A historical site about early London coffee houses and taverns and will also link to my current pub history site and also the London street directory
THE SALUTATION AND CAT TAVERN, 17 Newgate street
No. 17, Newgate-street (north side), was, according to the tradition of the
house, the tavern where Sir Christopher Wren used to smoke his pipe, whilst
St. Paul's was re-building. There is more positive evidence of its being a
place well frequented by men of letters at the above period. Thus, there
exists a poetical invitation to a social feast held here on June 19, 1735-6,
issued by the two stewards, Edward Cave and William Bowyer :
" Saturday, Jan. 17, 1735-6.
" Sir,
" You're desir'd on Monday next to meet
At Salutation Tavern, Newgate-street.
Supper will be on table just at eight,
[Stewards'] One of St. John's [Bowyer], 'tother of St. John's
Gate [Cave]. "
This brought a poetical answer from Samuel Richardson, the novelist, printed
in extenso in Bowyer's Anecdotes :
" For me, I'm much concerned I cannot meet
' At Salutation Tavern, Newgate-street.'
Your notice, like your verse, so sweet and short !
If longer, I'd sincerely thank you for it.
Howe'er, receive my wishes, sons of verse !
May every man who meets, your praise rehearse !
May mirth, as plenty, crown your cheerful board,
And ev'ry one part happy — as a lord !
That when at home, (by such sweet verses fir'd)
Your families may think you all inspir'd.
So wishes he, who pre-engag'd, can't know
The pleasures that would from your meeting flow."
The proper sign is the Salutation and Cat, — a curious combination, but one
which is explained by a lithograph, which some years ago hung in the
coffee-room. An aged dandy is saluting a friend whom he has met in the
street, and offering him a pinch out of the snuff-box which forms the top of
his wood-like cane. This box-nob was, it appears, called a " cat " — hence
the connection of terms apparently so foreign to each other. Some, not aware
of this explanation, have accounted for the sign by supposing that a tavern
called " the Cat " was at some time pulled down, and its trade carried to
the Salutation, which thenceforward joined the sign to its own; but this is
improbable, seeing that we have never heard of any tavern called "the Cat"
(although we do know of "the Barking Dogs") as a sign. Neither does the
Salutation take its name from any scriptural or sacred source, as the Angel
and Trumpets, etc.
More positive evidence there is to show of the " little smoky room at the
Salutation and Cat/' where Coleridge and Charles Lamb sat smoking Oronoko
and drinking egg-hot; the first discoursing of his idol, Bowles, and the
other rejoicing mildly in Cowper and Burns, or both dreaming of "
Pantisocracy, and golden days to come on earth."
References :
Lots of references are made to two sources on the
internet archive
:
Edward Callows, Old London Taverns &
John Timbs, Club life of London Volume 2
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London pubs history rebuilding.