St. James's Coffee House

1131 St. James’s Coffee House near St. James’s Palace 1705–60s; St. James’s Coffee-house No. 87 St. James’s Street c1765-c1806. Later appears to be Graham’s Club.

1131. St. James's Coffee House near St. James's Palace. Later known as No. 87 St. James's St. The location of this house varies according to the account one happens to read. Established before houses were numbered, descriptions such as 'at the corner'; 'next door to the corner' and 'three doors from the corner' of St. James's Street indicating its site, are identified with the later-known No. 87.

1705

St. James's Coffee House appears to have been established in 1705 by John Elliott. Oddly enough, Ashton lists the house as 'James Street Coffee-house, St. James's Street (Elliot, proprietor),; but whether John Elliott who 'succeeded Arthur Goffe' in 1705, is the same Elliott listed at a coffee-house in Albemarle Street in 1702 by Ashton, is unknown.

1707–11

Richard Steele, who married his second wife 9th Sep. 1707, addressed many of his love-letters to 'Dear Prue'—Mary Scurlock—both before and after his marriage, from St. James's and other coffee-houses. Some 400 of these letters are housed in the British Museum, and provide the earliest contemporary mention of St. James's Coffee-house. In 1708, mentioned in 'Daily Courant' 6th Jan.

1709–10

Between 7th April 1709 and 31 December 1710, fifty-four items published in the 'Tatler' are dated from St. James's Coffee House. An incident there, is mentioned by Apperson in 'Memorials of Old London' 'soon after the first appearance of The Tatler' when two or three well-dressed men walked into St. James's Coffee-house, and in 'a loud, truculent manner' abused Steele as the author. One swore that he would cut Steele's throat or teach him better manners. Among the company present was Lord Forbes with two officers of 'high rank in the army'.

1709

In July 1708, Michael Cole obtained a patent for Globular lamps, and an advertisement in the following year draws attention to the invention: 'There is a new Sort of Light call'd a Globe Light, at St. James's Coffee House, near St. James's Palace, which is observ'd to enlighten the Street, and all Parts near it, with a true steady Light, and no way offensive to the Eye. The person who contriv'd it and set it up, may be heard of there, having obtain'd Her Majesty's Letters Patent for the Same.' Cole 'attended there to answer queries relating to it'.

1710

In Swift's 'Journal to Stella' we learn that letters addressed to him there, were put 'in the glass frame at the bar of St. James's Coffee-House'. The 'Evening Post' Numb. 69, 19–21 Jan. 1710, advertises: This Paper comes out every Post Night at Six a Clock, contains the freshest Advices, with a Blank to write on, and for the Conveniency of Gentlemen is sold by the Booksellers, and at ... various coffee-houses which included St. James's.

In the same year, an advertisement of 1st May, announces that Tickets were to be had at St. James's Coffee House for 'The Pastoral Masque composed by Mr. Clayton' to be performed on 3rd May 'in the great room at York-buildings'.

1710–11

Both Addison and Steele frequented the St. James's. 'The Spectator' No.1, March 1, 1710–11, relates: 'I appear on Sunday nights at St. James's coffee-house, and sometimes join the little committee on politics in the inner-room, as one who comes there to hear and improve ...' No. 24, 'Spectator', 28 March, 1711, carries the following notice: 'To prevent all mistakes that may happen among gentlemen of the other end of the town, who come but once a week to St. James's coffee-house, either by miscalling the servants, or requiring such things from them as are not properly within their respective provinces; this is to give notice, that Kidney, keeper of the book-debts of the outlying customers, and observer of those who go off without paying, having resigned that employment, is succeeded by John Sowton; to whose place of enterer of messages and first coffee-grinder, William Bird is promoted; and Samuel Burdock comes as shoe-cleaner in the room of the said Bird. R.'

1712

The 'Spectator', No. 403, June 12, 1712, Addison refers to the speculations of 'coffee-house politicians' on the death of the King of France: 'I first of all called in at St. James's, where I found the whole outward room in a buz of politics. The speculations were but very indifferent towards the door, but grew finer as you advanced to the upper end of the room, and were so very much inproved by a knot of theorists, who sat in the inner room, within the steams of the coffee-pot, that I heard the whole Spanish monarchy disposed of, and all the line of Bourbon provided for in less than a quarter of an hour... . ' [Louis XIV died 1 Sep. 1715.]

1713

Mr. Brookes a wine-merchant advertises in 1713: 'that any subscriber shall have his note made payable by an abatement of 2s. per gallon, till they are repaid, thinks that the wines are ... cheaper than those sold by vintners. Any subscriber's note still unpaid shall be taken at any of Mr. B's cellars as money. The full proposals may be had at ... St. James's Coffee House... .'

1716

An advertisement of the first edition of 'Town Eclogues' by Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, states they had been read over at St. James's Coffee House, and 'attributed by the general voice to be the productions of a Lady of Quality'.

1722–46

The L.C.C. Survey of London, Vol. XXX, deals fully with the leases, and Proprietors of St. James's Coffee House. We learn here that John Elliott continued as Proprietor until 1722, when he was succeeded by his widow, Thomasin, and the house remained in her possession until 1746.

1724

The writer of 'A Journey through England' 1724, says: 'We rise by Nine, and those that frequent great Men's Levees find Entertainment at them till Eleven, or, as in Holland, go to Tea-Tables. About Twelve the Beau-Monde assembles in several Chocolate and Coffee Houses: The Best of which are the Cocoa-Tree and White's Chocolate-Houses, St. James's, the Smyrna, Mrs. Rochford's and the British Coffee-Houses, and all these so near one another, that in less than an Hour you see the Company of them all ... I must not forget to tell you, that the Parties have their different Places, where, however, a Stranger is always well receiv'd; but a Whig will no more go to the Cocoa-Tree or Osinda's, than a Tory will be seen at the Coffee-House of St. James's... .'

1733

In April, 1733, White's Chocolate House was destroyed by fire; the 'Daily Post' 3 May, carries the following notice: '... White's Chocolate House is removed to Gaunt's Coffee House, next the St. James's Coffee House in St. James's Street... .'

1746–47

James Rowles, coffeeman and vintner, succeeded Thomasin Elliott in 1747; Survey of London remarks that 'he apparently continued the coffee-house at No. 87 and in 1749 he also became the tenant of the adjoining coffee-house on the north (No. 86) which he probably turned into a tavern.'

1756–57

In 1756–57, the house was frequented by Florence Hensey, the French spy. See Montpellier Coffee House. No. 1831.

1761

In 1761, an advertisement in the 'Daily Advertiser' is answered by a gentleman in the same paper: 'Whereas I had long despaired of meeting with a temptation to enter into the Holy State of Matrimony, I read the agreeable advertisement of a Lady whose sentiments jump so entirely with mine, I am convinced we are cut out from one another. I am a Gentleman of exceptionally good family, Losses and crosses have reduced my fortune to my wardrobe, a diamond ring, a gold watch and an amber-headed-cane, but ... I imagine this will be no hindrance. My person is far from disagreeable, my skin smooth and shining, my forehead high and polished, my eyes sharp tho' small, my nose long and aquiline, my mouth wide, and what teeth I have, perfectly sound, all these with the addition of a flaxen full-bottomed wig suitable to the age between forty and fifty, with a good heart and a sweet disposition but not one unruly particle, compose the man who will be willing to pay his devoirs to the Lady, if she will direct her letters for S. U. to be left at St. James's Coffee-house.' (Thompson—Love, Marriage & Romance in Old London.)

1763

In 1763, Angelo, or to give his full names Domenico Angelo Malevotta Tremamondo, the famous riding and fencing master of the time, bought Carlisle House and erected his Riding House and stables 'upon the large Square of ground behind it'. Angelo advertised that his fencing school here was to be opened in January 1763. His 'Treatise on fencing could be seen at st. James's Coffee House, at Messrs: Dodsley's in Pall Mall, or at Mr. Henderson's, at the Royal Exchange'.

1765–76

A renewal of lease in 1765, is mentioned in Vol. XXX, Survey of London, when the Crown lessee 'agreed to let to Rowles the St. James's Coffee House, the house adjoining it on the south' and two small timber buildings. 'The increase in rateable value in 1765 sug- gests that Rowles rebuilt the St. James's Coffee House, which he vacated the following year' although 'he continued as tenant of No. 86 until 1768'. From 1767 to 1776, says the Survey 'the coffee-house was continued by Thomas Staplyton'.

1773

In 1773, William Hickey records: 'My father at this time belonged to a society of literary men who met at the St. James's Coffee House.' (Memoirs of William Hickey, I, 308.)

1774–76

Many references are to be found in English literature to the notable characters of the time, in the habit of meeting and dining together at st. James's Coffee House; these include Mr. Garrick, Sir Joshua Reynolds, Mr. Goldsmith, Mr. Burke, Mr. Cumberland, Dr. Bernard, and many others. It is here that Garrick produced an epitaph on Oliver Goldsmith, which induced Goldsmith to write his 'Retaliation' in February 1774, and published after his decease.

1775–76

Joseph Warton, the critic, frequented the st. James's in the late 1770s; when, so it is recorded, it was no uncommon thing to see him at Breakfast 'surrounded by officers of the Guards, who listened with the utmost attention and pleasure to his remarks.' (Life of Warton.) Lord Carlisle describes how in 1776, Baron de Lingsing 'ran a French officer through the body ... for laughing at the St. James's Coffee-house' adding 'I find he did not pretend that he himself was laughed at, but at that moment he chose that the world should be grave.'

1786–90

In 'Annals of St. James's Street' Chancellor mentions that as a young man, Isaac Disraeli (1766–1848) was accustomed to come up to London, from his father's house at Enfield, in order to read the newspapers at St. James's Coffee House.

1787

Mr. Foster Bond of the Postal History Society has drawn my attention to a letter dated 1 May, 1787, directed to the 'Earl of Shannon, St. James's Coffee House, London'.

1795–96

It is not clear when the St. James's Coffee House at No. 87, ended its existence. L.C.C. Survey, Vol. XXX, says 'the house was still in use as a coffee-house in 1795, when James Carr was the occupant ...'

Fenwick's directory 1796, gives St. James's Coffee House, St. James's Street, but no indication of either the proprietor, or the number of the house.

1802

The L.C.C. Survey says that Carr remained until 1802, when he was succeeded by William Graham, and 'thereafter the house was described in turn as public house, an hotel, and a clubhouse'. The mention of William Graham rather indicates the establishment of Graham's Club, which according to Nevill's 'London Clubs' was at No. 87, St. James's Street 'the headquarters of whist' and here it is said Lord Henry Bentinck invented the 'Blue Peter' or call for trumps.

1806

1806 is the date mentioned by Cunningham, Wheatley, Thornbury, and Chancellor, when St. James's Coffee House was closed; but no documentation is given in support of their comment that 'when its Whig friends having deserted its doors, it passed quietly away, superseded no doubt, by Brook's Club'.

Wheatley says the house closed about 1806, and a large pile of buildings looking down Pall Mall erected on the site; and Chancellor writing in 1922, says 'these in turn were pulled down a few years ago and a still more elaborate structure raised in their place.'

The Survey, Vol. XXX, says 'in 1850 "The Builder" suggested that Graham's Club and the houses to the south should be demolished in order to create a piazza in front of St. James's Palace', adding 'No. 87 was ultimately demolished to make way for the present building, which was erected in 1904–5.'

The directories in the early part of the 19th century are not helpful. 'St. James's Coffee-house opposite the Palace gate' is listed in 1803, 1814, and 1833, is believed to refer to the one at No. 88.

See

St. James's Coffee House. No. 1132.
St. James's Coffee House. No. 1133.

1340. The Coffee House, St. James's Street. A title sometimes given to the St. James's Coffee House.

See No. 1131.