To judge from their present-day dignified appearance, no one would imagine that the Old Palace and the New Palace Yards at Westminster ever tolerated such mundane things as coffee-houses and taverns within their precincts. The evidence of history, however, shows that at one time there were numerous establishments of both kinds situated under the shadow of Westminster Hall and the Abbey. A drawing not more than a century old [or two centuries - editors note] shows several such buildings, and the records of the city enumerate public houses of the sign of the Coach and Horses, and the Royal Oak, and the White Rose as being situated in the Old Palace Yard, while the coffee-houses there included Waghorne's and Oliver's.
[Illustration: OLD PALACE YARD, WESTMINSTER]
Westminster St John index
Historical London public houses, Taverns, Inns, Beer Houses and Hotels.
Residents at this address
In 1787, the St James Union Lodge, named in 1817, meets at the Star and Garter, Old Palace yard, Westminster, London in 1787
2 September 1796/Insured: John Nickals, the Star and Garter, Old Palace Yard Westminster, victualler/../../Sun Fire Office records, held at London Metropolitan Archives
1811, F Rogers, Star and Garter, Palace yard, Westminster/../../Holdens directory
St James Union Lodge, named in 1817 meets at the Star and Garter, Old Palace yard, Westminster, London in 1787
The Royal Grove Lodge, named in 1816 meets at the Star and Garter, Old Palace yard, Westminster, London in 1797
John Lockie, a descriptive London Street Directory in 1810 describes - "Palace Yard (Old), Westminster, the open space on the South side of Westminster hall by the Abbey."
1827/James Forder, Star & Garter, Old Palace yard, Westminster/../../Robsons Directory
13 December 1827/Insured: Edward Bland The Star and Garter Old Palace Yard Westminster victualler/../../Sun Fire Office records, held at London Metropolitan Archives
1830/Mr Bland, Star and Garter, Old Palace yard makes a one guinea Susbscription to the Licensed Victuallers Association
1834/Mrs Janet Bland, Star and Garter, 4 Old Palace yard, Westminster/../Licensed Victuallers Association
1836/Jennet Bland, Star & Garter, Old Palace Yard/../../Pigots Directory
1839/Jennet Bland, Star & Garter, Old Palace Yard/../../Pigots Directory
1842, J. Bland, Star and garter, Old palace yard, Westminster/../../Robsons Directory
Trying to avoid privacy and cookie settings overwriting content