Jewish Whitechapel

More than two million Jews left Eastern Europe between 1881 and 1914, prompted by economic hardship and increasingly ferocious persecution.

Following the assassination of Tsar Alexander II in 1881, the persecution of Jews in Russia became even fiercer, and a wave of pogroms swept across Russia and neighbouring countries.

Many Jews landing in England actually intended to go to America, but about 120,000 stayed in this country. Many did leave for the USA but can you imagine Whitechapel with out the characters.

Being poor and attracted by the area's reputation as a place for cheap living, and by the fact that it had been home to a Jewish population in previous centuries, large numbers settled in Whitechapel often finding work in the 'rag trade'.

By 1900 Jews formed around 95 per cent of the population in the Wentworth Street district of Whitechapel, Jews had also settled around Whitechapel, Aldgate and Mile End. Today sadly Whitechapel has very few Jewish people living here but have a look around the streets and the buildings and glimpse of what once was Jewish Whitechapel.