Page 43 - Ian Marshall - London Coffe Houses - Standing Display January 2016
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Furnival's Inn Coffee House
139, Lower Holborn
(now High Holborn)
(1744-1838)
Its first mention was in 1744 in connection with an advertisement. It was
frequented by gentlemen ofthe law and offered "Good soups, and a
coffee-room dinner at 4 o'clock, with excellent beds". It was re-built in
1818/20 but this does not appear to have disturbed the coffee house
probably because, in 1836, directions to it included the comment ''this
house is in Holbom not in Fumival's Inn". From 1828 it is listed as in use
for Masonic lodge meetings. In 1838 the name changed to Brett's Hotel.
A contemporary print showing
The Coffee House "on the
summit of Holbom Hill"
A letter posted on 5th May 1793 in Rumsey (now Romsey),
Hants which arrived the next day. It was charged 4d. \
