5, Of the oldest pubs in London
Ever wondered, what the oldest pubs are in London. Well look no further as I have done it for you!
5 oldest pubs in London.
Today, I set my sights on London, one of the oldest cities in the world. Founded by the Romans just before AD (after the death of Jesus Christ) 50, nearly 2000 years ago! I will be going into more detail in another post about pre Roman and post Roman drinking.
It is safe to say that drinking is a huge part of our culture and is cemented firmly as a tradition in today culture.
So, in this post I find it fitting to have a look back at 5 of the oldest pubs in London in no particular order I may add. So, sit back, crack open a beer, and lets jump in!
5. The prospect of Whitby, founded 1520
57 Wapping Wall, London E1W 3SH
Nicked named the devils tavern, this idyllic pub sits on the banks of the Thames in Wapping East London. The prospect hasn’t always been so peaceful. Due to the location of this pub it was frequented by pirates and cut throats filling their bellies with rum you could imagine the carnage that must of ensued on this premise. Standing tall on the banks of the Thames is a noose it was believed to have been used to hang pirates and their bodies left there for the tides, this is only speculation, as Wapping’s execution docks were literally a stone thrown away.
4. The Mayflower founded 1550
117 Rotherhithe Street, Rotherhithe, SE16 4NF
Again, another pub on the Thames, but its location contributes to how it was named. The Mayflower Ship set sail from this location in 1620 for its maiden voyage to the Americas this encouraged the name change from the shippe pub to the mayflower, and thus the Mayflower pub is born! A little less graphic than the Whitby but more interesting nonetheless a plaque sits on the pub recognising that the Mayflower shop set sail and its décor and feng shui of the pub resonates the old-time nautical era.
3. The George Inn founded 1583
75 Borough High St, Southwark, SE1 1NH
The George inn sits hidden on Borough hight street, locatable by a sigh a big black metal gates pays homage to the inns past functionality. The George is the only surviving galleried coaching inn, in London. Previously named, the George and the Dragon. It was often frequented by celebrities of the time periods; it has been said that Charles Dickens and William Shakespear would frequent the George on a regular basis. Dickens referred to the George in two of his novels, Little dorrit and our mutual friend. The George is a now a grade 1 listed building, shame the other two pubs that surrounded it did not survive and were demolished in the nineth century.
2. Ye Olde Mitre Tavern founded 1546
1 Ely Court, Ely Place, Holborn, EC1N 6SJ
Right! There has been much debate about exactly how old this pub is. But! It was rumoured that, Queen Elizabeth The 1st once drank and boogied here. So its safe to say that this pub probably is as old as it says it is. The debate starts because the pub that once stood there has been remodelled in 1773. If you look on the pub’s website, they state that in 1546, the pub was built. Expanded in 1782 and then remodelled in 1930, so you can see where the debate starts. Nonetheless it is safe to say that this pub has a lot of history. The pub is now owned by fullers.
Now were coming up to the last pub, I would like to thank you for sticking it out until the end I hope that you have found this interesting and hopefully I will be doing more.
1. The Grapes founded 1583
76 Narrow Street, Limehouse, E14 8BP
As we started, we will finish on, the Thames. Although the current pub dates back to 1720. The original pub was built in 1583 it was remodelled just the once. The pub with its ideal position use to serve the dock workers of The Limehouse basin area during the industrial phase of England. Our good friend Charles Dickens visited this pub as also. It sounds like to me he was on a pub crawl just writing books. A bit like myself, if you wish. This again was written in his novel; Our Mutual Friend here is the passage he wrote in the opening chapter of the book.
A tavern of dropsical appearance... long settled down into a state of hale infirmity. It had outlasted many a sprucer public house, indeed the whole house impended over the water but seemed to have got into the condition of a faint-hearted diver, who has paused so long on the brink that he will never go in at all. Our mutual friend, Charles Dickens
Surviving bombing raids during World War 2, again a pub with a lot of history. That is still standing today, gives you some sense of pride.
Well, there you have it, again thank you for reading. If you did like this, please let me know, as I would like to continue doing posts like this. There is a lot of history in the England and the UK that I would like to explore.
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