Baker's Coffee House

65 Bakers Coffee House Exchange Alley Cornhill c1695–1884; Bakers Chop House to 1928.

65. Baker's Coffee House, Exchange Alley, Cornhill, No.1 (1767); Nos. 1 & 2 (1776); thereafter listed as No.1, or simply as Exchange Alley.

The origin and date of establishment of Baker's is obscure. According to some writers was 'formerly the Swan and Rummer'. There was certainly a Swan & Rummer near the Royal Exchange in 1719–20, and one in Finch Lane from 1726–48, and mention of another in 1739 in Bartholomew Lane, but I find no mention of a Swan & Rummer in Exchange Alley.

1695–1720

Baker's is said to date from 1695. Is listed by Ashton 1702–14, and mentioned in the 'Examiner' July 1711, also in Strype's Survey 1720, Vol. I. Bk. II, p. 163.

1726–31

Referred to in Lost-Reward Notices issued by the Beadle at Goldsmiths-Hall. The two quoted below are from my collection:

'Numb. 11582 August 10, 1727. LOST Yesterday being the 19th of August, a Note of Mr. Nath. Braffey and Compo No. 501. payable to Dan. Ray, 100 1. Whoever brings it to the Bar at Baker's Coffee-house in Exchange-Alley, shall have Five Guineas Reward. NB. Payment is stopt. John Boddington, Beadle, at Goldsmiths-Hall.'

'Numb. 11953 June 24. 1731. LOST in or about Exchange Alley this day, a Draught on the Bank of England, No. 5437, N. for 530 1. drawn by Mr. John Edwards, payable to Mr. Benjamin Mustaphia or Bearer. Whoever has found it, and will bring it to the Bar at Baker's Coffee-house, and enquire for the said Benjamin Mustaphia, upon the Delivery of the said Draught to him, shall receive Two Guineas Reward, and no Questions ask'd. N.B. No farther Reward will be offer'd, Payment being stop'd. Benjamin Pyne, Beadle, at Goldsmith's-Hall.'

1734–38

Baker's is mentioned in the Churchwardens Accounts of St. Mary Woolnoth 1734–38. In 1735, mentioned in 'London Evening Post' 25 March, and 29–31 May.

1738

Confirmation is needed to support Timbs' suggestion that 'the landlord after whom it is named, may possibly have been a descendant from "Baker" the Master of Lloyd's Coffee Rooms'. Richard Baker, who became Master of Lloyd's Coffee-house in 1738, died in 1748. Therefore the reverse of Timbs' suggestion may be the case. (Clubs and Club Life in London—Timbs, 1872.)

1740–48

Baker's Coffee House is listed in the London directories 1740–48. The house is described as 'greatly damaged' in the disastrous fire in Cornhill, March, 1748. The Plan of the Fire by T. Jefferys, 25 March, shews Baker's at the western end of the same block of buildings as Garraway's Coffee-house. Baker's was obviously repaired or rebuilt and reappears in the directories 1752.

1752–76

From 1767 to 1774 listed as No. 1, Exchange Alley, and as Nos. 1 & 2, in 1776, which may indicate an extension of premises and expansion of business.

1778

A fire in Pope's Head Alley on 1st December 1778 which consumed a number of properties 'likewise damaged Baker's Coffee-house'. (Lloyd's Evening Post, 30 Nov.–2 Dec. 1778.)

1780–1840

From 1780 to 1840, Bakers is listed either as 'Change Alley, or No. 1, 'Change Alley.

1794

A press-cutting in Guildhall Library records that 'in a room above the coffee-room the London Missionary Society was founded in 1794'. Elmes quotes 1795 as the date of foundation of this Society.

1798

In 1798 the Proprietor is Richard Pugh, and Baker's is described as 'much frequented by Timber merchants and brokers in general concerned in timber trade inland and foreign'. A few years later, 1801–3 in 1801–03: 'mostly frequented by merchants and others engaged in the timber trade.... Dinners dressed and beds procured.'

1804

In 1804 the Office of Assessed Taxes was at Baker's Coffee-house. C.E. Wilsonn of the Receivers General of Taxes in London and Middlesex had his office there. (Royal Kalendar 1804, p. 291.)

1809–13

From 1809–13 the Proprietor is listed as John Biggs, Wine Merchant,

1822–40s

and from 1822 to the 1840s, as Wm. Gibson. Throughout the first half of the nineteenth century, Baker's appears to have been a busy and well-patronised coffee-house with a variety of traders using the house as a business address. According to the directories these include Brokers, Merchants, Corn-factors, Sworn-Brokers, Ship-Brokers, Insurance-Brokers, Stock-Brokers, General Merchants, and one Coal Merchant. Towards the end of the period a preponderance of Stock-Brokers is noted.

1855

By 1855, the house is 'noted for its chops and steaks, broiled in the coffee-room, and thus eaten hot from the gridiron; with excellent 1872–3 stout and post-prandial punch'. Timbs (1872) remarks that Baker's 'is remembered as a tavern some forty years since ... it has been for many years, a chop-house, with direct service from the gridiron and upon pewter ... in the lower room is a portrait of James, thirty-five years waiter here'.

1884–96

Several drawings of the house are known. 'Baker's Coffee House' 'Change Alley, from London Etchings, 1884, by Hanslip Fletcher also 'Baker's Chop House in Change Alley London' are in Guildhall Library. Welch, 1896, gives an illustration of 'Baker's still in Change Alley'. The house is mentioned in the 'City Press' 1st September, and 'Daily Mail' 7 September, 1897.

Rogers in 'Old London' (1935): This formerly well known City eating-house has formed part of the premises of Martin's Bank for many years.

1928

A lamp, with "Baker's Chop House" on it, was retained on its original site until the recent rebuilding in 1928. It stood behind No. 70 in the western branch of 'Change Alley.