(3) The Mitre, where the Society of Antiquaries dined from 1728 to 1775 on St. George’s Day. Here also the Royal Society held its meetings for some years.
(4) The Bolt in Tun, an ancient tavern of the fifteenth century. The Daily News now occupies its site.
(5) The Cock. Everybody knows Tennyson’s lines. The tavern has been taken down and the site built over.
Mr. Hilton Price enumerates nearly fifty more.
If the street was full of taverns, it was equally the favourite place of business for printers and booksellers. Again referring to Mr. Price’s paper we can compile the following list, omitting names of no importance in the commercial history of literature.
Richard Pynson (1493). At Temple Bar.
William How (1571-90). Printer over Temple Bar.
Ward and Mundee. Booksellers over Temple Bar (1578).
John Starkey (1660-81). At the Mitre, between the Temple gates. Publisher of Shadwell’s Plays.
Richard Tottell (1553-97). Printer between the Temple gates.