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 coffee house in St Martin's Lane in London, England. It first opened its doors in 1692. Many important people of that time loved to visit this place. The building was torn down in 1843 to make way for a new street called Cranbourn Street.
Contents
History of the Coffee House
How Old Slaughter's Got Its Name
Thomas Slaughter opened this coffee house in 1692. At first, people just called it Slaughter's or The Coffee-house on the Pavement. Not all streets in London were paved back then, so this name helped people find it. It was located at numbers 74 and 75 on the street.
Around 1760, after Thomas Slaughter passed away, another coffee house called New Slaughter's opened nearby. To tell them apart, the original place then became known as Old Slaughter's.
Famous Visitors and Their Games
Old Slaughter's was a popular spot for people who loved to play games. They played chess, draughts (checkers), and whist, which is a card game. Some very smart people visited, like Abraham de Moivre, who was a mathematician, and Benjamin Franklin, a famous American inventor and statesman. Philidor, a famous chess player, also spent time there.
The coffee house was also a favorite place for artists. Painters, poets, sculptors, and architects would gather there. Famous artists like Gainsborough (a painter) and Hogarth (another painter and engraver) were regulars. Even people from other countries, like France, often visited.
The Story of Sock, the Waiter
A well-known head-waiter at Old Slaughter's was nicknamed "Sock." People said he was the son of a popular comedian named James Spiller. Sock was known for his funny and clever remarks.
One time, Sock was bringing a customer a drink called punch. He took a sip of it himself! When the customer noticed, Sock quickly said he had spilled some. After that, people also called him the "Punch Spiller."
A Meeting Place for Good Causes
Old Slaughter's Coffee House was not just for games and art. It was also used as a meeting place for important groups. In 1824, a very important meeting happened there. This meeting led to the creation of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. This society later became the RSPCA, which is still working today to protect animals.
The meeting was organized by the Reverend Arthur Broome. It was led by Sir Fowell Buxton. Eight other gentlemen were there, including "Humanity Dick," whose real name was Colonel Richard Martin. He had worked hard to pass a law in 1822 to prevent cruel treatment of farm animals. Other important people like William Wilberforce, who fought against slavery, also attended this meeting.
The End of Old Slaughter's
In the winter of 1843, Old Slaughter's Coffee House was torn down. This happened because a new street, Cranbourn Street, was being built in its place.
See also
