St. Michael's Alley

St. Michael's Alley

South out of Cornhill at No. 42 (P.O. Directory). On the west side of St. Michael's Church in Cornhill Ward.

First mention: 1652 (Aubrey's Anecdotes, II. 224).

Former names: "Longe Aley" (Overall, xi.). "Michael's Alley," 1677 (O. and M.).

At this time and as late as 1720 it extended also along the south side of the churchyard on the site of Castle Court, Birchin Lane (q.v.).

Qy. = Church Alley (q.v.).

Named after the church.

Michael's (St.) Alley, Cornhill.

The use of Coffee in England was first known in 1657, when Mr. Daniel Edwards, a Turkey Merchant, brought from Smyrna to London one Pasqua Rosee, a Ragusean youth, who prepared this drink for him every morning. But the novelty thereof drawing too much company to him, he allowed his said servant with another of his son-in-law's to sell it publicly, and they set up the first coffee-house in London in St. Michael's Alley in Cornhill. But they separating, Pasqua kept in the house, and he who had been his partner obtained leave to pitch a tent and sell the liquor in St. Michael's Churchyard.—Oldys on Trees (MS.)

The first coffee-house in London was in St. Michael's Alley in Cornhill, opposite to the Church, which was sett up by one——Bowman (coachman to Mr. Hodges, a Turkey merchant, who putt him upon it), in or about the yeare 1652. 'Twas about 4 yeares before any other was set up, and that was by Mr. Far. Jonathan Paynter, o^s [opposite ?] to St. Michael's Church, was the first apprentice to the trade, viz. to Bowman.—Aubrey's Anecdotes, vol. ii. p. 224.

Rosee was certainly the first to establish a coffee-house in London about 1652. His hand-bill is extant, setting forth "The Virtue of the Coffee-drink, first publiquely made and sold in England, by Pasqua Rosee, in St. Michael's Alley, Cornhill, at the sign of his own head." On the east side of St. Michael's Alley are the church of St. Michael and the Rectory House. Here too is the Jamaica Coffee-house, formerly a noted subscription-house for merchants and captains engaged in the West India trade. "The African and Senegal Coffee-house, St. Michael's Alley," Cornhill, was the favourite dining-place of Porson in his last days, and when the hand of death was on him he managed to find his way here from the London Institution.