Photograph by Robert Freidus. Perspective correction, text, and formatting by George P. Landow. You may use these images without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the photographer and (2) link your document to this URL or cite the Victorian Web in a print document.
The top of this listed building proclaims that this public house was originally built in 1700 and rebuilt in its present form in 1876. According to its listing text, “The Old Blue Last has a raffish history and is proud of it. It was built in 1700 on the site of the first purpose-built theatre in Britain since the Roman era: James Burbage's The Theatre, subsequently dismantled and rebuilt across the river as the Globe, in the world's most spectacular attempt to avoid paying rent. The Last was named after a cobbler's tool, subsequently renamed The Old Blue Last and enduring through the Victorian era as a working-class pub, only to branch in the 20th century into being a brothel and one of the most notorious bars in Shoreditch. It was bought by Vicemagazine in 2004 and they still own it, promising that 'literally no one has shot anyone here since we took over'.”
Created 10 June 2019