Page 17 - Ian Marshall - London Coffe Houses - Standing Display January 2016

Bantam Coffee House
King Street, near Guildhall

(1686 - ?)

Very little is known about this coffee house but it was mention in the
London Topographical Record 1907. The letter below is addressed "near
Sanmairtins Church" and although there are 4 St Martins churches in the
City the nearest one to the Guildhall is in Ironmonger Lane which is )
marked on the map.

An un-dated letter written in Edinburgh, evidenced by the rare 1
small reddish-black oval bishop mark dated 11th April (ED 3a) \
addressed to Sir Alexander Brand, an Edinburgh merchant, by
his 3 daughters Bethea, Christiane and Elizabeth saying how
pleased they were to hear that he will return in May and
beseeching him to remember his promise to buy them clothes
while in London. There is also an interesting mention to the
fact that he was awaiting settlement (with interest) on "the
South See bills". The South Sea Co. was incorporated in 1711
whose shares rocketed in value (making many fortunes) before
collapsing spectacularly (losing many fortunes) in 1720. Sir
Alexander wrote a pamphlet in 1725 on the injustice he suffered
in the courts as a result of a disputed debt owing to George
MacKenzie of Stonehive. The letter is charged at 6d and is
reproduced on the reverse.