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A Quick History of Whitechapel District in London

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.

If I’ve piqued your interest, keep reading for a quick history of Whitechapel district in London!

Early beginnings

Shop-front of the Whitechapel Bell Foundry by Julian Osley – geograph.org.uk

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.

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. The Whitechapel Bell Foundry, which would go on to make the Philadelphia Liberty Bell and Big Ben’s bell, was located (of course) in Whitechapel. 

Daily life in England began to change by the end of the 16th century, leading many people from rural areas to flood to London looking for work. 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.

Crime and poverty emerge in the 19th century

Newspaper broadsheet referring to the Whitechapel murderer (later known as “Jack the Ripper”) as “Leather Apron” from the British Museum – WikiCommons

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, was once considered the most dangerous street in London.

The Victorian era in England, and London especially, brought many immigrants from Ireland and other places in Europe. In addition to a large Irish population, there was a large Jewish community in Whitechapel.

Whitechapel soon garnered a reputation for poverty and hardship. Many women were forced into prostitution as well, due to lack of employment opportunities for single women at the time. 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. At least 5 of these murders were credited to the still unknown killer Jack the Ripper.

Have you ever heard of “The Elephant Man?” Well, his real name was Joseph Merrick, a man that suffered from several deformities. Merrick was exhibited in a freak show in Whitechapel before he was brought to the Royal London Hospital by a doctor named Frederick Treves to live out the rest of his days.

On a brighter note, the Salvation Army was conceived at a meeting which was held at 272 Whitechapel Road. The charitable organization was created by a man named William Booth through his Christian Revival Society.

Things begin to look up in the 20th century

Dorset Street, Spitalfields, photographed in 1902 for Jack London’s book The People of the Abyss – WikiCommons

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 in a novel called The People of the Abyss.

In 1911, the Siege of Sidney Street occurred. The siege involved a gunfight between the London police and military and a group of Latvian revolutionaries. Whitechapel soon became home to anarchists and other revolutionaries who were against capitalism and who wanted to bring an end to slum living in London. Playwright George Bernard Shaw ran a socialist organization, The Fabian Society, which met in Whitechapel. Russian revolutionary Vladimir Lenin put on rallies in Whitechapel when he was in exile from Russia. 

However, by the end of the century, things began to look up for Whitechapel. After the end of WWII, the neighborhood was no longer known as a slum. That’s not to say that there was no more crime in the area. In 1978, a Bangladeshi man named Altab Ali was killed by 3 teenagers in an act of racism. The brutal murder brought the Bangladeshi community together and a church garden was subsequently renamed the Altab Ali Park in his memory. 

Whitechapel District today

Altab Ali Park, Whitechapel – London by Jim Linwood – Flickr

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 houses worth your while, as well as several walking tours about the Jack the Ripper murders. Don’t miss out on the Whitechapel Gallery which houses contemporary art and hosts indie film screenings.

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!

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