whitechapel

• Whitechapel, in the East End of London, experienced high amounts of crime and difficulties in policing at the end of the 19th century
• Several women were murdered in, or around, the Whitechapel area but their killer was never caught
• The murders were thought to be carried out by one individual who came to be known as Jack the Ripper
• Rookeries


  Slum areas in a town or city where rates of poverty and crime were high
• Whitechapel had 233 common lodging houses, also known as 'doss' houses, which contained as many as 8,000 people
• The 1871 census showed that there were 902 lodgers staying in 31 of the 'doss houses' on Flower and Dean Street
• Workhouse


  Where those who could not afford a bed for the night, or were young, old or sick, could go
• The rules in workhouses were strict, including what they could eat, how they worked, the time they went to bed and the time they had to get up
• Families were separated in the workhouses, and adults and children were only allowed to see each other once a day
• The Whitechapel workhouse was at South Grove, and at the centre of Whitechapel was Buck's Row, where a workhouse infirmary for the sick was located
• Across the road from Buck's Row, at St Thomas' Street, there was a 'casual ward' with spaces for 60 people who wanted a bed for just one night
• The rules in the casual ward were very harsh, as inmates were expected to work to earn their bed for the night
• Peabody Estate


  New flats built in 1879 to offer affordable rents to tenants, providing better living conditions than the slums
• George Peabody insisted that the Peabody Estate flats should benefit Londoners who were poor, of moral character and good members of society
• Unemployment and the overcrowded living conditions in Whitechapel led to crime being committed regularly, including petty theft and drunkenness
• Some people in Whitechapel attempted to cope with the difficulties of unemployment and homelessness by drinking alcohol, which often led to an increase in the numbers of arguments and assaults
• Whitechapel, in the East End of London, experienced high amounts of crime and difficulties in policing at the end of the 19th century
• Several women were murdered in, or around, the Whitechapel area but their killer was never caught
• The murders were thought to be carried out by one individual who came to be known as Jack the Ripper
• Whitechapel


  • Known for poverty, discontent, alcoholism, sex work and crime
  • Many unemployed and very poor residents
  • Others were relatively comfortable
• According to a report from the medical officer of health for Whitechapel in 1873, Whitechapel was very overcrowded, with 189 people living in each acre
• Rookeries


  Slum areas in a town or city where rates of poverty and crime were high
• In Whitechapel in the late 19th century, there were 233 common lodging houses, also known as 'doss' houses, containing as many as 8,000 people
• The 1871 census showed that there were 902 lodgers staying in 31 of the 'doss houses' on Flower and Dean Street
• Whitechapel workhouse


  • Strict rules enforced, including what inmates could eat, how they worked, bedtimes
  • Families separated
  • Seen as humiliating
  • Constant hunger, poor sanitation, frequent illness, poor sleep and violence
• The rules at the Whitechapel workhouse casual ward were very harsh, as inmates were expected to work to earn their bed for the night
• Deterrence


  Punishment that should put people off committing crime
• In 1879 an area of Whitechapel called Royal Mint Street contained a large number of lodging houses, which were demolished and replaced by the Peabody Estate flats
• Peabody Estate flats


  • Offered affordable rents to tenants
  • Provided better living conditions including improved ventilation, brick walls, shared courtyards, laundry rooms, bathrooms and kitchens
  • Tenants carefully selected to ensure they would look after the housing
• Residuum


  People born into poverty, who often turned to crime in order to survive
• Alcohol consumption in Whitechapel often led to an increase in the numbers of arguments and assaults, and made drunk people victims of petty theft and pickpockets
• Rookeries


  Slum areas in a town or city characterized by high rates of poverty and crime
• Slum areas


  Residential areas that are overcrowded, unsanitary, and often dangerous or unhealthy to live in
• High rates of poverty


  A significant portion of the population lacks the financial resources to meet basic needs such as food, clothing, and housing
• High rates of crime


  A significant amount of illegal activity occurs in these areas, making them unsafe and unstable places to live
• Whitechapel, in the East End of London, experienced high amounts of crime and difficulties in policing at the end of the 19th century
• The murders of several women took place in, or around, the area but their killer was never caught
• The murders were thought to be carried out by one individual who came to be known as Jack the Ripper
• Whitechapel


  • Known for poverty, discontent, alcoholism, sex work and crime
  • Between c.1870 and c.1900, a range of people lived there, many unemployed and very poor, while others were relatively comfortable
• According to a report from the medical officer of health for Whitechapel in 1873, Whitechapel was very overcrowded, with 189 people living in each acre