Page 14 - Ian Marshall - London Coffe Houses - Standing Display January 2016

Baltic Coffee House

58, Threadoeedle Street

(1823 - 1857)

South Sea House, 37, Threadneedle Street

(1857 - 1900)

The Baltic Exchange archives contain "Rules and regulations constituting
the establishment of the Baltic Coffee House on 22°d April 1823 but the
earliest mention is in 1825 when W. Melton, Wine merchant, is listed as
proprietor who died in 1832. In 1832 various traders described mostly as
Russia brokers and merchants give their business address as the Baltic
Coffee House, evidenced by the document below dated 1842, by which
time 70 traders are listed as using the coffee house, affected by the
destruction around the Royal Exchange and surround in 1838.
Speculation in tallow appears to have dominated the trade conducted in
the Coffee House in this period. By 1854 the number of subscribers using
the Baltic Coffee House exceeded 325 and the building was unable to
accommodate them.

In 1857 the freehold of South Sea House, 37, Threadneedle Street was
acquired at auction for £65,000 by a company formed by leading
members of the Baltic Coffee House. The business officially moved into
the premises very shortly afterwards and this really marked the end of the
Coffee House although the name was retained. The Post office even
allocated a distinctive hand-stamp for use in the telegraph office - shown
below.

,-...

"7 " ,, ~;~~;~ -

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