St Martins pub history index
Heath Court, Strand, is at 412 Strand, nearly opposite Adam street, Adelphi, 1/4 of a mile on the Left from Charing cross. The Heathcock, is at 414 Strand
A listing of historical public houses, Taverns, Inns, Beer Houses and Hotels in St Martins in Fields, London.
Residents at this address.
Heathcock Court, Strand, is comparatively too far removed from what we should now perhaps consider the " immediate neighbourhood " of Charing Cross, and would consequently be outside our notice but for the fact that the " Heathcock " tavern, after which the court is named, was always spoken of as the " Heathcock, Charing Cross," in accordance with the usual latitude allowed in such descriptive directions, before the abolition of house-signs.
The idea seems to have been to get people to come so far as some well-known spot in London, when further inquiries would make the rest of the journey easy. We can imagine the men waiting round the " Horse " for employment being glad to direct the anxious sight-seer the way to the " Heathcock," where he wished to see " a surprising young mermaid taken on the coast of Aquapulca . . . allowed to be the greatest curiosity ever exposed to public view." This " Heathcock " is one of the many London signs which must have necessarily been found to be outside the scope of such a comprehensive work as Larwood and Hotten's " History of Signboards." The tavern, however, certainly existed so late, at least, as 1787.
A heathcock with wings expanded, and holding in his beak a flower, is the crest of the Coopers' Company, whence probably the sign, which appears to have survived over the entrance to the court as late as 1844. In July of that year it was removed, in spite of the remonstrance of Mr. Peter Cunningham, and lost sight of. Mr. Philip Norman, with his ever keen eye for the ancient and picturesque in domestic architecture, calls attention to two old houses fronting Heathcock Court, which were remaining in 1893.
12 September 1809/Insured: Joseph Belshaw, The Heathcock, Strand, victualler/../../Sun Fire Office records, held at London Metropolitan Archives
John Lockie, a descriptive London Street Directory in 1810 describes "Heath Court, Strand, at 412, nearly opposite Adam street, Adelphi, 1/4 of a mile on the Left from Charing cross."
1827/Edw Baylis, Heath Cock, Heath Cock court, Strand/../../Pigot's Directory
1829/Heath Cock, Thomas Bateman, 414 Strand/../../Sun Fire Office records, held at London Metropolitan Archives
19 June 1833/Insured: James Charles Chapman, the Heathcock, Heathcock Court, Strand, victualler/../../Sun Fire Office records, held at London Metropolitan Archives