Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(UK Und.) a depository for stolen goods, esp. as used by the ruffler n. to hide his booty.

c.1566		Harman Caveat for Common Cursetours in Viles & Furnivall (1907) 32: Whyche they brynge to their stawlinge kens, which is their typplyng houses.
1592		Groundworke of Conny-catching Ch. 3: They neuer carry the same forthwith to their stauling kens, but hides the same a three daies in some secret corner.
1608		Dekker Lanthorne and Candle-Light Ch. 1: The Canters Dictionary Staling ken: a house to receive stolne goods.
1610		Rowlands Martin Mark-all 59: A Stawling ken that is knowne of purpose to be trusty.
1612		Dekker O per se O L3: About a seuen night after, (when all is hushd) to the Stalling Kenne goes the Duds for Loure.
1621		Jonson Gypsies Metamorphosed 4: Therefore, till [...] he be able to beate it on the hard hoofe, to the ben bowse, or the stauling Ken, to nip a Jan, and cly the iarke; ’tis thought fitt he marche in the Infants equipage.
1637		Dekker Canting Song in Eng. Villainies (8th edn) O: To Strawling [sic] Ken, the Mort bings then to fetch lowre for her cheats.
1648		Dekker Canters Dict. Eng. Villainies (9th edn).
1665		Head Eng. Rogue I 45: [as cit. 1608].
1674		Head Canting Academy (2nd edn).
1688		R. Holme Academy of Armory Ch. iii item 68c: Canting Terms used by Beggars, Vagabonds, Cheaters, Cripples and Bedlams. [...] Staling Ken, a House to receive Goods stollen or to buy them.
c.1698		B.E. Dict. Canting Crew n.p.: Stuling-ken, c. as Stalling-ken, c. a Broker’s Shop, or any House that receives stolen-Goods.
1707		J. Shirley Triumph of Wit n.p.: Stollen-ken Broker’s Shop.
1725		New Canting Dict. [as cit. c.1698].
1737, 1759, 1760, 1776		Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Dict. [as cit. c.1698].
1785, 1788, 1796		Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue n.p.: Stalling ken. A broker’s shop, or that of a receiver of stolen goods. [Ibid.] Stuling ken, (cant) See stalling ken.
a.1790		H.T. Potter New Dict. Cant (1795).
1809		G. Andrewes Dict. Sl. and Cant.
1811		Lex. Balatronicum [as cit. 1785].
1823		Egan Grose’s Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue.
1835		G. Kent Modern Flash Dict.
1848		‘Ned Buntline’ Mysteries and Miseries of N.Y. I 116: ‘Stalling ken.’ Place of reception for stolen goods.
1848		Flash Dict. in Sinks of London Laid Open.
1859		Matsell Vocabulum.
1895		Crowe Aus. Sl. Dict. 80: Stalling ken, a house where stolen goods are taken to.