Page 4 - Ian Marshall - London Coffe Houses - Standing Display January 2016

or domestic newspapers.
1700: By this time the coffee-houses were deeply involved with the

commerce of the City and many companies used them in various
roles. Competition between the coffee-houses was intense as they
vied with each other to attract and retain custom.
1711: Post Office Act failed to curb the use of coffee-houses in handling
letters and a later Act of 1765 was equally ineffective.
1719: The variety of "bubble" schemes promoted in coffee-houses in the
febrile days of the South Sea Bubble brought ruin to many. The
coffee-houses functioned as the forerunner as our present day box
numbering.
1723: From this date free-masonry made extensive use of coffee-hoses as
venues for lodge meetings.
1734: From this date the use of trade directories takes off with large
numbers of merchants using coffee-houses as their business address.
1739: There were a total of 551 coffee-houses in London. By way of
contrast, the number of Inns total 207; Taverns 447; Beerhouses
5,957; and Brandy-shops 8,659.
1748: The Comhill Fire which destroyed many coffee-houses although
many re-appeared quickly.
1762: A Law was passed banning overhanging signs which paved the
way for the numbering of houses, largely completed by 1767.
1794: The London Penny Post was re-organised.
1799: The Ship Letter Office was established by the Post Office but the
collection and despatch of letters overseas via private ships and the
coffee-houses continued unabated.
1801: London's Twopenny Post was introduced.
1830s: The growth in the size of London, the wealth of information in the
trade directories, the numbering of houses, the coming of the
railways all contributed to a gradual change in the postal habits of
the public to the detriment of the coffee-houses.