Shakespeare's Head Tavern

The Shakspeare Tavern.

Of this noted theatrical tavern, in the Piazza, Covent Garden, several details were received by Mr. John Green, in 1815, from Twigg, who was apprentice at the Shakspeare. They had generally fifty turtles at a time; and upon an average from ten to fifteen were dressed every week; and it was not unusual to send forty quarts of turtle soup a-week into the country, as far as Yorkshire.

The sign of Shakspeare, painted by Wale, cost nearly 200l.: it projected at the corner, over the street, with very rich iron-work. Dick Milton was once landlord; he was a great gamester, and once won 40,000l. He would frequently start with his coach-and-six, which he would keep about six months, and then sell it. He was so much reduced, and his credit so bad, at times, as to send out for a dozen of wine for his customers; it was sold at 16s. a bottle. This is chronicled as the first tavern in London that had rooms; and from this house the other taverns were supplied with waiters. Here were held three clubs—the Madras, Bengal, and Bombay.

Twigg was cook at the Shakspeare. The largest dinner ever dressed here consisted of 108 made-dishes, besides hams, etc., and vegetables; this was the dinner to Admiral Keppel, when he was made First Lord of the Admiralty. Twigg told of another dinner to Sir Richard Simmons, of Earl's Court, Mr. Small, and three other gentlemen; it consisted of the following dishes:—A turbot, of 40lb., a Thames salmon, a haunch of venison, French beans and cucumbers, a green goose, an apricot tart, and green peas. The dinner was dressed by Twigg, and it came to about seven guineas a head.

The Shakspeare is stated to have been the first tavern in Covent Garden. Twigg relates of Tomkins, the landlord, that his father had been a man of opulence in the City, but failed for vast sums. Tomkins kept his coach and his country-house, but was no gambler, as has been reported. He died worth 40,000l. His daughter married Mr. Longman, the music-seller. Tomkins had never less than a hundred pipes of wine in his cellar; he kept seven waiters, one cellar-man, and a boy. Each waiter was smartly dressed in his ruffles, and thought it a bad week if he did not make 7l. Stacie, who partly served his apprenticeship to Tomkins, told Twigg, that he had betted nearly 3000l. upon one of his racehorses of the name of Goldfinder. Stacie won, and afterwards sold the horse for a large sum.

There was likewise a Shakspeare Tavern in Little Russell-street, opposite Drury-lane Theatre; the sign was altered in 1828, to the Albion.

1192. Shakespear or Shakespear's Head in Covent Garden. 27–28, Russell Street (1826). In its early days described as a tavern at the north-east corner of the Great Piazza, Covent Garden, or 'under the Piazza'. The house used Shakespear's Head for its Sign. The house is mostly mentioned as the Shakespear, Shakspeare, Shakespeare, or Shakespears Head. Later described as Tavern & Coffee-House: in 1819 as Coffee-house.

1738–51

As Shakespeare's Head is listed in use, 1738, for masonic meetings, of the Steward's Lodge. In 1751, kept by a person named Tomkyns.

1755

In 1755 was published the 'Memoirs of the Shakespear's Head in Covent Garden, by the Ghost of Shakspear' by anonymous author. According to Besant, 1902, 'the book is a scandalous chronical from beginning to end, containing sketches of extremely profligate persons, and of their adventures in the disorderly houses of Covent Garden'.

1763

In 'London Journal' (Pottle, Heinemann, 1950) Boswell records: 19 May 1763, taking a glass of wine with Miss Watts at the Shakespeare, and returning later the same day with 'two very pretty girls' and 'found them good subjects for amorous play'.

1765–75

Two years later, William Hickey then at the age of 16 or 17, after seeing the play at Covent Garden with a party 'went to the Shakespear, and after eating heartily ... with a sufficient quantity of punch ... took a hackney coach to Westminster Bridge, where we mounted our nags and rode off to Streatham ...' During the following ten years, the Shakespear figures frequently in his life of dissipation: 'At the Shakespear at a late hour proposed a visit to Wetherby's [This house was a brothel.] '... to the Shakspear where I found Jennings a great sportsman who kept several racers ... an eminent Banker's son, and others. ... Misses Vincent and Newton, with two other equally jovial damsels. The whole party, male and female, were of the description. ... "hard goers". ...' In 1768, Hickey refers to Tomkins, the Proprietor. In 1774 he says: '... the dissipated kind of life I had again fallen into could not escape the penetrating eyes of my father ...' (Memoirs of William Hickey, Vol. I, 50, 61, 84, 101, 311).

1769

 

The Lion's Head letter-box at Button's Coffee-house since 1713, was removed to the Shakespeare's Head. In 1769, Tomkyns was succeeded by his waiter, Campbell, as 'proprietor of the tavern and lion's head'. Whether Campbell is 'Jack the waiter' mentioned in the Memoirs published in 1755, is unknown to me.

1773–78

From 1773 to 1778, the Shakespear is again listed in use for masonic meetings. In 1778, by the Lodge of Felicity.

1779

It was to the Shakespeare, that the body of Miss Reay was taken after being murdered outside the playhouse Covent Garden, on 7 April 1779, by the Rev. James Hackman, and where he himself was secured. According to the evidence given at his trial, Richard Blandy, the constable swore 'to finding two letters in the prisoner's pocket, which he delivered to Mr. Campbell, the Master of the Shakespeare. ...'

1786

The house is mentioned in Wilkes' Diary, 25 Feb. 1786.

1803

In 1803, the Shakespeare Tavern 'in the Piazza' is described as 'A celebrated house where the Electors of Westminster, and other public bodies, meet to dine &c.' The Anniversary Dinner of Mr. Fox's first election for Westminster is advertised to be held here, 10th October, 1803: 'attended by many hundreds of the friends of freedom from all parts of the world. Tickets 10s. 6d.' (Picture of London, 1803, p. 311.)

1804

A press-cutting in Guildhall Library, 8 Nov. 1804, records 'the Lions Head Letter Box knocked down yesterday at the Shakespeare Tavern Covent Garden to Mr. Richardson—£17 . 10 . 0.' Mr. Macmichael in 'Charing Cross' obscurely associates Mr. Richardson the Proprietor of a coffee-house and hotel in the Piazza, Covent Garden, known from 1793 to the 1830s, with the Shakespear. He says: 'Of Mr. Richardson ... nothing seems to be known' adding in a footnote 'Unless he was the well-known waiter of that name at the Shakespear Tavern Covent Garden'.

1819–25

The Shakespear is listed as a coffee-house in 'Picture of London' 1819. From 1821 to 1825, listed in use for masonic meetings. In 1821 by the Burlington Lodge; 1821–25 by Fortitude & Old Cumberland Lodge; in 1824 by Unity, Saint Thomas's, and Percy Lodges.

1826–33

In 1826–27 directories, listed as Shakespeare Tavern & Coffee House, Nos. 27 & 28, Russell Street. Proprietor—John Egling. In 1833, as Shakespeare, Russel Court, Covent Garden. The mention of Russell Street in 1826–27, and Russel Court in 1833, may indicate a removal of the house, or the founding of a new one. Horwood's map 1799 is unhelpful.

1374. Tomkyns Coffee House, Covent Garden.

1750–69

Mr. Packington Tomkyns was Proprietor of the Shakespeare Tavern, Covent Garden, from about 1750 till 1769. Tomkyns or Tomkins, as it is sometimes spelt, is confused in sundry undocumented writings with Tom King's, the coffee-house under the portico of St. Paul's Church, Covent Garden. For instance, 'The Londoner' in Collins' Britain in Pictures series, refers to 'Tomkyns' and the 'Rose at Covent Garden for rakes and gentlemen to whom beds are unknown' is ascribed by most to refer to Tom King's Coffee House, mentioned by Arthur Murphy.

1751

According to Timbs, the Shakespeare, immediately adjoining the Bedford Coffee House, was kept in 1751 'by a person named Tomkyns'.

1768

In 1768, William Hickey refers to Tomkins, Proprietor of the Shakespear. (Memoirs of William Hickey, I, 126.)

1769

In 1769 'Tomkyns was succeeded by his waiter, Campbell, as proprietor' of the Shakespeare 'under the Piazza'.      For a time, Packington Tomkyns, was the owner of the famous Lion's Head Letter Box from Button's Coffee House. The following undated letter is quoted by Richardson in 'The Lion's Head' (1828) indicating its removal to the Bedford Coffee House: 'In obedience to the desire of the Inspector, which to me is a command, the Lion shall make his Public entry into the Bedford Coffee-house (the modern Button's) attended by the busts of Mr. Addison and Sir Richard Steele, as soon as they are finished ... Packington Tomkyns.'

See Shakespeare. No. 1192. Tom King's. No. 1370.

The Shakespeare's Head Tavern, Covent Garden

The Bedford Coffee House continued in the southern part of the portico building (No. 14), and the northern part (No. 13) was converted into the Shakespeare's Head, or Shakespeare, Tavern and Coffee House. The exact date of the Shakespeare's establishment is not certain. It was in existence by 1738 when Richard Croft was rated for this part of the house, but may have begun in 1736, when Croft first became the tenant.¹ In 1747 Packington Tomkyns, vintner, became the proprietor.² James Campbell is said to have taken over the management in 1769 but Tomkyns continued to pay rates for the tavern until 1774³ and did not assign his sub-lease to Campbell until 1785.⁴ In 1792 the Duke of Bedford granted Campbell a lease of the tavern, which hitherto had been held by the proprietors as undertenants of John Rich and then of his widow, Priscilla.⁵

The Shakespeare appears to have been a popular rendezvous for the dissipated; several clubs and masonic lodges also met there to dine and the electors of Westminster held anniversary dinners at the tavern to celebrate Charles James Fox's first return to Parliament as their member.⁶ After the decline of Button's Coffee House in Russell Street the celebrated lion's head letterbox there was transported to the Shakespeare and subsequently to the Bedford Coffee House. It was eventually bought at a sale of James Campbell's effects in 1804 by Charles Richardson,⁷ who transferred it to his own coffee room in No. 43 King Street.

The Shakespeare came to an end in 1804 and the empty premises were burned during the fire which destroyed Covent Garden Theatre in 1808.⁸ A coffee house and tavern of the same name was later opened in Russell Street under a different proprietor.⁹ What little remained of the old Shakespeare's premises was incorporated into the Bedford Coffee House.¹⁰

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¹ Lillywhite, op. cit., p. 525; R.B.
² G.L.R.O.(M), LV(W) 67/22/9; R.B.
³ Lillywhite, op. cit., p. 525; R.B.
⁴ E/BER, Piazza, assignment of 25 March 1785 to J. Campbell.
⁵ Ibid., Piazza, lease of 24 Nov. 1767 to P. Rich; B.O.L., Estate Plan, 1795; M.L.R. 1706/2/6.
⁶ Lillywhite, op. cit., p. 526.
⁷ Charles Richardson, Notices and Extracts relating to the Lion's Head, 1828, pp. 31, 35, 40–1.
⁸ B.M., Crace Collection Maps, portfolio xiii, sheet 48.
⁹ Lillywhite, op. cit., p. 526.
¹⁰ E/BER, Piazza, assignment of 1 June 1810 to S. Kinsey and R. Joy.

Shakespeare’s Head Tavern

Shakespeare's Head Tavern (also known as Shakespeare Tavern) stood in the northeast corner of Covent Garden Piazza, in a house formerly owned by Sir Edmund and Lady Pye (until 1693), and then Admiral Matthew Aylmer until his death in 1720. In 1717 the house was divided into two parts. Two years later John Rich leased the property. In 1726, one section leased to Sarah Gardiner became the Bedford Coffee House. In 1736 the tavern was leased to Richard Croft, and possibly renamed the Shakespeare's Head Tavern at this time. The exact date of the tavern's establishment is not certain, but by 1738 it was in existence when Richard Croft was rated for this part of the house (Survey of London Volume 36, Covent Garden (London County Council, London, 1970)). In 1742 Richard Mylton became the proprietor. Packington Tomkins or Tomkyns became the proprietor in 1747 and was in 1769 succeeded by his waiter, James Campbell.

The Shakespear's Head Tavern,
Next Door to the Playhouse, in the Great Piazzas, Covent Garden,

Is now compleatly finished in the most elegant Taste, where Gentlemen may depend upon the best of Wines and other Accommodations of all Sorts. From

Their most Obedient, Humble Servant,
Richard Mytton,
From the Cross-Key's, Henrietta-street.

Note, There is a Door opened in the Playhouse Passage to come into the Tavern, and avoid all Dangers or Inconveniencies from the Crowds.

—London Daily Post and General Advertiser 2569, Friday, January 14, 1743.

The tavern was one of the more infamous houses of prostitution among the coffee houses and taverns that fronted more licentious activities. The tavern's head waiter Jack Harris (John Harrison), styled  by John Hill as "Pimp-General to the People of England," wrote or licensed his name to appear on the annual issue of Harris's List of Covent Garden Ladies. Probably compiled by Samuel Derrick, Harris's List provided descriptions, names, addresses, and specialities of the prostitutes Harris was able to procure.

"Yet such is the Force of Scandal," wrote the anonymous author of A Congratulatory Epistle from a Reformed Rake (ca. 1758) of Covent Garden,"that this sanctified Place (of old) is by many believed to be now the Emporium of Fornication, and even the most nauseating impotent Lust":

Passing an evening, a few weeks ago, at a certain Tavern near Covent-Garden , the Wine operated to strongly upon the young Blood of some of my Companions, that they rung for the Gentleman-porter and actually asked him if he could get them some Girls; to my great surprise he pulled out a List, containing the Names of near four Hundred, alphabetically ranged, with an exact Account of their Persons, Age, Qualifications, and Places of Abode. ... Believe it who will (for it is scarce credible) among these four Hundred Whores, near a Hundred were marked in the Margin as living in Bow-street, and the Courts adjacent, and upwards of half the rest, in about Covent-Garden.

A Blood in Company began to question Bob, concerning his Catalogue, "What new faces have you got Bob?"—"Please your Honour, I've nothing very new, without 'tis Nancy Wilson—but she has just got hold of an Oxford Scholar worth sixteen thousand?"—Where does she live? Oh, in the Garden, Sir.—"What else have you got worth looking at?"—"Why an please you—there is Jenny Belse, and Polly Martin,—fresh out of keeping in Bow-street" ... Zounds, there's nothing but old Faces, that have been upon the Town ever since the Flood. "I shall have, Sir, next Week two of the finest Girls in England, that have not been debauched above a Fortnight—Mrs. D--gl--s [Mother Douglas, next door to the Shakespeare Tavern] expects 'em in Town every Day from Salisbury, whither they have run from their Father."

Thus, Sir, did this audacious Pimp harangue, and talk of Covent-Garden and Bow-Street, as if those Places were entirely over-run with Bawds and Whores—Spoke of Mrs. D--gl-s, Mrs Sh-t-r, Mrs. N-ble, Mrs. G-ld &c &c as if they actually existed, and kept public—notorious nay (almost) infamous Bawdy-Houses... (15-18).

James Boswell, London Journal 1762–1763

One of the tavern's better known patrons was James Boswell who writes in his diary entry for Thursday 19 May 1763:

We stayed & drank tea & Coffee, and at seven, being in high glee I called upon Miss Watts whom I found by herself, neatly drest & looking very well. I was free & easy with her, & begged that she would drink a glass of Wine with me, at the Shakespear,¹ which she complied with. I told her my name was MacDonald and that I was a Scotch highlander. She said she liked them much; as they had allways spirit and generosity. We were shown into a handsom room, and had a bottle of choice Sherry. We sat near two hours and became very chearfull & agreable to each other. I told her with polite freedom, Madam, I tell you honestly I have no Money to give you, but if you allow me favours without it, I shall be much obliged to you. She smiled & said she would. Her maid then brought her a message that a particular friend from the Country was waiting for her; so that I was obliged to give her up, this night, as I determined to give her no money. She left me pleased & said she hoped to have the pleasure of my company at tea when it was convenient. This I faithfully promised, & took as a good sign of her willingness to establish a friendly communication with me. I then sallied forth to the Piazzas in rich flow of animal spirits, and burning with fierce desire. I met two very pretty little Girls, who asked me to take them with me. "My Dear Girls" said I—"I am a poor fellow. I can give you no money. But if you chuse to have a glass of wine and my company, and let us be gay & obliging to each other, without money, I am your Man." They agreed with great good humour. So back to the Shakespear I went. "Waiter" said I, "I have got here a couple of human beings, I dont know how they'll do." I'll look, your honour (cried he) & with inimitable effrontery stared them in the face, & then cried they'll do very well. What said I, are they good fellow-creatures? bring them up, then. We were shown into a good room & had a bottle of Sherry before us in a minute. I surveyed my Seraglio & found them both good subjects for amorous play. I toyed with them, & drank about & sung "Youth's the season"² and thought myself Captain Macheath: and then I solaced my existence with them, one after the other, according to their Seniority. I was quite raised, as the phrase is. Thought I was in a London Tavern, the Shakespear's head, enjoying high debauchery, after my sober winter. I parted with my Ladies politely & came home in a glow of spirits.
 

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¹ the Shakespear: The Shakespeare's Head tavern, Covent Garden.
² Youth's the season: "Youth's the season made for Joys", Air XXII from The Beggar's Opera, sung by Macheath in a tavern near Newgate prison, surrounded by ladies of the town.

—James Boswell's London Journal 1762–1763, ed. Gordon Turnbull (Penguin 2010), entry for Thursday, 19 May, 1763.

Memoirs of the Shakespear's-Head in Covent Garden, probably by Samuel Derrick (1755)

I had supp'd merrily, with a few select Friends, in the Tavern, known by the Name of the Shakespear's Head, when, it growing late, my Companions departed to their several Mansions, while, for my part, I chose to remain till I had emptied my last Pipe, and drawn to the Dregs, the remains of a Bottle of Harry Delamain's Burgundy. ... When a hollow, but yet pleasing Voice, sounding in my Ear, at once dispell'd my Slumber, and awak'd me, I rous'd, and, looking round, beheld at my Elbow, a Figure in every Part resembling that we see drawn for Shakespear. (2-3, 4)

List! be attentive! interrupt me not! except a very necessary Question offers, while I unfold to you many strange Secrets, which will surprise the World. While I strip off their gaudy Plumage, who impose with the false Lustre of a splendid Outside on the Credulity of Mankind: Observe those whom I shall shew you in their native Characters; mark them as they pass; and you will find the sanctify'd Clergyman, an arch Hypocrite; the bluff Captain, a kick'd Coward; the noble Count, A Swiss Peasant; the assuming Doctor, and ignorant Quack; and the modest Matron, a most luscious Harlot; some Harlots Women of Virtue, tho' not of Chastity; and the Woman of Chastity the most despicable Character; you will find the Gamester often a fair Dealer, and the apparently fair Dealer an arrant Cheat; the Lord a Sharper; the Gentleman a Mountebank; and a Player a Gentleman; an honest Man with a bad Character; and the Villain with the Title of a Man of Honour. (7-8)

...Jack [Jack Harris] (who presides over the Venereal Pleasures of this Dome) and he [Louvre] are in close Amity. Louvre when he has formed a Girl perfectly for Vice, in order to strengthen her in the Institution, introduces her to the Company of all his Friends ... However, if his late Mistress has, by her slip, lost her Character and disobliged her Friends, he brings her acquainted with Jack; who establishes her, if Marketable-ware, and ‘tis often otherwise, amongst all the Rakes of the Town one after another as a Rose never blown upon. One Girl, that I mark'd, pass'd tho' the Hands of one hundred and ten People, before it was discovered that she had ever been misled; she was a handsome Woman tho', and had some Sense; a Species of Females that rarely found in the Catalogue of Louvre's Favorites. (14)

...But Louvre's addressing the Waiter, who often gives him the Retort curteous, and introduces his Girls, before they have seen much Company, to him. For this ingenious Major Domo often affirms, that no Man has more truly the Art of making a Woman a Whore, and eradicating every principle of Virtue from her Heart. (16)

—Memoirs of the Shakespear's-Head in Covent Garden: in which are introduced many entertaining adventures, and several remarkable characters. By the Ghost of Shakespear. In two volumes (1755).

Horace Bleackley Ladies Fair and Frail: Sketches of the Demi-Monde During the Eighteenth Century (1909)

As a matter of course, Fanny Murray soon found her way to The Shakespeare's Head, which was regarded as the Mecca of the courtesan, for Jack Harris, the chief waiter, as base a fellow as the redoubtable Leather-cote, arranged the petites affaires of all the principal women in the town, and it was an honour to figure in his list. Until Sam Derrick plagiarised the idea many years afterwards, and printed a yearly guide-book which he called "Harris's List of Covent Garden Ladies," this catalogue of frail beauties remained unpublished, being merely an inventory kept by the waiter at " The Shakespeare " for the sake of reference. According to her biographer it was not until Fanny Murray had been four years in London.that she gained a place in this famous list, where she is described as "a fine brown girl, rising nineteen next season, perfectly sound in wind and limb." Jack Harris conducted his business on the lines of Tattersall's. (14-15)

... All the wild nobles in the town were enraptured with her fresh young charms, and considered her robust spirits and spontaneous gaiety a delightful contrast to the bibulous clamour of most of the girls who frequented the Rose or the Shakespeare's Head. (16)

—Ladies Fair and Frail: Sketches of the Demi-Monde During the Eighteenth Century, by Horace Bleackley (1909).