Taken over from a Barnett thread, but far more relevant in terms of Fleming... maybe
There are two entries relating to a 28 year-old "James Evans", listed as a porter or railway porter, in the Whitechapel Infirmary records in the Summer of 1888. Both entries give mental illness ("Unsound mind" and "Insane", respectively) as the reason for admission. Often, such entries record that the patient was referred to an asylum, but this was not the case with James Evans: it simply records the date he was discharged, that date being the 9th July 1888, after a 6-day stay.
Chris Scott has identified anomalies in the addresses given in the Infirmary register for James Evans. One says "Block 16F Glass Street", the other "Block 16F Royal Mint Street"... which presents a bit of a puzzle. However, I think I've got to the bottom of the problem.
There was a cluster of Peabody Buildings on Glasshouse Street, which continued onto Royal Mint Street. Even though "F" Block backed onto Royal Mint Street, the buildings were known collectively as "Glasshouse Buildings" and - strictly speaking - belonged more to Glasshouse Street, so the two entries in the Infirmary records were both sort-of correct. I'm almost certain, therefore, that the Infirmary register's "Glass St" was an abbreviation, or simply a mistaken entry, for "Glasshouse Street".
I found a splendid photo, taken late 1950s I guess, with two blocks of the Peabody Buildings in the foreground and "F" Block sandwiched between them in the background. The arrow I've drawn points directly to the entrance of "F" Block:
[Ed: Image removed due to copyright owner complaint.]
(To back up Miss Marple's comment, please note the Irish tricolors.)
Here's a map of Whitechapel of the region around Glasshouse Street, showing the proximity of "F" Block Peabody Buildings (shaded red) to Royal Mint St:
I'm fairly sure, therefore, that the mentally unsound James Evans mentioned in the Infirmary records was living here, in "F" Block, Glasshouse Street Buildings, until July 1888.
Whether this was "James Evans", as in the Fleming alias, remains to be seen - however, the age is about right (28), the mental health bit is right, and the location of his home somewhat evocative. Glasshouse Buildings were - and are - a very short distance away from Mary Kelly's old digs in Breezer's Hill/Pennington Street, and literally around the corner from her alleged later stomping-ground of Leman Street.
Originally posted by miss marple
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Chris Scott has identified anomalies in the addresses given in the Infirmary register for James Evans. One says "Block 16F Glass Street", the other "Block 16F Royal Mint Street"... which presents a bit of a puzzle. However, I think I've got to the bottom of the problem.
There was a cluster of Peabody Buildings on Glasshouse Street, which continued onto Royal Mint Street. Even though "F" Block backed onto Royal Mint Street, the buildings were known collectively as "Glasshouse Buildings" and - strictly speaking - belonged more to Glasshouse Street, so the two entries in the Infirmary records were both sort-of correct. I'm almost certain, therefore, that the Infirmary register's "Glass St" was an abbreviation, or simply a mistaken entry, for "Glasshouse Street".
I found a splendid photo, taken late 1950s I guess, with two blocks of the Peabody Buildings in the foreground and "F" Block sandwiched between them in the background. The arrow I've drawn points directly to the entrance of "F" Block:
[Ed: Image removed due to copyright owner complaint.]
(To back up Miss Marple's comment, please note the Irish tricolors.)
Here's a map of Whitechapel of the region around Glasshouse Street, showing the proximity of "F" Block Peabody Buildings (shaded red) to Royal Mint St:
I'm fairly sure, therefore, that the mentally unsound James Evans mentioned in the Infirmary records was living here, in "F" Block, Glasshouse Street Buildings, until July 1888.
Whether this was "James Evans", as in the Fleming alias, remains to be seen - however, the age is about right (28), the mental health bit is right, and the location of his home somewhat evocative. Glasshouse Buildings were - and are - a very short distance away from Mary Kelly's old digs in Breezer's Hill/Pennington Street, and literally around the corner from her alleged later stomping-ground of Leman Street.
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