The Notorious Mrs Jeffries. Brothel keeper to the E

[MrBarnett]

I also found reference by Stead to another Brothel, Berthe's in Milton St which is in the City of London. This needs further investigation, a brothel run by a frenchwoman?

Miss Marple

Hi Miss Marple,

I think the Milton Street in question was the one in Marylebone (now Balcombe Street).

In 1881 the head of household of no. 18 was a French man, Huberte Possion and his French servant, Marie Lidouie.

As you probably know, by 1886 it was the residence of Marie Van der Houp and Victor Stevens and apparently a brothel.

Gary

[MrBarnett]

Hi Miss Marple,

I think the Milton Street in question was the one in Marylebone (now Balcombe Street).

In 1881 the head of household of no. 18 was a French man, Huberte Possion and his French servant, Marie Lidouie.

As you probably know, by 1886 it was the residence of Marie Van der Houp and Victor Stevens and apparently a brothel.

Gary

I should have gone to Specsavers. Huberte was a lady - presumably Mme (Mlle?) Berte.

[miss marple]

Indeed yes MrBarnett, the more one explores the Dark underworld of Victorian vice, the more complex it gets. Firstly If you'd read my post on Madame Berthe, the brothel under that name had been operating since the 1820s under many owners.
The brothel Berthe's was probably as you say in Milton st Marylebone rather than the city.Madame Huberte say may have been the Madame, but the name is a coincidence. Marylebone was an area of London full of french people and coincidently somel Mary Kellys some born there.
Victor Stevens was a well known performer, musician, comedian etc who had appeared with Dan Leno.

So why did I start this thread? Because to understand the ripper murders. An understanding of the extent and operation of Victorian vice is essential. Some posters seem to be under the impression that the East End was the centre of the vice trade[ with toffs going down east]
which I think is due to a lack of knowledge of 19th century London history.
Of all the women murdered by the ripper, only Mary Kelly claimed to have knowledge of working in a West End brothal, of travelling to France with a gentleman and apparently claiming back clothes from a french woman in Knightsbridge and possibly having a relative on the London Stage. None of these statements are impossible, so the more information about the background of the vice trade might yield some clues.

Incidentally Cardiff had a very healthy vice trade with many brothals but I am not posting that on this thread!

Miss Marple