A Local Institution
WILLIAM AND JANE CLAPHAM wed on December 15, 1746, and departed their native Essex for the prestigious university town of Cambridge. There, in 1748, they opened a coffeehouse called, appropriately, Clapham’s, and ran it until at least 1762. The remains of Clapham’s have recently been discovered by archaeologists and they are offering a new perspective on a time when British coffeehouses, like British society, were changing.
Researchers are discovering that Clapham’s was a versatile venue, filling a variety of social and gustatory needs. In addition to hot beverages, including coffee, chocolate, and tea, patrons could enjoy small bites and substantial meals or let off steam throughout the evening with ale, wine, liqueurs, and fancy desserts. The variety of food and
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