Actually "Graf" would be the correct German word and that doesn't really mean "prince" but "count" or "earl" or something like that.

An interesting story. Ta.

Thanks Richard, That was one of the most interesting tales I've ever seen on here. 1874 the builders inscription read; I bet Jack the Ripper did have a drink there. I wonder if Morrissey did. I'm going there next time I'm in London. (thank you for the warning though).

I think I know the street that is on - Is it the street that you walk down and first see christ church at the other end?

Shame how all that evidence of history is dead and gone in that place. Lots has been written about the loss of life, seems places and times can bring on the same feelings. Each time I go back to the place I grew up, its not the same, its changed - its like I've lost a friend.

Thanks for the detailed history of the pub, it's one more old friend in London to pay respects to.

Cheers

I've often wondered how such a lovely old pub suddenly became so awful. I used to drink there with a girlfriend back in the early 90s, and we often thought it'd be the kind of place you'd expect Morrissey to drink in; it really was like stepping back 50 years in time as you walked through the door. No jukebox, no games machines, no pool table, no morons. Nowadays, well, it's very grave indeed...

Thanks for that Richard.
Interesting yet sad story,it would have been great to drop by for a cocktail in its heyday.

Thanks for the story...interesting but so sad of what's its become.

If the name had anything to do with William of Orange (Dutch Prince and first ruler of Holland) then the name might stem from his son Maurits. He was also a prince/earl at a later date. The Dutch word for the english "Earl" is "Graaf", hence Grave.

Maurits once was (formallly) under command of the Earl of Leicester who was appointed by the Queen of England as governor of Holland. Hence the connection with the English.

so there is a little history for ya!

A really interested, but sad story. thanks!
And despite the warning, I think I'll check it out if I ever visit London.

I used to work just up the road at mile end before I left London earlier this year. On one of my final nights before leaving I suggested to a friend on the way back home we try a pint in The Grave Maurice because of the connection with Moz via the cover of the single "Sunny".
Needless to say as we approached the Maurice that chilly Thursday night an ominous figure lurked in the doorway, the barman - behind him an empty pub. It was only 10:00pm and he looked too scary with his eerily empty pub. The Blind Beggar just a short walk further up the road is far more friendly and it too is rich with history.

Really interesting stuff.

did Morrissey ever actually drink in the pub?

I've been in there on and off over the last 10/15 years and had no idea that it had such a rich heritage... It is, currently, in the worst state i've ever known it.

As I work around the corner from the Grave Maurice and walk past it every day, I was interested to hear about this pub's history. Whitechapel/ Spitalfields/ Banglatown is a truly fascinating area, one of the reasons I love London. However, I agree that it is a very dodgy pub now and I'd remind any fans planning to be photographed outside it to be careful, especially if you look like a tourist, don't know the area and are carrying a shiny expensive camera!!

Lucky x

What a great story, thanks for that!
I remember before the Royal Albert Hall show, we were going to arrange to get a few drinks in the Grave Maurice before the show.
Kind of glad we didn't now!

Jx

All well and good, and it's a shame the previous owners couldn't carry on, but it's a pub not a theme park and it's in Whitechapel not Hampstead. Do you imagine that whatever the equivalent of Morrissey fans would recieved a warm welcome from the Krays themselves? Some people have to live in the area you know...

What exactly is Morrissey's interest in this watering hole?

To be clear, this is the pub Ronnie Kray went to in March 1966, just after he murdered George Cornell in the Blind Beggar pub.

"I remember the blood spurting from his forehead like a red flower. It turned me on. I'm still glad I done it." -- Ronnie Kray

I really don't approve of the reinvention and romanticising of people that.

That's a fascinating account Richard. I live in the area now and had no idea that the pub had ever been anything other than the scary flea-bitten place it is now.

Judging by the planning notices that have been appearing on the door, someone wants to do the place up - let's hope they make a decent job of it.

Cheers,

Dan