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Genealogical gleanings in england volume 1 lists "a Roger Owlfeilde citizen and fishmmonger of London, 26 November 1608, proved 1 December 1608". *
This inn was present by 1608 and was demolished in 1865. One-time landlord William Chaplin later served as Sheriff for London and Middlesex and as MP for Salisbury and was chairman of the London & South-West Railway at the time of his death. **
The 1682 Morgans Map of Gracechurch street records 665 Cross keys Inne and 667 Spread Eagle Inne. 655 is St Bennet Gracechurch and 657 is Allhallows Lombard street
On leaving the site of the London Tavern, turning southwards, and crossing
the end of Cornhill, we enter Gracechurch Street, on the east side of which
stood, till within comparatively a few years, one of the best known coaching
hotels in London.
The Spread Eagle, with its quaint galleries and stable-yard reaching down to
Leadenhall Market — that part of it where hides and skins were sold —
disappeared to make room for the ever-increasing demand for offices.
Here, too, I have dined many a time and oft. Mr. William Chaplin, the last
landlord, was, I believe, the last representative of the well-known firm of
Chaplin and Home, stage coach proprietors and carriers.
When railways were first talked of in England, and everyone was prophesying that
the breed of horses would in a few years be extinct in this country, as there
would be no further use for them, the partners in the firm of Chaplin and Home,
seeing farther than many of their neighbours and fellow-countrymen, bestirred
themselves to run "both concerns," the railway and their old coaching and
carrying businesses.
Instead of running in opposition to the railways and crying them down, they
worked in with them, running their coaches as feeders to the railways, and
conveying passengers to and from the main stations on the newly-opening lines,
and to the towns in those districts which were as yet without railway
accommodation.
In a like manner they worked their carrying business, and for many years they
and Messrs. Pickford did a very considerable portion of the inland carrying
trade of the country. The name of Benjamin Worthy Horne was on many a coach and
waggon.
Mr. William Chaplin retained possession of the Spread Eagle up to the very last.
When the Spread Eagle was sold by auction it was knocked down to a fortunate
gentleman who, before he left the room, was offered, and accepted, a sum for his
bargain that has been variously stated at £20,000 and £40,000. It was the ground
it stood on, of course, that constituted its value.
Historical London public houses, Taverns, Inns, Beer Houses and Hotels.
Spread Eagle, Gracechurch Street - prior to demolition
Kindly provided by Colleen
Residents at this address.
Genealogical gleanings in england volume 1 lists "a Roger Owlfeilde citizen and fishmmonger of London, 26 November 1608, proved 1 December 1608". *
In his will Roger leaves many thousands and pounds to family after sharing his goods into three parts.
One third to his wife Thomasine, a third amongst his children, Samuel, Joseph, Elizabeth, Mary, Martha, Abigal, Yhomasine, Hanna, Sarah and Rebecca.
Of the third part a thousand marks to Thomasine, his wife.
On thousand pounds to son Joseph Owlfield.
Mother in law Jane Moore fifty shillings
Every one of his wifes sisters and their husbands forty shillings apiece.
Remit and forgive all debts to brother John Owfeilde of ashebourne in Darby.
etc etc...
In a codicil of same date he bequeaths his messuage and Inn called the Spread Eagle in Gracious street als Grace Church street, London, to son Joseph Owlfield.
John Strype Survey of London in 1720 - Bishopsgate Ward lists '25 Spread Eagle Inn'.
1765/Mr Bell / Inn-keeper /../../Proceedings of the Old Bailey **
1767/Thomas Smith / Hostler /../../Proceedings of the Old Bailey **
1771/Mr Bell/../../../The Lady’s Magazine, Volume 2 **
1779/George Waddington / Public House Keeper /../../Proceedings of the Old Bailey **
1779/Barnet Ellis / Servant /../../Proceedings of the Old Bailey **
1803/Mr Clinch/../../../Proceedings of the Old Bailey **
1805/Cecilia Stevens / Chambermaid /../../Proceedings of the Old Bailey **
1805/William Clinch, the Spread Eagle, Gracechurch street/../../Holdens
Directory
1811/William Paray, innholder, Spread Eagle Inn, Gracechurch street/../../Holdens Directory
1822/J G Chaplin/../../../Pigot’s Directory **
1825/J G Chaplin/../../../Pigot’s Directory **
1825/Thomas Boyce / Innholder /../../Sun Fire Office records held at Guildhall Library **
1826/William Chaplin / Innholder /../../Sun Fire Office records held at Guildhall Library **
1829/William Chaplin / Coachmaster /../../Sun Fire Office records held at Guildhall Library **
1834/William Chaplin / Innholder /../../Sun Fire Office records held at Guildhall Library **
1835/William Chaplin / Stage Master & Innholder /../../Sun Fire Office records held at Guildhall Library **
1836/William Chaplin, Spread Eagle Inn and Hotel, 84 Gracechurch street/../../Pigots Directory
1836/William Chaplin/../../../Sun Fire Office records held at Guildhall Library **
1841/John Chaplin/../../../P.O. Directory **
1851/John Chaplin/../../../Kellys Directory
1851/Thomas Wake/Publican/51/Stanmore, Herts/Census
1851/Elizth Wake/Wife/55/Southampton, Hants/Census
1851/Thos Wake/Son, Assistant/13/Stanmore, Herts/Census
1851/Elizth Squibb/House Servant/22/Southampton, Hants/Census
1851/John Herven/Visitor, Traveller/55/Erith, Kent/Census
1851/James Peall/Visitor, Omnibus conductor/26/Rochester, Kent/Census
1851/William Ledwick/Visitor/35/Dublin, Ireland/Census
1851/George Bear/Visitor, Brewer/34/Canterbury, Kent/Census
1851/Wm Gardner/Visitor/42/Southampton, Hants/Census
1851/Edward Gard/Visitor, Merchant/60/Exeter, Devon/Census
1851/Willm Emson/Visitor, Merchant/29/Saffron Walden, Essex/Census
1851/Donald Davidson/Visitor, Merchant/39/Scotland/Census
1851/John Austin/Visitor, Agent/35/Everton, Liverpool/Census
1851/Med Chas Bowyer/Visitor, Student/25/Oxford/Census
1851/James Herven/Visitor, Merchant/39/Woburn Place, Middlesex/Census
1851/R B Kennett/Visitor, Land Proprietor/42//Census
1851/Edwin Bowyer/Visitor, Sailor/19/Dover, Kent/Census
1851/Ellen Butler/Housekeeper/35/Spitalfields, Middlesex/Census
1851/Mariann Watkins/Barmaid/26/Swansea, S Wales/Census
1851/Caroline Abrey/Barmaid/33/Stow Maries, Essex/Census
1851/Elizth Hill/Chambermaid/34/Ragbeer, Devon/Census
1851/Eliza Searle/Housemaid/21/Saffron Walden, Essex/Census
1851/Emma Winn/Housemaid/27/Hoxton, Middlesex/Census
1851/Cath Monteith/Housemaid/31/St Anns Soho, Middlesex/Census
1851/Agnes Fraser/Housemaid/24/Surrey/Census
1851/Sarah Lunn/Needlewoman/26/Thame, Oxford/Census
1851/Ann Jones/Kitchenmaid/28/Great Missenden, Bucks/Census
1851/Ann Green/Scullerymaid/26/North Leigh, Oxford/Census
1851/Wm Hatten/Waiter/42/Carshalton, Surrey/Census
1851/George Harding/Waiter/26/Romsey, Hants/Census
1851/Wm Weston/Waiter/22/London/Census
1851/George Hesketh/Porter/19/Hampstead, Middlesex/Census
1851/Samuel Shelton/Porter Watchman/21/Colchester, Essex/Census
1851/George Maskell/Office Porter/40/Hadleigh, Suffolk/Census
1852/John Chaplin/../../../Watkin’s Directory **
1856/John Chaplin/../../../Post Office Directory
1860/J Chaplin/../../../The Draper & Clothier, Travellers’ Hand-Book **
1860/Richard Dozell/../../../P.O. Directory **
* Provided by Steven Skoropowski
** Provided by Stephen Harris
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