Dr Butlers Head Tavern, 5 Masons Avenue, St Michael Bassishaw EC2
St Michael Bassishaw index
A pub was first established here in 1610, with Dr Butler acquiring the site in 1616. ** Masons avenue is closer to Basinghall street than Moorgate street. The early address in 1851 is at White Rose court. This is confirmed by the fact that Charles Cowney is here from at least 1848 until hi death in 1883. The Great Bell alley Dr Butlers Head is at Telegraph street. The modern address is at 2 Masons Avenue, Moorgate, London EC2V 5BT; a Shepherd & Neame pub in 2007; and is a grade 2 listed building.
When M. le Duc de Sully informed his Royal master, Henri Quatre, King of
France and Navarre, that James I. of England was the " wisest fool in
Christendom," he was just a trifle severe. King Jamie was no doubt somewhat
pedantic and eccentric in many of his ways, but he had wit enough to smell
sulphur and saltpetre in the anonymous letter received by Lord Monteagle, and
got the cue to checkmate Messrs. Guido Fawkes, Catesby, and Co. in carrying out
their little game of "high, sky high." He evinced no lack of sagacity when he
selected Dr. William Butler to be his medical adviser, notwithstanding his never
having taken the degree of M.D. William Butler was born at Ipswich in 1515, and,
though he held no diploma, was called not only Dr. Butler even by his brother
medicos, but also the " modern Esculapius," and he was summoned to attend the
King's eldest son, Arthur Prince of Wales, in his last illness. He it was who
had the temerity to pronounce it as his firm conviction that his Royal patient
was the victim of conspiracy, and had been poisoned � an opinion which, though
disputed by some of the other medical men, was never refuted, notwithstanding
that a rigid though private investigation into the whole matter was made.
Evidently the King did not disapprove of the boldness of the doctor, as he not
only continued his patronage, but visited the doctor at his own house long after
Prince Arthur was dead and buried.
Medical men in the times of the Tudors and Stuarts had methods of treating their
patients somewhat different from the practice now. It is related that on one
occasion, when the doctor lived in a house on the banks of the Thames, a patient
suffering from ague was brought in a boat beneath his window overlooking the
river, for him to prescribe for. He sent down two of his men-servants � strong,
lusty fellows � who, at a signal from him, and while he was diagnosing the case,
plunged the patient into the river, and then pulled him out.
So great was the surprise � not to say fright of his sudden and unexpected bath
that it cured him of his ague, which never returned. Dr. Butler invented a
particular brew of ale, that went by his name and became quite a fashionable
drink. He established a number of houses or taverns for its sale in various
parts of London and of the country, too, to all of which he gave the name of "
Dr. Butler's Head." The taste for this ale continued in vogue long after the
doctor's death in 1618.
The taverns either closed altogether when the fashion for imbibing that
particular brew of beer died out, or their proprietors changed the sign of their
houses, and adopted other names, for all, with one notable exception, have long
since disappeared and, like " the baseless fabric of a vision, leave not a wrack
behind." The one Dr. Butler's Head that has survived was established in 1616,
two years before his death, and is now a flourishing tavern and first-class
restaurant in what is now called Masons' Avenue, but was in years gone by known
as Rose Court, leading from Coleman Street to Basinghall Street. As a midday
dining or luncheon house it is second to none in the city, notwithstanding the
fact of its being quite destitute of encaustic tiles, large mirrors, and the
usual decorations now so much the rule in such establishments. Its deficiency in
costly embellishments is far from being a detriment, for everything connected
with the service of the table is sans reproche, and the cuisine most
excellent. That these are fully appreciated is shown by the fact that the
majority of its patrons are regular customers. No higher commendation is
possible.
Next door is another tavern, where not only dining but sale rooms are attached,
wherein taverns and public-houses and such-like are disposed of by auction "
under the hammer." It is known as " Masons' Hall," and gives its name to the
alley or Avenue.
A listing of historical London public houses, Taverns, Inns, Beer Houses and Hotels in St Michael Bassishaw parish, City of London.
Ye Olde Dr Butlers Head, Masons Avenue - in January 2007
Kindly provided by Stephen Harris
Residents at this address
1616/Dr William Butler/../../../.. **
June 1788/John Davis, The Butlers Head, White Rose Court, Coleman Street victualler/../../Sun Fire Insurance records held at the LMA
July 1789/William Trundell, The Butlers Head, White Rose Court, Coleman Street victualler/../../Sun Fire Insurance records held at the LMA
19 August 1791, Insured: Edward Boulton, Doctor Butlers Head, Great Bell Alley, Coleman Street, victualler, Sun Fire Insurance records held at the LMA
31 October 1808, Insured: William Thompson at the Doctor Butlers Head White Rose Court Coleman Street victualler,Sun Fire Insurance records held at the LMA
October 1809/William Thompson, the Dr Butlers Head, White Rose Court, Coleman Street, victualler/../../Sun Fire Insurance records held at the LMA
August 1823/William Thompson of Dr Butlers Head, White Rose Court, Coleman Street, City, victualler/../../Sun Fire Insurance records held at the LMA
November 1823/Will of William Thompson, Victualler of White Rose Court, Coleman Street , City of London - Kew Archives
1829/Ann Thompson, Dr Butlers Head tavern, 5 White Rose Court, Coleman Court/../../Robsons Directory
30 September 1830, Insured: Samuel Rutter the Butlers Head Great Bell Alley Coleman Street victualler ; Other property or occupiers: Whalebone Court Great Bell Alley, Records held at the London Metropolitan Archive
22 December 1843, Will of William Whitehurst, Licensed Victualler of Doctor Butler's Head White Rose Court Coleman Street , City of London, Records held at the National Archives, Kew
1832/William A Larby, Dr Butlers Head, 5 Whiterose Court, Coleman Court/../../Robsons Directory
1839/William Adams Larby, Dr Butlers Head, 5 Whiterose Court, Coleman Court/../../Pigot�s Directory **
1843/William Whithurst/Dr Butlers Head Tavern, 5 White Rose Court, Coleman Street/../../Post Office Directory
December 1823/Will of William Whitehurst, Licensed Victualler of Dr Butlers Head, White Rose Court, Coleman Street , City of London - Kew Archives
1848/Charles Cowney/Dr Butlers Head Tavern, 5 White Rose Court, Coleman
Street/../../Post Office Directory
1851/Charles Cowney/Dr Butlers Head Tavern, 5 White Rose Court, Coleman Street/../../Kellys Directory
1851/Charles Cowney/Tavern Keeper/39/Hampton, Middlesex/Census
1851/Eliza Cowney/Wife/45/Putney, Surrey/Census
1851/Eliza Cowney/Daughter/12/East Sheen, Surrey/Census
1851/Ann Cowney/Daughter/7/Putney, Surrey/Census
1851/Timothy Fisher/Nephew/20/Putney, Surrey/Census
1851/Ann Wright/Servant/24/Basingstoke, Hampshire/Census
1851/Eliza Ellis/Servant/21/St Pancras, Middlesex/Census
1851/James Rudford/Servant/21/City of London/Census
1851/John Rudford/Servant/17/City of London/Census
1851/Johnson Tubb/Servant/17//Census
1856/Charles Cowney/White Rose Court/../../Land Tax Records
1860/Charles Cowney/White Rose Court/../../Land Tax Records
1869/Charles Cowney/../../../Post Office Directory
1874/Chas Cowney/../../../Licensed Victualler & Hotelier Directory
1881/Charles Cowney/Licensed Victualler, Widow/68/Hampton, Middlesex/Census
1881/Eliza F Cowney/Daughter/40/East Sheen, Surrey/Census
1881/Elizabeth Cowney/Sister/65/Hampton, Middlesex/Census
1881/Mary Carter/Friend/74/Hammersmith, Middlesex/Census
1881/Jane M Byrne/Housekeeper, Widow/40/Cheltenham, Gloucester/Census
1882/Chas Cowney/../../../Post Office Directory
1884/Charles Cowney/../../../Post Office Directory
September 1883/The Will with a Codicil of Charles Cowney late of "Doctor
Butler's Head" Tavern 5 Masons avenue Coleman street in the City of London
Tavern Keeper who died 22 July 1883 at the "Doctor Butler's Head" was proved
at the Principal Registry by Eliza Fisher Cowney of "Doctor Butler's Head"
Spinster the Daughter and Thomas Adolphus Amos of Rosslyn grove Hampstead in
the County of Middlesex Esquire the Executors. Personal Estate �4,167 18s
11d
1899/George Goetz/../../../Post Office Directory
1911/Dr Butlers Head, Not a dwelling/../../../Census
1921/Hy T Packman/../../../Post Office Directory
1934/Pimms Ltd/../../../Post Office Directory
1938/Pimms Ltd/../../../Post Office Directory
1944/Pimms Ltd/../../../Post Office Directory
1983/../YE OLDE DR BUTLERS HEAD: Mason's Avenue. EC2. Pub on the site since
1610. Building dates from 1666. Dr Butler was a specialist on nervous
disorders whose miracle cures included holding consultations on London
Bridge during which the unfortunate client would be dropped through a
trapdoor into the torrent below. He was court physician to James I./../../Pub Directory
** Provided By Stephen Harris
References : Lots of references are made to sources on the
internet archive:
Edward Callows, Old London Taverns