What is Whitechapel?
What was significant about Whitechapel in London? Whitechapel Circa 1888 (click to zoom) It was an area of doss houses, sweatshops, abattoirs, overcrowded slums, pubs, a few shops and warehouses, leavened with a row or two of respectably kept cottages. Whitechapel housed London's worst slums and the poverty of its inhabitants was appalling.
When did Whitechapel become the east end of London?
Whitechapel is an area in the East End of London. At the end of the 19th century, it had a reputation for violence and crime . What was Whitechapel's history? There are 2 main facts to note about the history of Whitechapel: In the 15th and 16th centuries, Whitechapel was quite a …
What is the main station in Whitechapel?
Jul 11, 2020 · Whitechapel, London, is famous for its curry restaurants Edith Cavell: War hero and pioneer of modern nursing Remembered mostly for saving the lives of both Allied and German soldiers during WWI, Edith Cavell is also celebrated as the pioneer of modern nursing.
What was the Whitechapel scene like in the Victorian era?
Apr 12, 2022 · The London Hospital, situated in Whitechapel, and founded in 1740, is one of the most useful and extensive charities of the kind in the metropolis. The building was erected in 1752, from the designs of Mr. B. Mainwaring, and originally contained only …
Why was the Whitechapel important during the Victorian era?
Whitechapel was the venue of murders committed in the late 1880s on several women by the anonymous serial killer, called Jack the Ripper, who probably lived in the environs of Flower and Dean Street.Oct 3, 2013
Why was Whitechapel so good for crime?
The high level of prostitution meant that vulnerable women were often forced to earn a living on the streets, leaving them easy targets for assault, rape and even murder. It is noted that all of Jack the Ripper's victims were addicted to alcohol; some believe this would have made them easier targets for the killer.Jan 6, 2020
Why is it called Whitechapel?
Originally created in 1270 as a 'chapel of ease' at St Dunstan Stepney, the church was rebuilt in 1329. The outside walls were painted in a whitewash made of lime and chalk, which gave a bright white finish, prompting local residents to call it “the white chapel.”
What happened at Whitechapel?
Beat constables walked regular, timed routes. Eleven deaths in or near Whitechapel between 1888 and 1891 were gathered into a single file, referred to in the police docket as the Whitechapel murders. Much of the original material has been either stolen, lost, or destroyed.
Why is Whitechapel famous?
The area was the centre of the London Jewish community in the 19th and early 20th century, and the location of the infamous 11 Whitechapel murders (1888–91), some of which were attributed to the mysterious serial killer known as Jack the Ripper.
Why was theft common in Whitechapel?
Theft was the most common crime in urban areas during the late 19th century. This was also true in Whitechapel in the late 19th century. Many thefts took place in crowded areas such as rookeries. Overcrowding and poor lighting made theft easier from criminals to commit.May 4, 2020
Why was Whitechapel so poor?
Overcrowding and a shortage of housing created the abyss of Whitechapel. For most of the population in the East End, one lived and died in the same neighborhood in which they were born. Hope was in short supply.Dec 13, 2012
Was Jack the Ripper ever found?
Five of the cases, between August and November 1888, show such marked similarities that they are generally agreed to be the work of a single serial killer, known as "Jack the Ripper". Despite an extensive police investigation, the Ripper was never identified and the crimes remained unsolved.
What was Whitechapel like in the 1800s?
Whitechapel during the Victorian era The area was overcrowded and littered with crime, and the working, living and sanitation conditions for those who lived in the area were horrendous (and that's putting it lightly).
Who was Whitechapel?
The Whitechapel district of London, England, was terrorized by a series of brutal murders between 1888 and 1891. Eleven women were killed, at least five of them by a notorious figure known as Jack the Ripper. Most, and perhaps all, of the victims were prostitutes.
What is Jack the Ripper's real name?
Aaron KosminskiResearchers say they have finally unmasked Jack the Ripper, the infamous serial killer who terrorized London in the late 1800s. A forensic investigation published in Journal of Forensic Sciences has identified the killer as Aaron Kosminski, a 23-year-old Polish barber and prime suspect at the time.Mar 18, 2019
Why was Whitechapel a difficult area to police?
Some areas, such as Ewer Street, were so dangerous that the police wouldn't go there; • Particular problems included prostitution, alcohol-linked violent crime, and gang crime and protection rackets (see above). Investigative policing in Whitechapel: the Ripper murders.
What was Whitechapel?
Whitechapel is an area in the East End of London. At the end of the 19th century, it had a reputation for violence and crime .
What was Whitechapel's history?
There are 2 main facts to note about the history of Whitechapel: ❖...
What were conditions like in Whitechapel?
Living conditions in Whitechapel were notoriously poor and squalid. This was influenced by 8 key factors:...
Was it overcrowded in Whitechapel?
Whitechapel suffered serious overcrowding. Sometimes families of 10 or more would live in a one-bedroom house. In 1881, there were 188.6 people per...
What was housing like in Whitechapel?
There were 3 main problems with housing in Whitechapel: ❖...
What sort of industries were there in Whitechapel?
There were 3 main types of industries in Whitechapel: ❖...
What were the streets like in Whitechapel?
Because of poor planning, Whitechapel had very narrow streets and alleyways, many of which ended in courtyards. It was described at the time as a '...
What was lighting like in Whitechapel?
The thick smog and difficulty of lighting its narrow, maze-like streets meant lighting in Whitechapel was poor at night.
How was the health of the residents of Whitechapel?
Whitechapel residents suffered from poor health because of poverty and poor living conditions. In 1864 the death rate was twice as high as in oth...
What is the most famous art gallery in London?
Probably the area's most prominent art venue is the Whitechapel Art Gallery, founded in 1901 and long an outpost of high culture in a poor neighbourhood.
What is Whitechapel High Street named after?
Whitechapel's heart is Whitechapel High Street, extending further east as Whitechapel Road, named after a small chapel of ease dedicated to St Mary.
Where does Crossrail call?
Crossrail will call at Whitechapel station on the Elizabeth line. Eastbound services will be split into two branches after leaving the station which is undergoing a massive redevelopment of the historic station that started in 2010.
What was the first mosque in Britain to use loudspeakers?
The East London Mosque was one of the first in Britain to be allowed to use loudspeakers to broadcast the adhan. Whitechapel Road was the location of two 19th-century theatres: The Effingham (1834–1897) and The Pavilion Theatre (1828–1935; building demolished in 1962).
What is the significance of the statue of Charles Booth?
A statue commemorates both his mission and his work in helping the poor. Part of Charles Booth 's poverty map showing Commercial Road in Whitechapel 1889. The red areas are "well-to-do" and black areas are the "lowest class...occasional labourers, street sellers, loafers, criminals and semi-criminals".
What was the East End of London called?
19th century. By the 1840s, Whitechapel, along with the enclaves of Wapping, Aldgate, Bethnal Green, Mile End, Limehouse, Bow, Bromley-by-Bow, Poplar, Shadwell and Stepney (collectively known today as "the East End "), had evolved into classic " Dickensian " London, with problems of poverty and overcrowding.
Where is the Idea Store in London?
The local library, now called an Idea Store is located on Whitechapel Road .
How did Whitechapel get its name?
The Whitechapel district gets its name from two streets that run down the middle of the area: Whitechapel High Street and Whitechapel Road. Both streets are named for a small chapel that was destroyed during the Blitz in London during World War II.
How many prostitutes were there in the Whitechapel area?
In the late 1880s, the police force estimated that there were over 1,200 prostitutes working and living in Whitechapel. From 1888-1891, 11 women were murdered in Whitechapel and the affair would come to be known as the Whitechapel murders. All of the women that were killed were prostitutes that lived and worked in the area.
What is the history of Whitechapel?
The history of the Whitechapel district in London is not for the faint of heart! This area in the East End London is most well known for its sordid days gone by in the 19th and 20th centuries. Have you ever heard of the notorious serial killer, Jack the Ripper? Well, he committed all of his crimes in Whitechapel.
What is the name of the book that Dickens wrote about Whitechapel?
In fact, Dickens even mentions Whitechapel in his very first novel, The Pickwick Papers.
What was the area of Whitechapel known as?
There isn’t much information out there on Whitechapel before the 16th century, but by that point, the area was known as the undesirable half of London. Businesses such as slaughterhouses, tanneries, breweries, and foundries were placed in this area, as these types of places tended to be dirty and polluted.
Why did women in Whitechapel go prostitution?
Many women were forced into prostitution as well, due to lack of employment opportunities for single women at the time.
What happened between the 17th and 19th centuries?
Between the 17th and 19th centuries, in particular, thousands of people came to work in the emerging industries and factories of London. Whitechapel soon became overcrowded and dirty as the 19th century went on.
How many Jack the Ripper murders are there?
The five Jack the Ripper murders, also referred to as the Whitechapel Murders, have been immortalised in London history. The Jack the Ripper walking tours are even one of the biggest tourist draws to Whitechapel.
How did Whitechapel get its name?
The London neighbourhood of Whitechapel gets its name after the white St Mary Matfelon chapel that once stood here. Known as ‘ the White Chapel’ amongst locals, it quickly came to denote the whole area. After the chapel was destroyed during WWII, the church grounds and graveyards were made into the public park St. Mary’s Gardens.
Why was Jack the Ripper a butcher?
And a common theory is that he had been a butcher or surgeon because the victims had been mutilated with such surgical precision. The Ten Bells pub in Shoreditch is associated with Jack the Ripper as few of his victims were last seen alive here. Related article: 10 Unique Things to See in Shoreditch.
What was the name of the 1980 movie that Merrick was in?
One of the showmen he worked for, gave him the stage name of Elephant Man. A name that would later be used as the title of the 1980 David Lynch film with John Hurt playing Merrick. I remember watching this film as a little girl and that it made me cry. But then again, I cried at pretty much every film I watched.
What is Whitechapel known for?
Located next to London’s hipster neighbourhood of Shoreditch, multicultural Whitechapel in East London is most famous for its dark past. The grim 1888 Whitechapel Murders have given the area eternal ‘fame’. But also the harsh daily life of the souls roaming its crowded streets served as inspiration for numerous authors such as Charles Dickens.
What is the sign in Altab Ali Park?
This sign in Altab Ali park mentions the clashes between the Pakistani immigrants and original British residents in East London. “Ten days after Mr Ali’s death, about 7,000 people marched behind his coffin through central London, calling on the government to address racism in east London.
When was Whitechapel painted?
The mural at the top of this article was painted in 2011 by Mychael Barratt, James Glover & Nicholas Middleton.
Where does the word "matfellon" come from?
Strype thinks that the word Matfellon is somehow or other derived from the Hebrew or Syriac word "Matfel," which signifies a woman recently delivered of a sonthat is, to the Virgin, recently delivered. Perhaps the church may have been dedicated to Mary matri et filio, which in time was corrupted into Matfellon.
What theatre was burned down in 1802?
There are a dozen dukes of a night at Goodman's Fields, sometimes, and yet I am still in the opposition.". This theatre was pulled down, says Cunningham, about 1746; a second theatre was burnt down in 1802. Goodman's Fields were originally part of a farm belonging to the Abbey of the Nuns of St. Clair.
How many guineas of gold were in the Queen Anne's waistband?
While the two were drinking together at a publichouse, the lucky purchaser found, on unripping the clothes, eleven guineas of gold quilted in the waistband (eleven Queen Anne guineas), and a 30 bank-note, dated 1729, of which note the purchaser did not learn the value till she had sold it for a gallon of twopenny purl.
What is Rosemary Lane?
Rosemary Lane, now re-christened Royal Mint Street, is described by Mr. Mayhew as chiefly inhabited by dredgers, ballast-heavers, coal-whippers, watermen, lumpers, &c., as well as the slop-workers and "sweaters" employed in the Minories.
Where is Rag Fair?
Rag Fair, or Rosemary Lane, Wellclose Square, is mentioned in a note to Pope's "Dunciad," as "a place near the Tower of London, where old clothes and frippery are sold.". Pennant gives a humorous picture of the barter going on there, and says, "The articles of commerce by no means belie the name.
Who mentioned Whitechapel in Knight of the Burning Pestle?
Whitechapel is mentioned by Beaumont and Fletcher, in their Knight of the Burning Pestle . "March fair, my hearts!". says Ralph. "Lieutenant, beat the rear up! Ancient, let your colours fly; but have a great care of the butchers' hooks at Whitechapel; they have been the death of many a fair ancient" (ensign).
Who was Mary Jenkins in Rag Fair?
In the Public Advertiser of Feb. 17, 1756, there is an account of one Mary Jenkins, a dealer in old clothes in Rag Fair, selling a pair of breeches to a poor woman for sevenpence and a pint of beer.
Whitechapel – The Unspoken Gem of London?
The dim glow of the gaslights is of little comfort tonight, as the fig doesn’t allow you to see further than your own hand.
Whitechapel today
What is the best part about Whitechapel today? The place is still a work in progress. It is getting rebuilt, upgraded and polished. I can say the same about fewer areas of London than I have fingers on one arm.
The benefits of living in Whitechapel
As I have already said before, commuting is one of the greatest benefits of living in Whitechapel from both the geographical and the tactical points of view. Both are simple as pie: Whitechapel is located in a close proximity from the Financial District.
What is a nomadic garden?
The Nomadic Community Garden is an organic community where the members have made different spaces out of things they have found, creating a peaceful and colourful environment. It sometimes feels like an art gallery, sometimes like a farm, sometimes like a cafe, and sometimes like a performance space.
What is the most famous food in Whitechapel?
The most famous cuisine in Whitechapel, that deserves a special mention, is the Indian food. Walking along Brick Lane, you’ll notice that there’s a huge amount of Indian restaurants, each with a sign claiming to have been named the best in a particular year.
When was the Whitechapel Gallery opened?
Let’s start with one of the best things in the area – the Whitechapel Gallery. It was opened as a public gallery in 1901 and has been going strong ever since. Even though it still has a local focus, it is one of London’s most important cultural institutions.
Where is the coolest part of London?
One of the coolest areas in London is Whitechapel, right in the heart of the East end. Here are some of my tips for things to do in Whitechapel. You wouldn’t know it from visiting Whitechapel these days, but this used to be one of the dodgiest parts of London. Go back in time just a few decades and Whitechapel was the heart of the East End ...
When did Boxpark open?
The BoxPark opened in 2011 and is a small shopping centre made out of refitted shipping containers. On the ground level, along the street, each of the containers has a different shop inside and they change quite regularly. The upper level now has bars and restaurants and is a good place to stop for a drink.
Where was Jack the Ripper's heart?
Go back in time just a few decades and Whitechapel was the heart of the East End of London, once known for poverty and unsavoury behaviour. These were the streets where Jack the Ripper stalked his victims. It was where low-class workers found employment on the nearby docks and factories.
When was Christ Church in Spitalfields built?
It was built between 1714 and 1729, and was intended to be a grand Anglican statement in a part of London that didn’t have a loyal Church of England following.
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Accounts of Whitechapel Before The 19th Century
Whitechapel London During The 19th Century
- The East End of the Whitechapel included popular areas like Stepney, Limehouse, Aldgate, Wapping and some others. These areas were overly crowded and experienced poverty. It was a thorough representation of Charles Dicken’s novels that described poor social conditions of England. A statue of William Booth stands on Whitechapel Road until today. The statue is a tribu…
Whitechapel London During The 20th Century
- In 1902, a book called ‘The People of Abyss’ was published by Jack London wherein he wrote about his life in East End of London. He spoke about how he had to sleep on the streets and live in warehouses. At this time, Winston Churchill was the Home Secretary. He took over one of the Police operations on the Sydney Street. His commanding attitude and diplomatic behavior were …
London Whitechapel in The Present Day
- Today, Whitechapel is an important part of London. There are tourists visiting from all over. Even today, there is a high population of Asian immigrants particularly, Bangladeshi Britishers. There are great infrastructure and rail routes. The Docklands Light Railway and London, Tilbury South End Railway pass through Whitechapel. More Info On- Victo...
Overview
Whitechapel is a district in East London and the future administrative centre of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is a part of the East End of London, 3.4 miles (5.5 km) east of Charing Cross. It was part of the ancient parish of Stepney, Middlesex. It was split off as a separate parish in the 14th century. It became part of the County of London in 1889 and Greater London in 1965. Because the area is close to the London Docklands and east of the City of London, it has been a popular pl…
History
Whitechapel's heart is Whitechapel High Street, extending further east as Whitechapel Road, named after a small chapel of ease dedicated to St Mary. The church's earliest known rector was Hugh de Fulbourne in 1329. Around 1338, it became the parish church of Whitechapel, called, for unknown reasons, St Mary Matfelon. The church was severely damaged during the Blitz and demolished i…
Governance
Local council facilities will be grouped within the old Royal London Hospital building as a civic centre. The local library, now called an Idea Store is located on Whitechapel Road.
Culture
Whitechapel Road was the location of two 19th-century theatres: The Effingham (1834–1897) and The Pavilion Theatre (1828–1935; building demolished in 1962). Charles Dickens Jr. (eldest child of Charles Dickens), in his 1879 book Dickens's Dictionary of London, described the Pavilion this way: "A large East-end theatre capable of holding considerably over 3,000 persons. Melodrama o…
Transport
The East London line extension northwards to Highbury & Islington and southwards to West Croydon was completed in 2010. A further extension opened in 2012 to provide a complete rail ring route around south London to Clapham Junction. Whitechapel is also scheduled to be a stop on the Crossrailproject, for which preparatory works began in September 2010 at a large site excavating 'Cambridge Heath Shaft' (located at the eastern end of the Crossrail platform tunnels and adjace…
Nearest places
Districts
• Bethnal Green
• City of London
• Shadwell
• Stepney
Notable natives or residents
In addition to the prominent figures detailed in the article:
• Damon Albarn – musician, lead singer of Blur and co-creator of virtual cartoon rock band Gorillaz, born 1968
• Julius Stafford Baker, cartoonist
• Abraham Beame, first Jewish mayor of New York City, 1906–2001
Future developments
Whitechapel Market and the A11 corridor is currently the subject of a £20 million investment to improve the public spaces along the route. The London Boroughs of Tower Hamlets & Newham are working with English Heritage and Transport for London to refurbish the historic buildings at this location and improve the market.
Early Beginnings
Crime and Poverty Emerge in The 19th Century
- I’m sure that some of you reading this article have read a few or more works by Charles Dickens. Well, by the 19th century, Whitechapel was as dirty, overcrowded, and squalid as the scenes that Dickens describes in most of his works. In fact, Dickens even mentions Whitechapel in his very first novel, The Pickwick Papers. Dorset Street, which was once in the heart of the neighborhood…
Things Begin to Look Up in The 20th Century
- The 19th century in Whitechapel was filled with poverty, murder, and destitution, and the first half of the 20th century was no different. In 1902, the American author Jack London, famous for his novels The Call of the Wild and White Fang, moved to Whitechapel in order to experience a life of poverty in London. He then wrote about his experiences i...
Whitechapel District Today
- Today, Whitechapel’s colorful past is just that: in the past. It is no longer a poor neighborhood and there are no more slums. Today, you’ll find a lively and multicultural district known for the Whitechapel Market, which is filled with delicious Asian food, home goods, and clothing. There are several pubs and curry housesworth your while, as well as several walking tours about the Jack t…
Conclusion
- Whitechapel is perhaps most well known for its sordid past, but that doesn’t mean its a dangerous place to visit today. I hope you’ve all enjoyed this quick history lesson on this East London neighborhood and you make plans to explore it yourselves! If you want to explore London with one of our local guides, click hereto learn more about our walking tour options and to make your boo…