'Seven Stars' in Whitechapel?

[John Bennett]

The Seven Stars could mean both the Plough (Big Dipper in the US) or the Pleiades, an open cluster in the constellation Taurus, usually referred to as the Seven Sisters. They also happen to be arranged in a similar patter to the plough.

This example from Kensington (London) shows what looks like the Plough:


Often, pubs called 'The Plough' have the constellation on it as opposed to a farmer ploughing his field.

But the Seven Stars is quite a common name for pubs, as indicated by the amount that Cap'n Jack discovered in the Whitechapel/Spitalfields area alone.

[Cap'n Jack]

Thanks Bulldog, that is a first class resource you suggested!
And John, I like the pub sign, but regarding the Chinese knife owned by Thomas Cutbush the seven stars definitely represent the Seven Sisters, compare the following with the example of a Chinese 'toy' dagger I posted above.

[m_w_r]

What are 'The Seven Stars'?

Hi Stephen -

At times like these I always turn to Quaint Signs of Olde Inns by G.J. Monson-Fitzjohn (1926). In this case he has this to say:

SEVEN STARS. Bristol, Petersfield, Wellington, Thame, Shifnal, Oxford, three in Somerset, three in Herefordshire, eight in Lancashire, three in Wiltshire, three in Cheshire, and very nearly everywhere else! It was an often quoted astrological sign of the middle ages and is shown on signboards as a constellation "The Bear," King Charles' Wain," or the "Plough," as it is often called. A house at Withy Grove, Manchester, bearing this name of "Seven Stars" was in existence prior to 1356. Shakespeare quotes this title twice.

"The reason why the seven stars are no more than seven, is a pretty reason." (King Lear)

"What! We have seen the seven stars!" (Henry IV)

One origin of the name was from the seven starred celestial crown worn by the Virgin Mary in old paintings.

Regards,

Mark

[Cap'n Jack]

Am I not right in thinking that the only option for Thomas to travel into inner London from his uncle's place at Highgate would have been the 'Seven Sisters' railway station at Highgate?
And then to arrive at Aldgate, directly opposite the Pump, and directly opposite the 'Seven Stars'?

[Tom_Wescott]

AP,

Where the victims laid out in a pattern similar to the constellation depicted as the 'seven stars'?

Yours truly,

Tom Wescott

[Cap'n Jack]

No, Tom, they were just brutalised and murdered by a freak who imagined that the universe was a post box to the gods.

[John Bennett]

Am I not right in thinking that the only option for Thomas to travel into inner London from his uncle's place at Highgate would have been the 'Seven Sisters' railway station at Highgate?

Seven Sisters station is in Tottenham, I believe.

[Cap'n Jack]

Thanks John, but to be absolutely correct the station is in Haringey, and in Tom's time was built and run by the 'Stoke Newington and Edmonton Railway Company'... which is of course why I was attracted to the idea.

[Sam Flynn]

Thanks John, but to be absolutely correct the station is in Haringey

So is Tottenham, AP. As a former resident meself, the local branch of Tesco was on Tottenham High Road - not from my house, which was near Tottenham Hale tube station. However the nearest underground station to Tottenham Tesco was Seven Sisters, one stop away from Tottenham Hale.

[Cap'n Jack]

And there was me, Sam, with the impression that you were Welsh, when all the time you are from Merthy-Haringey.

[Cap'n Jack]

And a quiz question for you, Sam.
What is the arterial connection that links Highgate, Colney Hatch Lunatic Aylum, and Holloway Prison?

[Sam Flynn]

What is the arterial connection that links Highgate, Colney Hatch Lunatic Aylum, and Holloway Prison?

I've no idea, AP. Pray tell!

[Cap'n Jack]

The Seven Sisters' Road of course, my dear Watson. Now where have you hid my opium this time eh?

[John Bennett]

And a quiz question for you, Sam.
What is the arterial connection that links Highgate, Colney Hatch Lunatic Aylum, and Holloway Prison?

I believe it's the A1, rather than Seven Sisters Road, surely.

[John Bennett]

The A1 road goes through Barnet, quite near the former Colney Hatch Asylum, then it goes into Highgate (which is in the borough of Haringey, granted, but only just), via Archway Road, then to Holloway Road which then meets the juction with Seven Sisters Road not far from Holloway Prison.

However, Seven Sisters Road runs from the Holloway Road junction towards Finsbury Park and then on to Tottenham quite removed from the Highgate direction.

What is your idea about the 'Seven Sisters' thing? Please elaborate.

JB