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
LONDON STONE TAVERN, Cannon street
This tavern, situated in Cannon-street, near the Stone, is stated, but not
correctly, to have been the oldest in London. Here was formed a society,
afterwards the famous Robin Hood, of which the history was published in 1716,
where it is stated to have originated in a meeting of the editor's grandfather
with the great Sir Hugh Myddelton, of New Biver memory. King Charles II. was
introduced to the society, disguised, by Sir Hugh, and the King liked it so
well, that he came thrice afterwards. " He had" continues the narrative, " a
piece of black silk over his left cheek, which almost covered it; and his
eyebrows, which were quite black, he had, by some artifice or other, converted
to a light brown, or rather flaxen colour ; and had otherwise disguised himself
so effectually in his apparel and his looks, that nobody knew him but Sir Hugh,
by whom he was introduced." This is very circumstantial, but is very doubtful ;
since Sir Hugh Myddelton died when Charles was in his tenth year.
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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