5.1.2

Living Conditions

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Attempts to Improve Living Conditions in Whitechapel

There were two main social reformers who were actively trying to improve the area: George Peabody and Charles Booth.

Illustrative background for George PeabodyIllustrative background for George Peabody ?? "content

George Peabody

  • George Peabody acted following the planned slum clearance of 1876, by deciding to build a new block of flats known as the Peabody Estate.
Illustrative background for Peabody EstateIllustrative background for Peabody Estate ?? "content

Peabody Estate

  • By 1881, 286 new flats had been constructed.
    • The flats were intended to attract the residents of Whitechapel, offering affordable rents.
  • Each block was surrounded by a yard to improve ventilation.
  • They were built from brick and were unplastered to prevent damp and lice living in the plaster.
  • There were also shared bathrooms and kitchens.
Illustrative background for Problems with Peabody EstateIllustrative background for Problems with Peabody Estate ?? "content

Problems with Peabody Estate

  • Sadly the rents were too high for the average Whitechapel resident to afford.
  • Tenants that did secure a flat often fell behind on their rents and, as a result, were thrown out onto the streets.
Illustrative background for Charles BoothIllustrative background for Charles Booth ?? "content

Charles Booth

  • Charles Booth was a businessman and social reformer.
  • He set about creating maps of the Whitechapel area to research the situation of poverty.
  • His maps tried to demonstrate how bad poverty was in the area.
  • His work influenced government policy makers at the time.

Jump to other topics

1Medieval England, 1000-1500

2Early Modern England, 1500-1700

318th & 19th Century Britain

4Modern Britain, 1900-Present

5Whitechapel Local Study

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