Page 49 - Ian Marshall - London Coffe Houses - Standing Display January 2016

Gray' s Inn Coffee House
20, High Holborn
(1695-1851)

There were two Gates into Gray's Inn and the Gray's Inn Coffee House
was located at the principal entrance from Holborn. A listing in the
Guildhall Library mentions that this Coffee House "before 1777 known
as Abingdon's [Abington's] and after 1785 as Low's, and later Hart's". In
1755 a notice announces "At Bowes Ancient Grammar School in
Yorkshire by Mr. Lamb head Master and Young gentlemen are
taught.. ..Mr. Lamb is now in town and to be spoke with from ten to
twelve every day at Abington's Coffee House near Grays Inn Holborn".
There is a mention in 1790 in reports of a "Monster" at large in St.
Pancras Parish attacking young ladies and a vigilante group attacked a
suspect, Renwick Williams, who was given refuge in the Gray's Inn
Coffee House before being arrested, found guilty and imprisoned for 6
years in Newgate. In 1801 it is described as "frequented by gentlemen
belonging to the Inns of Court. A regular coffee room dinner every day at
four and five o'clock, beds, and every accommodation on the usual
terms". By 1814 it was used for masonic meetings. Lucy Hilton was the
proprietor from 1833 until her death in 1839. It was mentioned by
Charles Dickens in David Copperfield when David returns from abroad
he puts up at the Gray's Inn Coffee House. The building still stands today
albeit as chambers with a stuccoed frontage.

r --~

A letter written in the Swan Inn, Tenbury on Easter Day 1790 by Mr. W. /
Dowse addressed to James Kinnersley at Gray's Inn Coffee House,
London concerning a legal case Holland v Hope. The letter has a Tenbury
handstamp (W0753), arrived in London on 9th April and was charged at
7d.