Whitechapel - Local Context

Question 1

Features of whitechapel housing?

Answer 1

-lodging houses where you paid a nightly fee for a bed & acces to a kitchen
->1/4 of pop lived

-rookeries (slum areas) where most housing was located, extremely overcrowded & poor sanitation

-George Peabody paid for building of 11 blocks of flats in a former slum
->The Peabody Estate opened in 1881 & those staying charged reasonable rents

Question 2

who mainly lived in workhouses?

Answer 2

-elderly
-ill
-disabled
-orphans

Question 3

lack of employment opportunities?

Answer 3

-economic depression = high unemployment
-few jobs for women = turned to prostitution
-working long hours for low pay
->high levels of poverty in the area

Question 4

describe area Whitechapel was in

Answer 4

inner-city area of poverty, discontent & crime

Question 5

link between area of whitechapel & crime?

Answer 5

-low income levels = stealing for survival & avoid the workhouse

-unreliable work = many people have lot of spare time, led to alcoholism, disruptive behavior & violence

-overcrowding = tensions between residents -> violence

-prostitution = high levels of prostitution led to violence on women