Page 80 - Ian Marshall - London Coffe Houses - Standing Display January 2016

Nando's Coffee House
at the corner of Inner Temple Gate (15 Fleet Street)

(1696 - 1793)

Nando's Coffee House was founded before 1696 when "a fourth part of

Nando's Coffee House of Fleet Street" was conveyed to the trustees of the

Free School of Middlesex "for the maintenance of an able schoolmaster

to teach the Latin tongue" in accordance with the provisions of the Will

of John Jones ofMiddlesex. Edward Thurlow (1731-1806), Lord

Chancellor, remarked that in the evenings he frequently strayed no further

from his chambers than Nando's Coffee House. It was there that he 1

expressed a strong opinion in 1767, on the famous Douglas v Hamilton

case, which, being overheard, led to him being retained for the appeal.

What became known as the "Battle of Temple Bar" involved Nando's

when an M.P., John Wilkes, was expelled from the Commons when a

confrontation of opposing factions came to blows and Wilkes' supporters

were forced to take refuge in Nando's. In 1770 a commentator says

"There was no one who could supply coffee or punch better than Mrs.

Humphries; and her fair daughterwas always admired at the Bar, and By

the bar"! By 1793 a directory records that Nando's has a good room but

there is not much pleasantry in the general aspect indicating that the

premises had shrunk in size and stature and a fast reference to it was in

1799.

"Law and Equity, or a peep at Nando's"
showing Lord Thurlow dressed as a penitant
but with his Lord Chancellor's wig, is
approaching Nando's Coffee House bar
at which stands Mary Edmonds.