Old Slaughter's Coffee House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Old Slaughter's Coffee House |
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| Former names | Slaughter's Coffee House |
| Alternative names | The Coffee-house on the Pavement |
| General information | |
| Status | Demolished |
| Location | St Martin's Lane |
| Address | 74–75 |
| Coordinates | 51°30′42″N 0°07′40″W / 51.51160°N 0.12781°W |
| Opened | 1692 |
| Demolished | 1843 |
Old Slaughter's Coffee House was a very famous place in London. It was a coffee house located on St Martin's Lane. Thomas Slaughter opened it in 1692. Many important people of that time visited it. The building was taken down in 1843 to make way for Cranbourn Street.
Contents
A Popular Meeting Spot: History of Old Slaughter's
Thomas Slaughter opened this coffee house in 1692. At first, people just called it Slaughter's or The Coffee-house on the Pavement. This was because not all streets in London were paved back then. It was located at numbers 74–75 on the street.
Around 1760, after the first owner passed away, a new coffee house called New Slaughter's opened nearby. It was at number 82. To tell them apart, the original place then became known as Old Slaughter's.
Games and Famous Visitors at the Coffee House
Old Slaughter's was a popular spot for playing games. People enjoyed chess, draughts (checkers), and whist there. Some very smart people played games at the coffee house. These included Abraham de Moivre, Benjamin Franklin, and Philidor.
The coffee house was also a favorite place for artists. Architects, painters, poets, and sculptors often gathered there. Famous artists like Dryden, Gainsborough, Hogarth, and Roubiliac were regulars. Many visitors from other countries, especially France, also came to Old Slaughter's.
Dr. Johnson's Thoughts on Foreigners
Around 1780, the famous writer Dr. Johnson visited the coffee house. His friend James Boswell wrote about Dr. Johnson's strong opinions. Dr. Johnson once said, "Does not this confirm old Meynell's observation, For any thing I see, foreigners are fools?" This shows he had a very strong, and perhaps unfair, opinion about people from other countries.
The Story of "Punch Spiller" Sock
The writer Henry Fielding was a regular visitor at Old Slaughter's. He gave the head-waiter the nickname "Sock." Sock was known for his funny and clever personality. People said he was the son of a popular comedian, James Spiller.
One time, Sock was bringing a customer a drink called punch. He took a sip of it himself! He excused himself by saying he had spilled some. After that, people also called Sock the "Punch Spiller."
A Place for Important Meetings: Founding the RSPCA
Old Slaughter's Coffee House was not just for games and art. It was also used for important meetings. In 1824, a very important group was started there. This group was called the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Today, we know it as the RSPCA.
The meeting was organized by the Reverend Arthur Broome. Sir Fowell Buxton led the meeting. Eight other gentlemen were there. One of them was "Humanity Dick," also known as Colonel Richard Martin. He had worked hard to pass the Cruel Treatment of Cattle Act in 1822.
Colonel Martin had tried to pass a new bill to prevent cruelty to animals, but it had failed that very day. Other important people at the meeting included Sir James Mackintosh and William Wilberforce.
The End of Old Slaughter's
Old Slaughter's Coffee House stood for many years. However, in the winter of 1843, the building was taken down. It was demolished to make way for the construction of a new street called Cranbourn Street.
See also
Images for kids
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Old Slaughter's Coffee House
