Man's Coffee House

Man's Coffee-house, on the water-side, behind Charing Cross, near Scotland Yard, was so called after the keeper or proprietor, Mr. Alexander Man, "Coffee, tea, and chocolate maker" to William III.¹ "Old Man's," or the "Royal Coffee-house," as it was sometimes called,² was established in the reign of Charles II. …

We as naturally went from Man's Coffee House to the Parade, as a coachman drives from Locket's to the Playhouse.—Tom Brown's Works, vol. iii. p. 40.

The Scots go generally to the British [Coffee-house] and a mixture of all sorts to the Smyrma. There are other little Coffee Houses much frequented in this neighbourhood. Young Man's for officers, Old Man's for Stock Jobbers, Pay-masters and Courtiers, and Little Man's for Sharpers.—Macky, A Journey through England, 8vo, 1722, vol. i. p. 168.

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¹ Chamberlayne, 1692, p. 135.
² London Gazette for 1674, No. 875.

A description of Man's Coffee-house, situate in Scotland-yard, near the water-side, is an excellent picture of a fashionable coffee-house of the day. It took its name from the proprietor, Alexander Man, and was sometimes known as Old Man's, or the Royal Coffee-house, to distinguish it from Young Man's and Little Man's minor establishments in the neighbourhood:—

We now ascended a pair of stairs, which brought us into an old-fashioned room, where a gaudy crowd of odoriferous Tom-Essences were walking backwards and forwards with their hats in their hands, not daring to convert them to their intended use, lest it should put the foretops of their wigs into some disorder. We squeezed through till we got to the end of the room, where, at a small table, we sat down, and observed that it was as great a rarity to hear anybody call for a dish of Politician's porridge, or any other liquor, as it is to hear a beau call for a pipe of tobacco; their whole exercise being to charge and discharge their nostrils, and keep the curls of their periwigs in their proper order. The clashing of their snush-box lids, in opening and shutting, made more noise than their tongues. Bows and cringes of the newest mode were here exchanged, 'twixt friend and friend, with wonderful exactness. They made a humming like so many hornets in a country chimney, not with their talking, but with their whispering over their new Minuets and Bories, with their hands in their pockets, if only freed from their snush-box. We now began to be thoughtful of a pipe of tobacco; whereupon we ventured to call for some instruments of evaporation, which were accordingly brought us, but with such a kind of unwillingness, as if they would much rather have been rid of our company; for their tables were so very neat, and shined with rubbing, like the upper-leathers of an alderman's shoes, and as brown as the top of a country housewife's cupboard. The floor was as clean swept as a Sir Courtly's dining-room, which made us look round, to see if there were no orders hung up to impose the forfeiture of so much Mop-money upon any person that should spit out of the chimney-corner. Notwithstanding we wanted an example to encourage us in our porterly rudeness, we ordered them to light the wax-candle, by which we ignified our pipes and blew about our whiffs; at which several Sir Foplins drew their faces into as many peevishwrinkles, as the beaux at the Bow-street Coffee-house, near Covent-garden did, when the gentleman in masquerade came in amongst them, with his oyster-barrel muff and turnip-buttons, to ridicule their fopperies.

778. Man's Coffee House, near Charing Cross.

1666–68

Was established by Mr. Alexander Man 'soon after' the 29th September 1666, 'neere Chearing Crosse' ... 'commonly called or knowne by the name or signe of the Golden Fleece. ...' The house appears to have removed, probably in 1668, and is later known as the Royal Coffee House, and later still as Old Man's Coffee House. At times referred to as Jenny Man's, but the association is not clearly established.
     Alexander Man, a Scot, is said to have followed General Monk to London just before the Restoration in 1660. The date he set up his coffee-house has not previously been mentioned, and I am indebted to Mr. Anderson of the Guildhall Library for kindly drawing my attention to the Chancery suit Rhodes v. Vaughan, 1668 (Public Record Office, No. C7 475/53) wherein the Bill and Answer contain some details concerning Alexander Man and his coffee-house.
     John Rhodes of the parish of st. Martin-in-the-Fields, Bookseller, declares Edward Vaughan of the same parish, gentleman, 'being seised of or interested in a messuage or tenement ... neere Chearing Cross ... commonly called or knowne by the name or signe of the Golden Fleece conteyning one Shopp two Chambers a garrett a buttery and colehouse', on the 28th September 1666 let the same to Rhodes from the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel next for the term of three years, at £35 annual rent. Rhodes let two rooms and the coalhouse to Alexander Man for one year and again one year at £30 annual rent, but when Man had taken the premises for a second year, Vaughan told Man to pay the rent to him and not to Rhodes. Rhodes let the shop and buttery to one George Skilbeck for one and a quarter years from 30th April 1668, and subsequently Vaughan without Rhodes' consent let Man's rooms to Skilbeck and told the latter to pay him the rent.
     Vaughan, in his answer, says it was verbally agreed between himself and Rhodes, that the premises should not be let to any persons using any trade or occupation that should annoy him or his lodgers 'as coffee-man and the like'. It was agreed that articles should be drawn up by a scrivener, but Rhodes refused to sign, and soon after let part of the premises to Alexander Man, a coffee-man 'whereby this defendant and severall eminent persons of quality lodging in this defendants other parte of his house adjoyning to the said premises ... were annoyed with the stinking smell of coffee and the smoake of tobacco and thereupon the said persons of quality who were lodged ... and paid great rents by the weeke being so near the Court deserted and forsooke these defendant's lodgings'.
     From the foregoing, it will be seen that Rhodes became tenant of Vaughan on the day following the agreement, i.e., 29th September 1666, 'the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel next'; that Alexander Man entered upon his one year tenancy 'soon after' and 'again one year' which would appear to expire towards the end of 1668.
     It is not clear what followed the Chancery Suit, or whether Alexander Man removed to other premises. Robinson in his History of Early Coffee houses, says that Man set up 'in the neighbourhood of Whitehall and was declared "Coffee Man to Charles II" and until the Palace was burned down in 1698, his establishment was facile princeps amongst a number of lesser coffee-houses'. Ukers in 'All about Coffee' mentions that the first Royal Warrant for coffee was given by Charles II to Alexander Man, who advertised himself as 'Coffee man to Charles II'.
     Man's Coffee House receives mention in contemporary writings with the following variety of description:

1666	'neere Chearing Crosse ... commonly called ... the Golden Fleece. ...'
1674	'Man's Coffeehouse on the water-side behind Charing Cross near Scotland-Yard.'
1676	'Royal Coffee House near Whitehall.'
1678	'Mans Coffee-house in the Court of Requests.'
1684	'Royal Coffee House Charing Cross.'
1700	'Mr. Man at the Royal Coffee House at Charing Cross.'
1700	'Old Man's Coffee House' with a mention of 'Mrs Man'.
1702	'Mrs. Man at Old Man's Coffee House near Charing Cross.'
1702	'Old Man's Coffee House, Tilt Yard, Charing Cross.'
1705	'Old Man's Coffee House near Whitehall.'
1708	'Mans Coffe hous near Charen Cros London.'
1710	'Mr. Man's the Royal Coffee House near Whitehall.'
1712	'Jenny Man's.'
1712	'Old Man's, Tilt Yard, Whitehall ... kept by the well known Jenny Man.'
1714	'Jenny Man's Coffee House at Charing Cross.'
n.d.	'Jenny Man's Tilt-Yard Coffee House.'
1720	'Old Man's Coffee House near Charing Cross.'
1726–36	'Old Man's Coffee House at Charing Cross.'
1734–35	'Old Man's Coffee House, formerly in the Occupation of Ann Man.'
1740	'Old Man's Coffee House.'
1741	'almost opposite to the Admiralty near Charing Cross ... late Old Man's Coffee House.'
1769	'Old Man's Coffee House ... now called the Admiralty Coffee House.'

Hence the confusion to be found in many places. In addition to Man's Coffee House near Charing Cross, others in London include: 'Little Man's'; 'Man's New Coffee-house'; 'Young Man's, Charing Cross'; 'Young Man's, Crooked Lane'; 'Man's in Birchin Lane'; 'Man's' in Chancery Lane. Many writers simply mention 'Man's Coffee-house' without date or locality, or documentation.

1669–74

The L.C.C. Survey of London Vol. XVI, says the first appearance of 'Mr. Man' in the ratebooks is for the year 1669, and the Hearth Tax Roll for 1674 shows the house, Alcock's House, assessed for 11 hearths in the occupation of—Man. This probably indicates the removal of Alexander Man from the premises leased by Rhodes 1666–68, as the assessment of 11 hearths seems a lot for the 'two rooms and the coalhouse' then mentioned.

1674–75

The 'London Gazette', No. 875, 1674, is quoted by Cunningham: 'Man's Coffee house on the water side behind Charing Cross, near Scotland-yard.'
     It is known that coffee-houses were licensed in the reign of Charles II (1660–85) from a Proclamation of 23 Dec. 1675 'for the supprestion of coffee-houses' and 'all licenses were to be revoked'. But the public uproar that followed, soon caused the Proclamation to be withdrawn. From about this time Man is referred to as 'Coffee man to Charles II' and obtaining the first Royal Warrant for coffee, the house became known as the Royal Coffee House. The earliest contemporary mention noted, is in connexion with 'The Intelligence Office for Servants' established under a patent granted by Charles II

1676

in 1676. The patentees appointed three places, where masters and mistresses and servants might mutually accommodate themselves—'opposite to Assurance Office within the Royal Exchange, next door to the Royal Coffee-house near Whitehall, and at the Three Cranes, near the Meal Market Southwark'.
     Mr. Macmichael remarks in his 'Charing Cross' this is perhaps the first-known servants' registry.

1678

In the evidence of Mr. William Goldsborough the Younger, given at the enquiry into the death of Sir Edmundbury Godfrey, whose body was found at Primrose Hill October 1678, is mentioned: '... This Mr. Goldsborough succeeding his Father to the Clerks Place in the House of Commons, I went into Mans Coffee-house in the Court of Requests, while the Parliament was Sitting. ...' (Observator, Num. 123, Vol. I. April 15. 1682—The Mystery of the death of Sir E.B. Godfrey-Roger L'Estrange, 1688.)

1679–80

Man's Coffee-house is included in Dangerfield's list. Thomas Dangerfield (?1650–85) described in the D.N.B. as 'an informer' and 'a false witness' and 'a man of infamous character ... unworthy of the least credit' reported on meetings or pretended clubs 'with a full list of the members and others plotting a commonwealth'. It is stated, he had the idea to spread rumours and false stories both for the fear and benefit of the Papists 'to find idle persons that appeared well in apparel, and give them money to go to the coffee-houses' there to act as spies and informers.

1682

In 1682, subscriptions to Robert Murray's proposed Corporation Credit, or Bank of Credit, were to be taken in at 'Man's Coffee-house at Charing Cross'.

1684

The 'London Gazette', 30 Oct. 1684, announces that Tickets for the annual County Feasts of Warwick, Wiltshire, Gloucester, and the City of Coventry, at Merchant Taylors' Hall, were to be had at the Royal Coffee House, Charing Cross.

1687

In 1687, the 'True' Dr. Anderson's, or Scott's Pills, are advertised in the 'London Gazette', 8 March 1687 'to be had at the Royal Coffee-house Charing Cross'. These pills are described in Paris's Pharmacologia as consisting of Barbadoes Aloes, with a proportion of Jalap and Oil of Aniseed.
     Thomas Herbert or Hubert, His Majesty's Watchmaker, dwelt 'over against the Royal Coffee-house near Whitehall'.

1691–98

Evelyn's Diary records two serious fires in Whitehall. The first on 10 April 1691, which 'burnt down all the buildings over the Stone Gallery at Whitehall, to the waterside, beginning at the apartments of the late Duchess of Portsmouth. ...' and the second on 2 Jan. 1698, when Evelyn records: 'Whitehall burnt; nothing but walls and ruins left.' The fire consumed the entire Palace with the exception of the Banqueting House and a few buildings adjoining. Upwards of a thousand apartments, including those of the King and Queen, the Guard Room, the Wardrobe, the Treasury, the Office of the Privy Council, and the Office of the Secretary of State, together with the Chapel, all perished in flames. Brayley mentions in addition about one hundred and fifty houses, and about twenty others were blown up to prevent the fire spreading. Man's at the Charing Cross end probably escaped.

1700

Tom Brown's 'London Amusements' first published 1700, refers to Old Man's Coffee-house and to Mrs. Man pledging an Irish colonel in usquebaugh-an Irish name for whisky.

1700–01

'London Post' 24–26 Feb. 1700–01 advertises: 'The Famous Dr. Lower's Purging Paste. Exceeding all Pills and Elixirs. ... Sold ... by Mr. Man at the Royal Coffee House at Charing Cross. ...'

1702

'The Post Man' for 25–27 June 1702, is quoted in the L.C.C. Survey of London (Vol. XVI): 'LOST ... an Order upon the Survivance No. 2564 for the life of Mr. George Jennings. ...' If found 'let them deliver it to Mrs. Man at Old Man's Coffee [house] near Charing Cross'.

1702–14

Ashton, writing in 1897, says that Old Man's Coffee House 'was in the Tilt-Yard, Whitehall and was the rendezvous for officers in the army. ... It was kept by the well-known Jenny Man, whom Brown describes as pledging an Irish colonel in usquebaugh.' Tom Brown mentions only 'Mrs. Man' and whether Ashton is correct in naming her 'Jenny Man' is uncertain: he quotes no authority and as he was writing nearly 200 years later there is an element of doubt, particularly so, as other writers link Jenny Man with Young Man's Coffee House, Charing Cross.

1700–02

It was the establishment of Young Man's Coffee House, Charing Cross, probably about 1700–02, that induced Alexander Man to adopt the title of Old Man's Coffee House.

1705

'The London Gazette' Dec. 6-10, 1705, carries an advertisement in connexion with the office of the Groom Porter, who had the power to supervise the Rules &c., 'by the Law prescribed, all manner of Gaming within the Kingdom'. Thomas Archer Esqr. is named as Groom Porter and had 'his Office at Mr. Stephenson's, a Scrivener's house, over against Old Man's Coffee House, near Whitehall'.

1708

An original letter in my collection, dated from 'Carlile' Dec. 30 1708, is quaintly addressed to 'Cornal Vans att Mans Coffe hous near Charen Cros London'.

1709

In 1709, Ned Ward describes Man's Coffee-house as the 'most Eminent Coffee-house at the end of the Town ...' and in the following year,

1710

Thomas Smith of King-Street, Westminster, the self-styled 'first Master Corn-cutter of England' advertising his daily round of calls at coffee-houses in the course of his business, announces: '... and each evening going home, I call at ... Mr. Man's, the Royal Coffee House near Whitehall. ...'

1709–11

Bickerstaff's 'Lottery for the London Ladies' makes reference to 'Young spruce Beauish non-fighting Officers, often to be seen at Man's Coffee House, loaded with more Gold Lace than ever was worn by a thriving Hostess upon her Red Petticoat. ...' Isaac Bickerstaff was Richard Steel's pseudonym for his contributions to the 'Tatler'.

1711–12

An Indenture dated Feb. 28 1711–12, between Thomas, Charles and John Edwin and Alexander Man, Coffee Man, is mentioned in the L.C.C. Survey of London (Vol. XVI), whereby 'in 1712 Alexander Man obtained an assignment of the Edwin lease in respect of that particular house'.

1711

The 'Spectator' No. 109, July 5, 1711 contains a reference to the Tiltyard 'which is now a common street before Whitehall. ... I don't know but it might be exactly where the Coffee House is now.' Wheatley links this with Man's Coffee House, and it may also account for Ashton listing Old Man's Coffee House as 'Tilt Yard, Charing Cross'. But I find no confirmation of this description in any contemporary writing.

1712

The not infrequent references made to Jenny Man's Coffee House at Charing Cross 1712–14, and the absence of contemporary mention of Old Man's, may be an indication that both houses are the same. Mr. Macmichael in 'Charing Cross' says 'there was another coffee-house at Charing Cross, known as Jenny Man's, but whether identical with either of the other Man's one cannot say. ...'
     The L.C.C. Survey remarks: 'the connection, if any, between Jenny Man's Coffee House at Charing Cross ... and Young Man's, is obscure.' Ashton is the only writer I find who identifies Jenny Man with the 'Mrs. Man' mentioned by Tom Brown in 1700.

1714–15

One cannot do better than consult the L.C.C. Survey of London (Vol. XVI) for details of the property, and for particulars of the Man family. Alexander Man 'died at the close of 1714, or beginning of 1715, leaving to his widow Elizabeth "my lease and all my Right and Term in the Mansion house I now live in near Charing Cross, and all the Stock of Coffee and Tea that I shall dye possessed of".'

1718–20

Elizabeth Man died in 1718, and by her will proved 12 Sep. 1720, she in turn bequeathed the lease to her daughters, Charlotte Man and Mary Cooper. In the ratebook for 1718, Alexander Man's place is taken by Edmund Man, his son.

1719–20

An advertisement in the 'Daily Post' Jan. 16 1720 is quoted by Macmichael: 'Whereas an advertisement was lately put in Heathcote's "Halfpenny Post", by way of challenge for me to meet a person (whose name to me is unknown) at Old Man's Coffee House near Charing Cross, the 28th instant, in order to hear that said person make out his assertions in that Dialogue we had in Palace Yard, the 11th November, 1718. This will let that person know that as he would not then tell me his name, nor put it in his advertisement, I conclude he is ashamed to have it in print. If he sends me his name in print, that I may know who to ask for, I shall be willing to meet him at any convenient time and place, either by ourselves or with two friends on each side, till then I shall have neither list nor leisure to obey his nameless summons. Robert Curtis. Southwark. Jan. 13 1719–20.'

1720

MS of the Southmele family circa 1720 mentions that'Agents are to be found at Old Man's Coffee House.'

1724

Macky in his 'Journey through England' (Letter IX) when he is lodged in Pall Mall, mentions: '... There are other little Coffee-Houses much frequented in this Neighbourhood, Young Man's for Officers, Old-Man's for Stock-Jobbers, Pay-Masters, and Courtiers, and Little Man's for Sharpers... .'

1726–30

Duncan Campbell, the hero of Defoe's famous work lived in 'Buckingham-court over against Old Man's Coffee House at Charing Cross'. He appeared here as a vendor of miraculous medicines, and published 'The Friendly Demon' a postscript to which informed readers that at 'Dr. Campbell's house' at the above address 'they may be readily furnished with his "Pulvis Miraculous" and finest sort of Egyptian loadstones'. Campbell is said to have amassed a fortune from practising upon the credulity of the public. (D.N.B.)

1728

The 'Daily Post' 15 May 1728, announces 'On Monday last died Mr. Edmund Man, Master of Old Man's Coffee-house at Charing Cross, a very noted and reputable Person of the Profession. He succeeded his Father in the said Coffee-house, which was the Second that was set up in the Cities of London and Westminster.'

1729–35

The changes of ownership of the property, later identified as No. 30, Charing Cross, also the successive masters of the coffee-house are to be found fully documented in Vol. XVI of the L.C.C. Survey of London. In 1728, Edmund Man was succeeded by John Wintle, who in 1735 gives place to Edward Hurst and on Jan. 14 1734–35, Elizabeth Kelby sold him 'all that messuage ... in or near Scotland Yard ... commonly called ... Old Man's Coffee House, formerly in the Occupation of Ann Man. ...'

1733

Mentioned by G.L. Tessier, M.D. to Sir Hans Sloane, 19 June, 1733. (Sloane MSS. 4053 Br. Mus.)

1736–40

Old Man's Coffee House, Charing Cross, is listed in Lane's Masonic Records, used for Lodge meetings 1738–40. G.C. Macauley's 'James Thomson', 1908, p. 45, gives an earlier instance–'13 Sep. 1736, Thomson and Armstrong were admitted Free Masons at Old Man's Coffee House, Charing Cross. Savage officially as Master.'

1738–40

To revert to the L.C.C. Survey (Vol. XVI)—changes in lease are noted 1738, concerning Man's and the adjoining property. On 15 May, 1740, Edward Hurst 'obtained a reversionary lease from the Crown for 33 years as from Christmas, 1756, of "all that Messuage ... called Old Man's Coffee House ... abutting East on a House or Ground belonging to Humphry Edwin. ..."' and with other changes Hurst 'had now the whole of what was afterwards No. 30, Charing Cross'.

1741

In 1741, Edward Hurst rebuilt a portion of the premises and on 19 June 1741, sold to John Heath the two plots 'together with all that new Brick Messuage... then lately Erected. ...' The 'Daily Advertiser' 21 Dec. 1741, advertises: 'To be Lett or Sold. Almost opposite to the Admiralty, near Charing Cross, A large new-built Brick House, late Old Man's Coffee-house, five Stories high, elegantly finish'd. Also a back House and Kitchen, commodiously fitted up with good Cellaring, and other Conveniences, fit for a Tavern, Coffee-house, or other publick Business, and with a little Alteration may be fitted up for a private Family. Enquire at Mr. Millan's, Bookseller, near the said House.' (Macmichael—Charing Cross.)
     I find no later mention.
     The end may be reflected in the L.C.C. Survey, Vol. XVI: in 1768, George Heath applied for a reversionary Crown lease, which was granted 11 April 1770. In the deeds is mentioned 'Old Man's Coffee House' in good repair, stated to be 'now called the Admiralty Coffee House... .' The Admiralty Coffee-house is known here in 1749, thus a gap of about eight years is unaccounted for.
     Note: Neither Young Man's Coffee House, nor Little Man's Coffee House, had any connexion with Man's, the Royal, or Old Man's Coffee House. The link between Jenny Man's and Old Man's is obscure; also the connexion between Jenny Man, 'Mrs. Man' and 'Ann Man'. Not only does Ashton identify Jenny Man with Mrs. Man, but he also lists Old Man's as in the Tilt-yard, Whitehall. This in 1711 'is now a common street'before Whitehall'. Also known is a Tilt-Yard Coffee House which appears to be quite distinct, notwithstanding many confusing references that render it difficult to unravel years later. See Royal Coffee House. No. 1094. Old Man's Coffee House. No. 936. Jenny Man's Coffee House. No. 624. Young Man's Coffee House. No. 1579. Little Man's Coffee House. No. 733. Tilt Yard Coffee House. No. 1353–4.

1094. The Royal Coffee House, Charing Cross near Whitehall. This is the same house as Man's Coffee House, established by Alexander Man 'soon after' 29 September 1666 'neere Charing Cross'. The first Royal Warrant for coffee was given by Charles II, to Alexander Man, who advertised himself as 'Coffee Man to Charles II' and his house became known as The Royal Coffee House.

See Man's Coffee House. No. 778.

[Man's Coffee House.] Between Scotland Yard and the river-side in the rear was "Man's," or as it was sometimes styled, "Old Man's" Coffee-house; and another, possibly a rival one, known as "Young Man's." The former is said by Mr. Peter Cunningham to have been so called after the first keeper—one Alexander Man—and to have dated from the reign of Charles II. Defoe, in his "Journey through England," mentions them among the lesser though favourite coffee-houses of the day. "The Scots," he writes, "go generally to the 'British,' and a mixture of all sorts to the 'Smyrna.' There are also other little coffee-houses much frequented in this neighbourhood—'Young Man's' for officers; 'Old Man's' for stock-jobbers, paymasters, and courtiers; and 'Little Man's' for sharpers."