Page 107 - Ian Marshall - London Coffe Houses - Standing Display January 2016

Turk's Head Coffee House
142, Strand

(1763 -1840)

There are no less than 55 Turk's Head coffee houses recorded by
Lillywhite no doubt because at the outset it was seen as a Turkish drink.
This Coffee House's story begins in 1763 when a journalist James
Boswell recorded that "At night Mr. Johnson ans I had a room at the
Turk's head Coffee-house, which he encouraged because the mistress of
the house is a god civil woman and wants business. And indeed we found
better enretainment here than at the Mitre [a tavern] and as reasonable"
The Precinct Club had its meetings there around 1767 and in 1773 it
featured in "The Vaux.hall Affray" which filled the contemporary press at
the time. In 1801 the name is changed to the "Turks Head and Bath
Coffee House" and is described as "frequented mostly by gentlemen
belonging to Somerset Place. Good breakfasts, dinners and beds". In
1809 Thomas Whitehead is listed as the proprietor and remains there until
1834 at which time it briefly changes its name again to the "Turks Head,
Canada and Bath Coffee House" following which it was apparently
demolished and re-built by 1838 when J. Wright is announcing the
opening of "The Turks Head Coffee House and Hotel and lists the
facilities in the Coffee Room. By 1840 it was being used as a masonic
hall -with meetings held at the "Turk's Head (Wright's Hotel) Strand".
Nothing further is heard of this coffee house although in 1891 a
commentator records that "a modem building occupies the site".

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A letter written by Lord Onslow at Clandon House, Guildford, the family
seat, on 28th August 1787 addressed to Thomas Adams at the Turk's Head
Coffee House, Strand. The letter, with a rare 31 GUILD/ FORD mileage
mark (SY375), arrived the next day and says how much the family are
I looking forward to his arrival. The letter was carried free.