Page 26 - Ian Marshall - London Coffe Houses - Standing Display January 2016

Bridge's Coffee House
Pope's Head Alley, Cornhill

(1680-1745)
Its earliest reference is to Mr. Bridge, as an attraction to potential
customers, announced that ''the Custom House Bills of Entry could be
seen on any day they came forth, at his house in Pope's Head Alley" It is
recorded that this was one of a small number of coffee houses clustered
around the Royal Exchange that flourished when Edward Lloyd removed
his coffee house from Tower St. to Lombard St. There.was a large fire in
Cornhill in March 1748 although it did not reach Pope's Head Alley but
there was no mention ofBridge's Coffee House in the subsequent report.

A beautifully written letter from a son to his father dated 26th August
1732 sent from Amsterdam with only a black London Bishop Mark
which recorded its arrival on the 18th! Clearly one of the dates is
incorrect. The contents refer to cloth prices and ask if there is any interest
in acquiring a ticket in the Hague Lottery for 50 florins. He notes that in
the previous draw " a maid servant got 30,000 florins which has almost
turn' d her head! 11