Jack the Ripper Tour

With all due respect to others, 'St George's in the East' is wrong, I know that, but it doesn't get my gander up too much. Neither does 'setts' vs. 'cobbles', as another example.

Perhaps they should!

"... 'St George's in the East' is wrong, I know that, but it doesn't get my gander up too much."

That's probably because it isn't 'inaccurate', so-to-speak!

What about 'candy', 'cookies', 'sidewalk' and 'soccer'?

[John Bennett]

It's strange, but although I don't find some of these inaccuracies 'obnoxious', they do irritate me somewhat.

These, for example, all of which I have read or heard (and make me cringe a bit):

Wood's Dwellings
The 'Ten Bells' and neighbouring sites being in Whitechapel
Wentworth Buildings
Castle Street
Durwood Street

With all due respect to others, 'St George's in the East' is wrong, I know that, but it doesn't get my gander up too much. Neither does 'setts' vs. 'cobbles', as another example.

Perhaps they should!

[Scott Nelson]

The Yard in the East that belonged to St. George.

For clarification:

Elizabeth Stride was murdered in the Parish of St. George in the East (i.e. St. George's Parish).

Her body was taken to the Parish Mortuary of St. George in the East (i.e. St. George's Mortuary);

… on the grounds of the Parish Church of St. George in the East (i.e. St. George's Church).

The corresponding inquest was held at the Vestry Hall, Parish of St. George in the East (i.e. St. George's Vestry Hall).

I'd thought that the "possessive" which is not strictly correct was just a common UK colloquialism, a familiarity thing?

That is my point: "St. George's in the East" is a colloquialism! It should therefore not be used in formal narration pertaining to the case of 'Jack the Ripper'; or for that matter, in any other formal historical narration.

And it is most certainly, … to my ear, … obnoxious!

[John Bennett]

That's because you are accustomed to it!

Perhaps, but I don't believe I call it such (correct me if I'm wrong).

Is 'George's Yard' obnoxious? You saw fit to bring it to our attention - for good reason, I might add!

It irks me, but I don't find it obnoxious, no.

[JennyL]

I'd thought that the "possessive" which is not strictly correct was just a common UK colloquialism, a familiarity thing?

...church?

"St."[anything]'s I've always taken to refer to a church. Uniquely English usage it seems(to this yank).

'St. George's Church'

'St. George's Parish'

'St. George's Workhouse'

'St. George's Infirmary'

'St. George's Vestry Hall'

'St. George's Mortuary'

... are all proper references!

"St. George's in the East" is an improper reference!

[JennyL]

Colloquial; through-and-through!

"St. George's (What?) in the East"

...church?

"St."[anything]'s I've always taken to refer to a church. Uniquely English usage it seems(to this yank).

Colloquial perhaps, ...

Colloquial; through-and-through!

... but I wouldn't go as far as 'obnoxious'! :-)

That's because you are accustomed to it!

Is 'George's Yard' obnoxious? You saw fit to bring it to our attention - for good reason, I might add!

At least in that instance, the possesive case refers to something that is tangible: A 'Yard'.

But in the instance of "St. George's in the East", it does not!

"St. George's (What?) in the East"

[John Bennett]

As most of us opt for the obnoxiously colloquial "St. George's in the East"; … why not 'George's Yard' and 'George's Yard Buildings'?

Colloquial perhaps, but I wouldn't go as far as 'obnoxious'! :-)

Watch out for George's Hutchinson too!

It uses the name 'George's Yard' and 'George's Yard Buildings' …

As most of us opt for the obnoxiously colloquial "St. George's in the East"; … why not 'George's Yard' and 'George's Yard Buildings'?

[Mike Covell]

I have it, paid about £1.00 a year or two ago via Amazon. Very cheap and nasty piece of work!

[John Bennett]

Here are some examples of the material within:

On the map we have 'Winthorpe Ct' (Winthrop St; ahem), 'Gourston Street' and Duves Pl (Dukes Place).

"Nobody knew the identity of the killer, so the police named him 'Jack the Ripper'"

"Catherine was a 46-year old street prostitute. She was born in Wolverhampton in 1848..." Do the maths..

"The Hoop and Grapes pub was one of the few to survive the Great Fire of London in 1666." Of course it did - the fire didn't reach that far.

[Martha] "Turner's murder happened on 6th August 1888, several months before the first official Ripper murder" It says she was stabbed 39 times and her internal organs were "removed and displaced".

It uses the name 'George's Yard' and 'George's Yard Buildings' are still there (the 1886 building behind the 'White Hart', it means).

Mary Kelly's murder site is now White's Row and her body was discovered by "a young boy trying to get some rent". Both her hands were tucked up inside her stomach and the old intestines/'christmas decorations' lark gets an airing.

The Providence Row Night Refuge in Crispin St. is 17th century. Annie Chapman stayed there the night before her murder.

There's more, but enough's enough.

[John Bennett]

No comedy titbits to report for some time now.

Apart from a group of 14 drunk people on one tour (they almost ruined it and it wasn't funny, believe me), everybody has been rather sensible for the last couple of months - even the school groups who are now back after the summer hols.

Anyway, has anybody got a copy of this? I've seen it around for ages and at £1.99, I thought I'd finally give it a go.


It's a shocker, by the way.

[kensei]

Hey Philip, hard to believe in just a couple of months it'll be a year since I went on your tour. As I recall the crowd had several questions but you did a great job of making jokes out of them. One that springs to mind is the guy who, just as you were about to pull out the MJK photo, asked you if it was in color. As the rest of us laughed, you rolled your eyes and said, "Earth is full, go home!" Keep it up.