Gazetteer of
British Place Names

Whitechapel is a metropolitan district and an ancient parish in south-east Middlesex, part of the East End of London. Whitechapel developed just to the east of Aldgate, along the old Roman road from London to Colchester (now Whitechapel High Street and Whitechapel Road). The church of St Mary Matfelon was founded in the 13th century, the parish supposedly taking its name from the whitewashed chapel. The area became industrialised from the 15th century. The Royal London Hospital was developed on its Prescot Street site from 1751. By the Victorian era Whitechapel's had become infamous for over-crowded housing and crime. Whitechapel and Spitalfields were the location of the infamous Whitechapel murders (1888–91), some or all of which are attributed to the unidentified 'Jack the Ripper'. Many of Whitechapel's streets and buildings survived the war and post-war redevelopment. The area is within the council area of Tower Hamlets.

Place Type: Urban locality
Historic County: Middlesex
Lat, Long: 51.516498,-0.068872
Grid Reference: TQ 3409 8149
Council Area: Tower Hamlets CA
Strategic Authority Area: Greater London SA
Police Area: Metropolitan PA

GBPN ID: 49462
Entry Type: Main listing (P)
URL: https://gazetteer.org.uk/place/Whitechapel,_Middlesex_49462

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