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The Coal Hole - The Strand London
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Right - Fountain Court. It gained fame under the direction of John Rhodes, who had a passion for silver plate and boasted that more silver tankards, goblets and flagons, loving cups and the like could be seen there than in any of the big hotels in London. He ran it successfully on the lines of Evans's and was himself Chairman. He was a big man with a fine presence, an excellent baritone voice and was one of the most popular turns of the time. When he died, his son improved it but when Rhodes Junior died in 1850 his widow tried to carry on but without success, likewise John Bruton, of Vauxhall Gardens, and so the glory of the Coal Hole departed. Text edited from 'The Melodies Linger On' by W Maqueen-Pope |
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Above - A Notice in the ERA of the 9th of
January 1853 stating 'COAL-HOLE
TAVERN, FOUNTAIN-COURT, STRAND, Opposite Exeter
Hall. - The LORD CHIEF BARON-NICHOLSON has the honour to apprise
his Friends that he has redecorated the Coffee-room of the above establishment,
and that it will be ready for the reception of the Public on Monday
evening. Chops, Steaks, Kidneys, &c., from the Patent Gridiron.
Dinners, Soups, &c., Beds, 1s. 6d. The JUDGE and JURY SOCIETY
sits Every Night at Nine o'C;ock. New Cases of thrilling interest.
B. NICHOLSON respectfully intimates to those Friends whom bushiness
or pleasure may call to the neighbourhood of the Coal-Hole, that his
exertions are now solely for his OWN BENEFIT. - Cutting courtesy BF. |
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Above - Detail of the inscriptions flanking the entrance to Fountain Court - 2003
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Right - The present Coal Hole Public House, looking up the Strand. There is a Public House at 91 The strand which still bears the name The Coal Hole, but although close to the original location is related by name only. |
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...William Blake lived in two rooms on the first floor
of No. 3 Fountain Court, a red brick house,from 1821
until his death in 1827. He
was very poor, and frankly admitted that 'he lived in a hole'. He consoled
himself, however, with the thought that 'God had a beautiful mansion
for him elsewhere'. It was here that Blake produced his Illustrations
to ante's Divine Comedy and his Illustrations to The Book of Job. |
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The
Coal Hole was located in Fountain Court, 
Edward
Lee in Thirteen Guided Walks to the Fascinating Music Landmarks of London
suggests that the name came as a result of its use by coal heavers.
He also indicates the existence of a memorial plaque that states that
the original song and supper room was located nearby.
...High
wooden rafters and faded pennants give this pub an authentic mediaeval
feel; the high traditions of the Robber Barons of yore are also maintained
by the soft drinks prices. Formerly a haunt of the city's heavers of
coal to every smog-creating household, that Actor with a capital A,
Edmund Kean started The Wolf Club there for the purposes of hard drinking
& high jinx. Nothing has changed. Cheers!