Jamaica Wine House facts for kids
The Jamaica Wine House, often called "the Jampot" by locals, is a famous historic building in London. It's located in a busy part of the city called the financial district, where many businesses are. This building was actually London's very first coffee house, opening way back in 1652!
A famous person named Samuel Pepys, who wrote a detailed diary about his life, visited this coffee house in 1660. Today, the Jamaica Wine House is a Grade II listed public house, which means it's a protected historic building. It's found among old, winding streets and small courtyards from the medieval period in the City of London.
Contents
A Place of Firsts
London's First Coffee House
The Jamaica Wine House holds a special place in London's history. It was the very first coffee house to open its doors in the city. This happened in 1652, a long time ago!
A special plaque on the wall tells us this history. It says: "Here stood the first London Coffee house at the sign of the Pasqua Rosee's Head 1652."
The Founders
The person who started this first coffee house was Pasqua Rosée. He was a servant to a merchant named Daniel Edwards. Mr. Edwards was a trader who brought goods, including coffee, from places like Turkey.
Daniel Edwards helped Pasqua Rosée set up the coffee house. Sometimes, this early coffee house was even known as The Turk's Head.
A Hub for Trade
Connections to Global Trade
The Jamaica Wine House was an important meeting spot for merchants. These were people involved in trade, especially with goods from the West Indies and Turkey.
This included the sugar trade, which was a very big business at the time. Merchants would gather here to discuss their business and make deals.
The Building Today
A Historic Pub
The building you see today is a public house that was built in the 1800s. It stands on the same historic spot where the first coffee house once was.
In 2009, a company called Shepherd Neame took over the pub. They carefully restored the building, making sure to keep its historic feel. It reopened in April 2009.
Inside the Jampot
Inside, the Jamaica Wine House has a traditional feel. On the ground floor, there's a wood-panelled bar area. This bar is divided into three sections, giving it a cozy feel.
Downstairs, there is also a restaurant where visitors can enjoy a meal. It's a great place to imagine what it was like when merchants met here centuries ago.
