity and embracing a masculine image. She was known to wear trousers under a removable skirt, which she could tear off and leave in the cloak room of Paris’ closed circle establishments. “Teetering between lesbianism and transsexuality”, to this day, she has kept historians guessing, even with Colette’s works as source material, “as to whether Missy could be classified as a butch lesbian or a transgender man.”

Calling all Paris people watchers! Your club uniform is now available.