Poverty in the Victorian era Free Essay Example, 1500 words

In respect to the immediately foregoing (crime), areas such as Whitechapel, Clerkenwell and Jacob’s Island were known as the homes of homicide during the 1880s. It is against this backdrop that Jack the Ripper, the anonymous serial women killer came about in Flower and Dean Street. Understanding the irrevocable nexus between poverty and crime, as a way of responding to crime, the London County Council made successful and vigorous attempts to pull down worst slums. The London County Council introduced and used the slum upgrading and clearance programs to abate the number of slums in both Britain and London. Williamson contends that the plight of poor housing as a manifestation of poverty during the Victorian age is informed by the housing culture of the Victorians. Those who worked for long hours were compelled to live within the proximity of their workstation. It is for this reason that available housing highly priced and highly scarce. Because of this, tenants by themselves would let their rooms for 2 dollars to 4 dollars in a day, to their fellow employees. This was an artifice to meet their rent. We will write a custom essay sample on Poverty in the Victorian era or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now Because of this, most industrialized cities in Europe and the United Kingdom, particularly, London, were totally overcrowded, unsanitary and underdeveloped. These houses and the slums that emerged from these conditions were known as the rookeries (Williamson, 99 – 131). There were instances in which pockets of some British cities were the domicile for those who suffered from incurable diseases. For instance, Spitalfields which derives its name from the historic St. Mary’s Spittel was known for being the preserve of lepers. Spitalfields was initially inhabited by rich French Huguenot silk-workers and weavers. As the district moved to the mid 19th century, the descendants of Spitalfields were brought down to deplorable living conditions because of the competition which was emanating from the Manchester textile factories. Thusly, Spitalfields slumped down into a crime-infested and slum-riddled area. Resultantly, the once handsome and spacious Huguenot houses were partitioned into tiny dwellings. These tiny dwellings were rented out to the poor laborers and helping hands seeking employment in the docks nearby. According to Bailey, the legacy that poverty left in the Victorian age is personified by an array of charitable organizations. For instance, from the 1850s and beyond, the Sisters of Mercy under the guidance of Father Daniel Gilbert opened and established a night refuge for the destitute, especially, women and children.