Accommodation in Whitechapel

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Features of General Housing in Whitechapel

The area of Whitechapel was an over-crowded, over-populated, chaotic area of London.

Temporary homes

The majority of people had no permanent homes.
There were whole families in one room which was paid for on a weekly basis.

Slum living

Most accommodation was considered to be ‘slum living’.
There would be multiple families living in one building.
- They would share facilities like running water and toilets between them.

Rookeries

Many people lived in areas known as Rookeries, which were densely over-populated areas filled with lodging houses.

Crime in Whitechapel

The Whitechapel area was very much like a maze with lots of alleyways which enabled criminals to evade detection.

Features of the Workhouse, Casual Ward and the Doss House in Whitechapel

Life was extremely challenging for those who lived in Whitechapel. Some were forced to turn to the Workhouse, Casual Ward or the Doss House.

Resorting to the Workhouse

The Workhouse was somewhere for those people that reached a point where they had no other options.
Often these were elderly people that were unable to work any longer.
- You have to remember that there was no old age pension or benefits available.
Families in the workhouse were separated on entry.
- Parents and children would not have been able to see each other often and husbands would also be separated from their wives.

Rules in the Workhouse

There were strict rules about what time you needed to get up, go to bed and what time you were allowed to eat.
You were also expected to complete tasks in return for your board.

Resorting to the Casual Ward

The Casual Ward worked slightly differently.
This was somewhere you could go for the night if you did not have the funds for a Doss House.
You would enter the Casual Ward along with around 400 others for the night.

Arriving at the Casual Ward

Upon arrival, you would be expected to wash and change.
You would also be fed a nasty gruel like porridge with stale bread.
Then you could sleep for the night.

Staying in the Casual Ward

The day after your arrival, you would be expected to work for what you have already received.
This would be hard labour:
- For example, oakum picking (picking apart the fibres of old ropes) was a popular task.
- Alternatively, you could be asked to work in the infirmary or the kitchens for the day.
After a further night of sleep, you would be let out in the morning so you could find work for the day.

The Doss House

This was a place where you could obtain a bed for the night, but for a fee.
- Usually, 4d would secure you a straw mattress in a coffin-like bed for the evening.
If you were unable to meet the 4d charge you could pay a lesser figure and sleep on the ropes for the night.
- This meant you were effectively held up by a rope so you did not fall onto the floor.
Your other option was a night on the cold dangerous streets of Whitechapel.

1Medieval England, 1000-1500

1.1Changing Definition of Crime in Medieval England

1.1.1Early Medieval Society

1.2Nature of Law Enforcement & Punishment

1.2.1Enforcing the Law in Medieval Society

1.2.2Punishments in Medieval England

1.2.3End of Topic Test - Early Medieval Society

1.3Case Studies From 1000-1500

1.3.1The Church

1.3.2End of Topic Test - The Church

1.3.3Grade 9 - Medieval England

2Early Modern England, 1500-1700

2.1Changing Definitions of Crime

2.1.1Early Modern Society

2.1.2Crime in the Early Modern Period

2.1.3End of Topic Test - Early Modern Crime

2.2Nature of Law Enforcement & Punishment

2.2.1Punishments in Early Modern Society

2.2.2Law Enforcement in Early Modern Society

2.2.3End of Topic Test - Early Modern Law Enforcement

2.2.4Grade 9 - Early Modern England

2.3Case Studies From 1500-1700

2.3.1Key Individuals

2.3.2End of Topic Test - Case Studies 1500-1700

2.3.3Grade 9 - Case Studies From 1500-1700

318th & 19th Century Britain

3.1Changing Definition of Crime in Industrial Britain

3.1.1Society in Industrial Britain

3.1.2Crime in Industrial Britain

3.1.3End of Topic Test - Crime in Industrial Britain

3.2Nature of Law Enforcement & Punishment

3.2.1Punishment in Industrial Society

3.2.2Punishment in Industrial Society 2

3.2.3Policing in the Industrial Period

3.2.4End of Topic Test - Punishment

3.3Case Studies From 1700-1900

3.3.1Changes to the Prison System

3.3.2End of Topic Test - Case Studies From 1700-1900

3.3.3Grade 9 - 18th & 19th Century

4Modern Britain, 1900-Present

4.1Changing Definition of Crime in Modern Britain

4.1.1Society in Modern Britain

4.1.2Crime in Modern Britain

4.1.3End of Topic Test - Crime in Modern Britain

4.2Nature of Law Enforcement & Punishment

4.2.1Punishment in Modern Britain

4.2.2Attitudes Towards Punishment

4.2.3Capital Punishment

4.2.4End of Topic Test - Punishment in Modern Britain

4.2.5Grade 9 - Modern Britain

4.3Case Studies 1900-2000

4.3.1Modern Britain Case Studies

4.3.2End of Topic Test - Modern Britain Case Studies

4.3.3Grade 9 - Case Studies 1900-2000

5Whitechapel Local Study

5.1The Geographical Area & Living Conditions

5.1.1Accommodation in Whitechapel

5.1.2Living Conditions

5.1.3End of Topic Test - Whitechapel Local Study

5.2The People of Whitechapel

5.2.1Alcohol & Immigration

5.2.2Prostitution

5.2.3Racial Tensions

5.2.4End of Topic Test - The People of Whitechapel

5.2.5Grade 9 - Whitechapel

5.3Policing in Whitechapel

5.3.1The Police Force in Whitechapel

5.3.2Jack the Ripper

5.3.3Challenges Facing the Police

5.3.4End of Topic Test - Policing in Whitechapel

5.3.5Grade 9 - Policing Whitechapel

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