Taverns were early mentioned by names, more or less personal and peculiar:
one of the first mentioned is the State Arms, where the magistrates
usually dieted and drank, in King Street, 1653; Ship Tavern, in Ann
Street, 1666; Bunch of Grapes, in King Street, 1724; King's Head Tavern,
near Fleet Street, 1755; Queen's Head, in Lynn Street, 1732; Ship in
Distress, an ancient tavern, opposite Moon Street; and if the
"ordinaries," spoken of by Cotton Mather, were taverns, they were very
numerous and were known as ale-houses, or, as Mather says, "hell-houses."