Temple Exchange Coffee House

1. Temple Exchange Coffee House, Fleet Street, 'near Temple Bar' (1758). Described by non-contemporary writers as 'by the Inner Temple Gate'. Malcolm's 'Londinium Redivivus' is quoted by Bell in his book on Fleet Street. The Fire in 1666, spread on the south side of Fleet Street past Temple Coffee House, Devereux Court St. Dunstan's Church to within 100 feet of Inner Temple gate, and stopped where long afterwards the Temple Exchange Coffee House flourished, bearing upon its front a Latin inscription carved in stone, which translated reads:

   You see before you
The last house of the city in Flames
    The first of the city restored:
May this be favourable and fortunate
    For both city and house,
Especially for those who are auspiciously building,
    Elizabeth Moore owner of the site
        and
    Thomas Tuckey Tenant.

1710

I have seen no earlier contemporary mention than 1710, but the Temple Exchange Coffee-house may have been established some years earlier. 'Evening Post' No. 69, 19–21 Jan. 1710 advertises that the paper is sold by the Booksellers and at the following Coffee-houses: 'Union in Cornhill, Amsterdam and John's in Swithen's Alley near the Royal Exchange, Boiden's in Tower Street, St. James's, Oliver's at Westminster-Hall-Gate, Will's and Tom's in Covent Garden, the Grecian and Tom's in Devereux Court, Nando's, and the Temple Change in Fleet Street, Squire's, Will's, and John's in Fulwood's Rents in Holbourn. Price 1d.'

1710

'Daily Courant' 17 May, advertises: To be lett a very good house well repaired (the sign of the Tyger & Lamb) next to the Temple Exchange Coffee House in Fleet Street.

1728–29

'Evening Post' No. 192, 1–4 March, 1728–29, advertises: 'To be Sold at Auction At Daniel's Coffee-house in Lombard-street on Tuesday March 11, 1728–29—A Messuage or Tenement, called PARK-CORNER House, situate upon the Corner of Greenwich Park Wall on Blackheath ... Printed particulars ... are deliver'd Gratis at ... Temple Exchange Coffee-house in Fleet-street. ...'

1744

'Daily Post' 16 Feb. 1744, advertises a sale of books by Auction. Catalogues to be had at Temple Exchange Coffee-house in Fleet Street.

1746

'General Advertiser' 28 Nov. 1746, announces: The Members of the Society Corresponding with the Incorporated Society in Dublin for promoting English Protestant Working Schools in Ireland are desired to take notice that the monthly meeting of their standing Committee will be held at the Temple Exchange Coffee House in Fleet Street on Wednesday next at eleven o'clock in the forenoon precisely.

1757–58

When Oliver Goldsmith (1728–74) took what he termed a 'Shoe- maker's holiday' ended his day's excursion 'by supping at the Grecian or Temple-Exchange, or at the Globe in Fleet Street... .' Some of his letters in 1757–58 are dated from this coffee-house, and according to Forster's Life & Times of Goldsmith, letters were addressed to him 'to the Temple Exchange Coffee-house, near Temple Bar, where the waiter George' whom Goldsmith celebrates in the 'Bee' 'took charge of them'.

1758

A touch of romance comes from the 'London Chronicle' 5 Aug. 1758: 'A YOUNG LADY who was at Vauxhall on Thursday night last, in company with two Gentlemen, could not but observe a young Gentleman in blue and a gold-laced hat, who, being near her by the Orchestra during the performance, especially the last song, gazed upon her with the utmost attention. He earnestly hopes (if unmarried) she will favour him with a line directed to A.D. at the bar of the Temple Exchange Coffee-house, Temple-bar, to inform him whether Fortune, Family, and Character, may not entitle him, upon a further knowledge, to hope an interest in her Heart. He begs she will pardon the method he has taken to let her know the situation of his Mind, as, being a Stranger, he despaired of doing it any other way, or even of seeing her more. As his views are founded upon the most honourable Principles, he presumes to hope the occasion will justify it, if she generously breaks through this trifling formality of the Sex, rather than, by a cruel Silence, render unhappy one, who must ever expect to continue so, if debarred from a nearer acquaintance with her, in whose power alone it is to complete his Felicity.' (Sampson—History of Advertising.)

1760

The house is mentioned in Samuel Foote's Comedy 'The Minor', produced in Dublin, 28 Jan. 1760, in which Foote played.

1762–63

James Boswell records in his 'London Journal' (Pottle, Heinemann, 1950), 11 Dec. 1762: '... I also call at the pamphlet shop going into the Temple Exchange Coffee-house in Fleet Street, and buy The North Briton, which I send at night by commission, in a frank, to Digges. ...' A few weeks later he records on 9 Feb. 1763: '... some time ago I left off the pamphlet shop in the passage to the Temple Exchange Coffee-house, and took The North Briton from the publishers of it, Mr. Kearsley in Ludgate Street, hard by Child's. I have it now sent to me regularly by the Penny Post. ...'

1764

Extract from a letter in my collection, dated '20th dismal May 64' from Wm. Blennerhassett to 'Mr. Grass': 'As I cannot conveniently see you & indeed under my present Difficulties, I do not choose ... I never had such a thought in my life how to act between ffriendship & Dire Necessity, but the last compells me & therefore you must excuse the Consequences—I was obliged to pawn a Gold Watch in my Possession ... this last week & also having this last vacation been obliged to make free with the Money of a Clyent's I have, on that Acct. denied myself all this last Week not been at the Cardmakers Arms or Temple Exch. Coffee House, as usual. ...'

1810

Both Cunningham, and Wheatley, mention that the premises ceased to be a coffee-house about 1810, but I have yet to find contemporary mention as late as this.

1326 Temple Exchange Coffee House Fleet Street; “near Temple Bar” 1710–c1810. The great Fire 1666, spread on the south side of Fleet Street to within 100 feet of Inner Temple gate and stopped where long afterwards the Temple Exchange Coffee House bore upon its front a Latin inscription carved in stone, which translated reads:

   "You see before you
The last house of the city in Flames
    The first of the city restored:
May this be favourable and fortunate
    For both city and house,
Especially for those who are auspiciously building,
    Elizabeth Moore owner of the site
        and
Thomas Tuckey Tenant."