Facts about Whitechapel
Whitechapel General Info
Whitechapel is a district in East London and the future administrative centre of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. Part of the East End of London, east of Charing Cross, it was part of the ancient parish of Stepney, Middlesex. It was split off as a separate parish in the 14th century. It became part of the County of London in 1889 and Greater London in 1965.
The area was the centre of the London Jewish community in the 19th and early 20th century, and the location of the infamous 11 Whitechapel murders, some of which were attributed to the mysterious serial killer known as Jack the Ripper. In the latter half of the 20th century, Whitechapel became a significant settlement for the British Bangladeshi community.
History
Whitechapel High Street and Whitechapel Road are now part of the A11 road. Anciently, the initial part of the Roman road between the City of London and Colchester, exiting the city at Aldgate. In later times, travellers to and from London on this route were accommodated at the many coaching inns which lined Whitechapel High Street.
By the late 16th century, the suburb of Whitechapel and the surrounding area had started becoming ‘the other half’ of London. Located east of Aldgate, outside the City Walls and beyond official controls, it attracted the less fragrant activities of the city. Particularly tanneries, breweries, foundries and slaughterhouses.
