Page 32 - Ian Marshall - London Coffe Houses - Standing Display January 2016

Brown's Coffee House
7, Mitre Court, Fleet Street, Temple

(1693-1832)
Apparently a busy house with an uninterrupted existence of 140 years in
Mitre Court situated between 44 and 45 Fleet Street. Mostly described as
"near the Temple" or "Mitre Court, Temple". It appears to be the same
house as "Ned Brown's" or "Ned's" and "Turk's head" Coffee-houses all
of which are known during the 1690s. Mentions of"Ned" have
disappeared by 1714. In 1741 an advertisement reads:" Some genteel
Places in the Law or Government to be disposed of. Letters to A.B. At
Brown's Coffee House near the Temple". A further advertisement in 1742
announces a change ofproprietorship: Joseph Witts from Batson's
Coffee-house in Cornhill, now living at Daniel's Coffee-house near
Temple Bar has taken Brown's Coffee-house in Mitre Court, Fleet Street
where he hopes for the favour of acquaintances". In 1771 a notice read:
".....the son of a Shropshire farmer was bound to John Parry, coffeeman,
at Brown's Coffee-house". In 1803 the establishment is described as
"Chiefly frequented by gentlemen of the law". A succession of
proprietors: G. Mascall (1809-11; L.W.Williams (1822-24); Robert Smith
(1826-27); and finally William Braithwaite (1832) witness the end of
Brown's Coffee House.

A letter written in Rochester, evidenced by a town mileage mark(KT902),
on 21st April 1809 by Mr. Lambrecht addressed to Richard Townsend
Esq at Brown's Coffee House, Temple where it arrived the next day. The
letter, while expressing sympathy for a Mr. Knight's melancholy, trusts
that the addressee will waste no time in preparing the requisite documents
for Knight's signature and executing them.