From spoons to satire: An evening in an 18th century coffee house

29 Oct 2014

This time last week, we transformed the Sammy Ofer wing foyer above Ships, Clocks & Stars into an 18th century coffee house, with a little help from a few special guests. Top of the Pops of London's Baroque, The Frolick were on hand to provide the music, while Dr Matthew Green, coffee house historian, gave people the opportunity to find out how 18th century coffee tasted (Clue: disgusting, but strangely moreish). Curator of art, Dr Katy Barrett, took a satirical look at Georgian society, from Hogarth’s infamous inclusion of a ‘longitude lunatic’ in his image of Bedlam in A Rake’s Progress, and invited visitors to write their own Longitude satires. Below are three of my favourite examples: With Mother Clap, who ran one of the most famous molly houses in Georgian London, visitors could make their very own molly spoon alter ego to take home with them. Sadly, these two got left behind…   Did you make a Molly Spoon or write a satire at The Virtue of Coffee? Tweet us a picture of your spoon or satire @NMMGreenwich with the hashtag #WhereOnEarth to win 2 tickets to Clocking Off LATE 13 November