free things to see and do in London
Explore parts of London's East End renowned for their links with Jack the Ripper in the 1880's, and visit the rich multi-cultural areas of Whitechapel and Spitalfields.
Though few of the original locations associated with the Whitechapel murders still exist, the walk takes you to the sites where the crimes were supposedly committed.
The Walk
The walk starts and ends at Liverpool Street station
from Liverpool Street station, exit onto Bishopsgate. Turn left and then go right along Brushfield
Street. At the junction with Commercial Street, turn left and go into
Spitalfields Market.
Spitalfields Market
Spitalfields market has existed since the 12th century and has always
been a place for public gatherings. During the Ripper's time, it provided
employment for many local residents.
It is still a place for the public to gather and this "right"
has been strongly defended in recent years from City developers.
Did You Know?
Around the time
of the murders, the East End of London was a slum into which one million
people were crowded, most in single rooms in decaying houses that had neither
adequate water or sewage facilities.
More than half of all children died before the age of five and prostitution
and alcoholism were rife.
return
to Commercial Street and turn right, passing Fashion Street
and Lolesworth Close on the left. (Many of the victims lived around this
area, three in Lolesworth Close and two in Fashion Street.) Stop at the
entrance to Thrawl Street.
Mary Jane Kelly
Near this area, 25 year old Mary Jane Kelly became the ripper's fifth (and
generally accepted final) victim. She was murdered on 9th November 1888,
and was the only victim to be killed indoors. For this murder there was
a reliable witness.
George Hutchinson had been approached only a few moments earlier by the
victim, trying to borrow money. Hutchinson saw Kelly pick up a client and
followed the couple back to Miller's Court, where the body was later found.
However a description circulated to all police produced no suspects.
Did You Know?
Ironically,
by the 1880's London was considered
to be the safest capital for life and property in the world. Statistics
showed that crime in London was falling.
take the next
turning right (Wentworth Street) then turn left at a block of flats (on
Goulston Street).
Loss of Evidence
In the doorway to these flats a fragment of a blood stained
apron, matching that cut away from the fourth victim, Catherine Eddowes, was found. An anti-semetic message had been written on the back of it.
Rather than preserve this vital evidence, the police commissioner - despite
pleadings from officers at the scene - removed the message, saying he was concerned it might inflame anti-jewish feelings.
No photograph or transcript was made of the message and hence there is much
debate as to the actual text of it.
Did You Know?
During the
1800's two common types of criminals were mudlarks (who scavenged in the
Thames mud) and lightermen (who stole silk and other valuable cargo from
barges).
turn right
down New Goulston Street, cross Middlesex Street (which was known as Petticoat
Lane until 1830) and go up Gravel Lane almost directly opposite. Follow
it as it turns into Stoney Lane and at the end of Stoney Lane turn left
along Houndsditch.
Enter the underpass at Exit 2 and emerge at Exit 1. (Note the large red
sign on the wall opposite which reads Sir John Cass's Foundation Primary
School.) Turn right and walk a short distance into Mitre Square.
Catherine Eddowes
The fourth victim was found on the pavement just inside Mitre Square. Catherine Eddowes was the second of the ripper's
victims murdered on 30th September 1888. Her body was discovered at 1.45 am and
she had been terribly mutilated.
She had been released from police custody only 45 minutes earlier.
Did You Know?
There was no
London wide police force until 1829 when the Metropolitan Police was established
by Robert Peel.
Go through
the square, then turn left into Mitre Street and walk along it to the
end, turning left along Aldgate High Street. Walk along Aldgate High Street, passing
St. Botolph's Church on the left. Look out for the Hoop and Grapes pub
on the opposite side of the road.
Hoop and Grapes - London's oldest pub
The Hoop and Grapes was one of the few buildings to have survived the
Great Fire of London in 1666. The fire stopped just short of the building,
which was actually a private house at the time.
The pub is now the only surviving 17th century timber framed building
in the city of London. The front of the pub is original - notice how its front door leans to the left.
Did You Know?
Brick Lane acquired its name from a brickworks which was nearby in the sixteenth century.
It is renowned throughout London as the place to go for excellent Indian
food.
continue along Aldgate High Street until the underpass, then go through the underpass
following the signs to Whitechapel High Street. Go along Whitechapel High
Street and stop at the corner of Plumbers
Row.
The Whitechapel Bell Foundry Company
The company moved here in 1570 but was established in 1420. (The current
buildings date from 1738).
Some of the most famous bells in the world have been cast here, such as
the original Liberty bell in America (1752) and the Great Bell of Westminster
(1858) that gives Big Ben its distinctive
sound.
Did You Know?
In addition
to being famous for Jack the Ripper and the Kray Twins, the East End of
London is associated with many modern icons including
Alfred Hitchcock, David Bowie and Dudley Moore, being their birthplace
or where they grew up.
continue along Whitechapel Road (passing a mosque on the right) until
you get to London Hospital, opposite Whitechapel tube station.
The Royal London
Hospital
The Royal London Hospital has been on this site since 1757.
Dr Barnardo trained here in 1866 and John Merrick (the Elephant Man) was
treated and died here. He was discovered living at 259 Whitechapel Road,
directly opposite.
Did You Know?
By 1861,
there were 80 hospitals in London but there was still little provision
for the poor apart from workhouses, until a public hospital system was
established in 1867. The first hospital opened under this system was only
for paupers suffering from smallpox or scarlet fever.
Walk along Whitechapel Road until you are directly in front of the main
entrance to the hospital. With your back to the hospital, cross straight
over Whitechapel Road and turn left.
After a few metres turn right, down Court Street. Stop at the junction with Durward Street.
Mary Ann Nichols
The body of the first victim, Mary Ann Nichols, was discovered at 3 am
on 30 August 1888 in a gateway a short distance down Durward Street. The body was likely to have been there only 15 minutes
or so, its throat had been cut twice and its abdomen had also been slashed.
Did You Know?
Due to a mistake in Sir Frederick Treves' book, The Elephant Man and Other Reminiscences (1923), Merrick is sometimes known as John Merrick.
turn left along Durward Street, right at Vallance Street, then left along Old Montague Street. When you reach the junction with Brick Lane, turn right and then left at Hanbury Street.
The body of the second victim, Annie Chapman, was found in a small yard
at the back of 29 Hanbury Street (now part of Truman's Brewery) at approximately
6 am on Saturday 8th September 1888.
It is possible that the murderer could have been seen talking to the victim
half an hour earlier. Witnesses reported seeing a man of about 40 years of age, dark, shabby and wearing a deerstalker.
Did You Know?
19th century
London was a city of small workshops. In 1851, 86 % of industrial employers
in London had less than 10 workers and only 17 employed more than 250 people.
During this period, some of London's major industries such as the shipbuilding
industry declined, mainly due to technology and the extension of free trade.
Return
to Brick Lane and turn right, then along Brick Lane and turn right again
down Fournier Street.
Fournier Street and the Great Fire of London
Fournier Street is probably one of the best preserved eighteenth century streets in London. The houses here were built in 1725 : note the fire protection badges (for example, at number 37).
Did You Know?
After the Great
Fire of London in 1666, insurance companies started providing fire insurance and to manage
their exposure, they also established their own fire fighting services.
Policy holders put a badge on the front of their house to indicate to fire
fighting teams which houses were under their protection.
Go
to the end of Fournier Street and into the Ten Bells pub at the end opposite Spitalfields market.
Established in 1753, the Ten Bells pub was frequently visited by many of the
ripper victims as it was near to where they lived. Mary Jane Kelly, the ripper's final victim, drank here on the night of her death.
The pub's exterior was re-built
in the late 1990's, though up until 2002 the interior was still very much
as it was during the days of the murders.
On the wall of the pub there used to be a wooden board listing the Ripper's
victims. However, you couldn't read the text on it because it had been turned
face to the wall and screwed down in that position.
Apparently, that was done as a result of complaints to the owner by various
Women's groups who objected on the grounds of it being demeaning to women.
Did You Know?
In the 1800's, most Londoners lived in terrace houses.
you have now completed this walk ...... I hope you enjoyed it
continue ahead along Brushfield Street and turn left along Bishopsgate, back to Liverpool Street station