Page 91 - Ian Marshall - London Coffe Houses - Standing Display January 2016

Old Slaughter's Coffee House
77 and 75 St Martin's Lane
(1692-1843)

Originally known as Slaughter's Coffee House it was established in 1692.
Thomas Slaughter died in 1740 and was succeeded by Humphrey Bailey.
When New Slaughter's Coffee House was opened in St. martin's Lane, the
original house adopted the name Old Slaughter's. It is unclear exactly
when this took place but is recorded in use in 1742 although many
continued to use the original name. By 1747 the only known Chess Club
in London was meeting at Slaughter's Coffee House and Florence
Hensey, the French spy, frequented the place. Old Slaughter's Coffee
House is probably best remembered by the concentration of artists who
favoured the house before the foundation ofthe Royal Academy of Arts
in 1768. The directories list Old Slaughter's at 77 and New Slaughter's at
81. In 1803 Old Slaughter's is described as "A very respectable house,
and much frequented by by gentlemen in that neighbourhood. Good
dinners, wines, and beds". In 1814 it is described as Old Slaughter's
Coffee-house and Hotel by its new proprietor John Reid. In 1824 the
inaugural meeting of the RSPCA was held in Old Slaughter's Coffee
House. The house was demolished in 1843 when Cranboum Street was
cut through that section of the town to make a thoroughfare between
Coventry Street and Piccadilly bringing an end to the Coffee House after
151 years.

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A letter written at Old Slaughter's Coffee House on 9th October 1790 by
Mr. Blencourt addressed to Mr. Robinson, Attorney-at-Law,
Ulve~stone, near Lancaster which covers a number of legal issues they
were both involved in. The letter was charged at 6d.