Stock Exchange Coffee House

1271. Stock Exchange Coffee House, 'in the upper part of the Stock Exchange', Threadneedle Street at the end of Sweeting's Alley.

1773

Early in 1773, the stock-broking element of Jonathan's Coffee-house in Exchange Alley, removed to some premises in Threadneedle Street at the northern end of Sweeting's Alley, where the house is first mentioned as 'New Jonathan's'. The title was too short-lived to get a listing in the directories.       'An old paper dated July 15, 1773' is quoted by Thornbury in 'Old & New London' reporting a meeting that 'came to a resolution that instead of being called New Jonathan's, it should be called the Stock Exchange, which is to be wrote over the door, the brokers then collected sixpence each, and christened the house with punch'. Rowlandson's drawing entitled 'The Stockbroker' depicts a typical Rowlandson character emerging from a door over which is delineated 'STOCK EXCHANGE'.

1774

In its early days, the Stock Exchange Coffee-house followed the Stock Exchange and was housed in the upper part of the premises. The earliest mention noted of Stock Exchange itself in the directories is in Kent's, 1774, given as the address of Thomas Rhodes, Stockbroker, who in Kent's 1772, is listed at Jonathan's Coffee-house, Exchange Alley.

1776–92

Thereafter, the directories for 1776, 1780, and 1792, list the Stock Exchange. In 1776 as Threadneedle Street, and in 1792 as Sweeting's Rents, not Alley. Others merely list Stock Exchange and no address.

1777

The 'Daily Advertiser' 21 June 1777, No. 14512, advertises: Lost or mislaid, in the Stock Exchange, a Navy Bill ... whoever will leave the same at the Bar of the Stock-Exchange Coffee-house, shall have Five guineas.

1793

Roach, 1793, says that 'Jonathan's is in the upper part of the Stock Exchange.'

1796–98

The earliest mention noted of Stock Exchange Coffee-house in the London directories, is 1796, listed as Threadneedle Street. Two years later, Thomas Cooper is listed Proprietor of the Stock Exchange Coffee House 'over the Stock Exchange Threadneedle Street' to which is added: 'The Stock Exchange was built by Subscribers and is the property of the proprietors who hold shares .... Every person who goes into that Exchange to do business pays 6d. per day .... Immediately over it is the Stock Exchange Coffee House which is frequented by the Stock brokers and others using the Stock Exchange.'

1799

Lowndes directory 1799, lists Stock Exchange Coffee House, Threadneedle Street, and Horwood's map the same year marks its site as 'Stock Exchange' on a block of buildings at the end of Sweeting's Alley, facing on to Threadneedle Street. This building is depicted on a Trader's Token issued later—see entry under date 1811.

1800

In April 1800, the Fruiterers' Company held its court meeting and afterwards dined at the Stock Exchange Coffee-house. (Gould—History of the Fruiterers' Company, 1912.)

1801–03

The year 1801 is marked by domestic arrangements whereby the Stock Exchange itself was to be converted into a Subscription Room, and a few months later a new body, at a meeting at the Antwerp Tavern 4th March decided to acquire premises in Capel Court, Bartholomew Lane, and convert the same for use as a Stock Exchange. [This was the site of the office and residence of Sir William Capel, Lord Mayor in 1504.] Building was commenced in 1801; opened in 1802, and the Stock Exchange business removed from the former building at Sweeting's Alley. The Stock Exchange Coffee House however, remained 'over the Stock Exchange in Threadneedle Street' where it is described in 1803, as 'Frequented by merchants, brokers, and mercantile people in general. Excellent dinners at a reasonable price every afternoon, and beds procured.'

1805–11

The directories for 1805–7 continue to list the coffee-house as Threadneedle Street, still with the title Stock Exchange Coffee House. In 1809–11 listed as 'Royal Exchange' which is probably an error. Edw. Cooper replaces Thomas Cooper as Proprietor from 1805 to 1811. Edw. Cooper is described as a Wine & Brandy Merchant, who also kept the 'Bell Inn' at Shooter's Hill.

1811

From a Token issued by Thomas Wood, Broker, Auctioneer & General Agent, bearing the inscription 'The Old Stock Exchange' and an elevation of the building, we learn that in 1811 the premises were known as the 'New Auction Mart, Established 1811.'

1813–14

The Stock Exchange Coffee House was undisturbed, and appears in the directories 1813–14, as Threadneedle-street. In 1813, as the address of John Calderwood, Merchant, and Ellis & Laurence, Stock Brokers.

1816

In 1816, is reported 'A fire at the coffeehouse over the Old Stock Exchange at the corner of St. Swithin's Alley 23 April, 1816.' The 'Stock Exchange Coffee House and several adjoining houses' were burnt.

1819–33

Although some 1819 directories, and the 1833 edition 'Picture of London' still list Stock Exchange Coffee House, Sweeting's Alley, the house seemingly disappears in Pigot's, and Robson's directories 1822 to 1838.

1838

Whether the building suffered in the fire in 1838, which consumed the Royal Exchange is unknown to me; but it was doubtless cleared away in the next few years when Sweeting's Alley went in clearing the site for the new Royal Exchange.       However, the Post Office directory 1839, lists Stock Exchange Coffee House, 3, Hercules Court. Proprietor—J. Phillips.

See Stock Exchange Coffee House, No. 1272.