St. Giles Rookery Question

[Wolfgang_Parker]

Hello!

I'm a long time lurker and first time poster to Casebook. I am an author working on a Ripper graphic novel and I have been researching for years but I have been getting conflicting facts about St. Giles Rookery, which is one of the locales in my story.

I need a definitive answer as to whether or not St. Giles Rookery was still a slum in 1888 or if it had been cleaned up by then. Boardmember's help would be greatly appreciated.

[The Grave Maurice]

By 1888, the area seems to have improved somewhat, but it was still a slum. In the 1888 edition of his Dictionary of London, Charles Dickens (the younger) says of Seven Dials (p. 225):

This locality is celebrated as one of the poorest districts in London. Of late years various improvements have been made in the neigbourhood, and the Dials are now traversed by omnibuses, and have made considerable progress towards civilisation. But the locality is still a singular one, and as it lies in close proximity to the West End, can be easily visited by those curious to see one of the seamier sides of the inner life of London... Here poverty is to be seen in some of its most painful aspects.

[Wolfgang_Parker]

Thank you, Maurice! I appreciate the help.

[Archaic]

Just wanted to say welcome to the forums, Wolfgang!

Best regards, Archaic

[The Grave Maurice]

My pleasure, Wolfgang. And, like Archy says, welcome.

[Albert]

Hello!

I'm a long time lurker and first time poster to Casebook. I am an author working on a Ripper graphic novel and I have been researching for years but I have been getting conflicting facts about St. Giles Rookery, which is one of the locales in my story.

I need a definitive answer as to whether or not St. Giles Rookery was still a slum in 1888 or if it had been cleaned up by then. Boardmember's help would be greatly appreciated.

Hi Wolfgang
Try this link for the site of the St Giles Rookery. It was in Central London.

http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=74297

Regards Albert

[Albert]

Hi Wolfgang
Try this link for the site of the St Giles Rookery. It was in Central London.

http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=74297

Regards Albert

.....and this link for Seven Dials

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Dials

Cheers Albert

[Stephen Thomas]

I need a definitive answer as to whether or not St. Giles Rookery was still a slum in 1888 or if it had been cleaned up by then.

Hi Wolfgang and welcome

The simple answer is that no it wasn't a slum in 1888. I know the general area and a fascinating part of old London it is but most all of the buildings predate 1888 and are rather smart.

The 'rookery' was all gone by the late 1840s

[Wolfgang_Parker]

Just wanted to say welcome to the forums, Wolfgang!

Best regards, Archaic

Thank you, Archaic!

[Wolfgang_Parker]

Thank you Albert for the links! Great help!