London Trade Tokens - Abchurch Lane (Lombard Street)

The White Bear Tavern was sold to Pontack (Pontac, Puntack) which it was known by afterward. In "The Signs of Old Lombard Street" 1902, by F G Hilton Price, he states that Robarts, the current owner, allowed him to examine the title deeds and determined that it had been a coffee house, and earlier Puntack's Head, and prior to that The Bear. In 1902 the premises formed part of Messrs. Robarts, Lubbock and Co.s bank. In the 1808, 1841 and 1842 Directories, No. 15 Lombard is owned by Robarts, Curtis and Co, Bankers. Comparing the Ogilby and Horwood maps, it appears that buildings Nos. 15, 16, and 17 were combined and addressed as No. 15. In 1786, No. 15 belonged to John Moffatt, an insurance broker. The hearth tax of 1666 lists an "Abchurch lane ye west syde" and a "Lane syde" A Ralph Lucas (owner of the White Bear) is taxed at 5 hearths in "The Lane Syde" which does call into question No. 17 Lombard Street being the White Bear. Price also notes that the back part of these premises [Puntack's Head] originally belonged to Vyner, and afterwards to the Post Office. The hearth tax of 1666 does list a Vyner but for "Greate Lumbard streete North syde."
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The 1841 London directory has a White Hart maintained by Charles Thomas Chard listed at 18 Abchurch Lane
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