Young Mans, Buckingham Court, Charing Cross, St Martins in Fields WC2
St Martins pub history index
Hartshorn lane, Charing Cross in 1746 -
John Rocque map
Other places of public resort on this spot besides the " Rummer " had convenient back entrances into Spring Gardens.
The " Green Man " at Charing Cross, next door to which was the Lottery Office where the Swedish Giant was exhibited, was known earlier, in the reign of William III., as " Young Man's Coffee-house" in Buckingham Court.
It had a backdoor into Spring Gardens, and was much frequented by " officers." At " Young Man's " was exhibited "a Little Man, Fifty Years of Age, Two Feet Nine Inches high, and the Father of Eight Children," who, " when he sleeps, puts his Head between his two Feet, to rest on by way of a Pillow, and his great Toes one in each Ear."
This " Young Man's Coffee-house " was set up in opposition to " Old Man's," over the way, near Scotland Yard.
Next door to " Young Man's" was " Tom's " Coffee-house, whence are advertised " Masquerade Habits to be Let, at Five Shillings per Habit, the greatest Variety of any Place soever, being very Curious and Comick, at Tom's Coffee-house, next door to Young Man's Coffee-house, Charing Cross."
Opposite " Young Man's " was the " Orange Tree," the sign of a snuff-dealer apparently : " Whereas the late Anthony Rodrigues (famous in his Life-time for preparing Snuff) did for valuable Considerations impart his Secret of mixing and preparing the said Snuffs to Mr. James Puech : These are therefore to give Notice That all the said sorts of Snuff are carefully and exactly prepared by the said James Puech, and sold by him at the House [? called the] Orange Tree, opposite Young Man's Coffee-house at Charing Cross,"
At Mr. Evans's, Glover, over against " Young Man's " Coffee-house at Charing Cross, were sold Comaro's Drops, not mentioned in Paris's " Pharmacologia." All manner of virtues are attributed to them, the inventor probably trading on the famous name of Lewis Comaro, the noble Venetian, who, having lived freely in his youth to the injury of his health, determined to re-establish it by strict temperance. This he succeeded in doing by reducing himself to twelve ounces of food and fourteen of wine a day. At the same time, by exerting his reason and philosophy, he also conquered his temper, which was naturally impatient and bad. He died in his ninety-eighth year, but did not recommend to all the severities of diet which he practised himself.
Within three doors of Young Man's Coffee-house, " against the horse," i.e. the statue of Charles I., dwelt a "man-milliner" exhibiting in 1709 a sign of the "Olive Tree and Still." He advertised " the goods of a person who had failed, consisting of Men's Mourning Gowns of rich silks, Stuffs, Calicoes," &c. His sign indicated two branches of trade, — the " Olive Tree " showing that not only the goods usually supplied by a man-milliner were sold, but articles generally of Italian millinery also, such as artificial flowers, / Genoa velvet, L^hom hats, &c. Dr. Johnson derives the word " milliner " from Milan, a Milaner being one who dealt originally in Milanese and Italian finery generally. Professor Skeat says that, although this is disputed, it means " almost certainly a dealer in goods brought firom Milan.The Haberdashers were originally called " hurers " and " milaners," i,e, cap-makers and dealers in Milan wares. The Still stands for a perfumer's, both these trades having been dependent on Italy for a supply of scents and toilet-waters.
The popinjay described by Hotspur was " perfumed like a milliner," and for a long time after Shakespeare in the flesh there is a suggestion of a close connection between the two trades. Evelyn says in this " Diary " that the shops of milliners and perfumers were noted "-- places of assignation. The milliners' shops in the New Exchange,
Strand, were notorious for this. Attended by the most showy young women who could be procured, they were the haunts of beaux and profligates, who spent their time and money there in frivolous conversation.