Club History

The English St. Bernard Club is the parent Club of the breed clubs today.

It was first registered with the Kennel Club in 1922, although it is interesting to note that the cover of the 1953 handbook states that the Club was foundered in 1891.

Indeed the English St. Bernard Club owns several magnificent silver trophies dated in the late1800’s but these are engraved The St. Bernard Club and the Northern St. Bernard Club. These Clubs were disbanded during the first world war, the English St. Bernard Club and the St. Bernard Club of Scotland were the first St. Bernard Clubs formed thereafter.

The earliest authenticated report of the breed being brought to England from its native hospice in Switzerland was in 1815 when one was brought to Leasowe Castle. More imports followed and the breed grew in popularity. Queen Victoria owned two in the 1840’s, and they were a popular dog with the nobility. By the late 1870’s they were the favorite large size companion dog. There were approximately 70 entries at the Crystal Palace show in 1879 and at the Alexandra Palace show in the same year.

According to Dalziel the idea of a St. Bernard club was first conceived by the Rev. Arthur Carter in December 1881 at Alexandra Palace and formed in February 1882. At this time the St. Bernard Club was the only one of the specialist clubs to hold its own shows and Dalziel states that these attracted entries of nearly 400. The Club states as its principal object – “ to encourage the breeding of the St. Bernard dogs of a certain recognised type and to stimulate popular interest in these only, to the exclusion of others of a different and objectionable character”. To do this the Club undertook to “define the type and urge the adoption of this type on breeders, exhibitors, judges, dog show committees and others as the only standard to which St.Bernards should be judged”. The Club also compiled a stud book and gave many prizes to show committees for competition as well as giving the two “100 guinea cups”, the winning of one of these was the prime objective of exhibitors in the 1890’s. These two trophies are given today by the English St. Bernard Club for Best Dog and for Best Bitch at their Club Championship show.

Dr. Inman, who with Mr C. Walmsley owned the Bowden Kennel, was largely responsible for founding the National St. Bernard Club. This Club was in the main for those members who lived to far north to belong to the London based Club foundered by the Rev. Carter. The National Club was foundered as such in 1899, being the direct outcome of a Liverpool and Northern Counties St. Bernard Club begun by Messrs. Foster and Bowley and others in 1893. The new Club in the north also offered many fine trophies. Whilst these clubs ceased to exist during the first world war, the breed was kept going mainly by the ”Pearl” Kennel of Mr Mrs Redwood. In the late 1940’s the Club had a membership of approximately 50, this had increased to 67 in 1953 when a hand book was produced.

In 1974 the Club held its first Open Show at Clay Cross. Mrs Kathleen Gaunt was to have been the judge but, but due to her death, her place was taken by Mrs. Clare Bradley of the Snowranger St. Bernards. This show drew an entry of about 70 dogs.

In 1979 the Club held its first Championship Show at Bingham Sports Centre with an entry of 148 dogs.

Today the Club is run by the Offices and Committee whose names appear on this website .

The Club’s Secretaries have been have been Mr Redwood, Mrs Briggs, Mr. Gaunt, Mrs. Holmes, Mrs James and Miss Muggleton. Following Miss Muggleton’s retirement after 25 years in Office the currant secretary is Mrs. Linda Martin.