I have heard that back then when beds were full they would take a rope and tie it across the middle of the room for more people to sleep on. I was wondering if there are any pictures of this? I just can't picture it in my head, how could someone sleep like that? I've seen the pics of men sleeping in those coffin looking boxes but sleeping on a rope??? Come on, I couldnt think of anything less comfortable. Is that even true?
Supposedly so. In common lodging houses the price of a bed was 4d, but the rope option was only 2d. I don't suppose it was the preferred option, but it was at least cheaper.
A liitle OT, but does anyone know why it seems impossible to buy a current map of the East end (whitechapel, wapping etc) on Amazon? I have tried the London A to Z but it cuts out almost all of the East end. From a U.S. Visitor
Thanks
Mark
A liitle OT, but does anyone know why it seems impossible to buy a current map of the East end (whitechapel, wapping etc) on Amazon? I have tried the London A to Z but it cuts out almost all of the East end. From a U.S. Visitor
Thanks
Mark
That's very odd. I've got the 5th edition of the A to Z and the superscale version. Both of them cover, not only the EE, but go all the way out to Dagenham. (Has the A to Z scaled back? )
My favourite map book is still Collins London Streetfinder, however mine was published in 2001 and I haven't been able to find a newer edition.
I have heard that back then when beds were full they would take a rope and tie it across the middle of the room for more people to sleep on. I was wondering if there are any pictures of this? I just can't picture it in my head, how could someone sleep like that? I've seen the pics of men sleeping in those coffin looking boxes but sleeping on a rope??? Come on, I couldnt think of anything less comfortable. Is that even true?
I have heard that back then when beds were full they would take a rope and tie it across the middle of the room for more people to sleep on. I was wondering if there are any pictures of this? I just can't picture it in my head, how could someone sleep like that? I've seen the pics of men sleeping in those coffin looking boxes but sleeping on a rope??? Come on, I couldnt think of anything less comfortable. Is that even true?
In Rumbelow's book complete JTR, page 11, " In some lodging houses there was the compromise of a twopenny rope lean-to; this was a rope stretched across the room for the men to lean on and on which they had to sleep as best as they could!" But I did find this photo, using same idea, from the 30's, but as you see the men are sitting, (sorry it's so large):
I came across this fascinating thread a while ago and was prompted to do some digging. Since the Ripper case was reported worldwide I had a look at some US newspaper archives since I now live here in California. I came across a few interesting drawings of the people and places of the time so I'm posting them here...apologies if they've already been posted.