Dorset Street
Dorset Street was the scene of what is generally accepted as the fifth and
final murder committed by Jack the Ripper. Dorset Street is a narrow road
leading East towards the City of London from the Northern section of
Commercial Street, Spitalfields. At the time of the murders, Dorset Street
was one of the worst areas in the London slums. It is now a private alley
leading between a carpark and some warehouses which stand where Miller's
Court once stood on the north side of the street.
Above: Entrance to Miller's Court, the archway just beyond the chair.
Taken from Dorset Street.
Above: Photograph taken the day of the murder of the outside of Mary Kelly's room. The rather low, smaller window on the right is the one Bowyer and McCarthy looked through. On the original print it appears that both panes of glass on the right side of this window are broken. The photograph was taken by the photographer brought in by the police. This building was demolished in 1928.
Above: Dorset Street, late 19th century.
Above: The site where Mary Kelly's room once was (just past the orange
dumpsters). It is now behind a car-park on White's Row. Photograph
courtesy of Mr. Ivor Edwards.
Above: Another view of the estimated site. The three storey brick
building in the rear of the photo is the Providence Row Night Refuge
and Convent where Mary Kelly stayed at one time. Photograph courtesy
of Mr. John Smithkey III.
Above: This photograph shows a close-up view of where 13 Miller's Court
stood. It is believed the exact location of Mary Kelly's room was at
the broken curb in the center of this photo. Photograph courtesy of Mr.
John Smithkey III.
Above: A westward view of the area which was once known as Dorset Street,
Spitalfields. The area is now a private alley running between a carpark
on the south side and warehouses on the north side. A building which was
once a women's refuge can be seen on Crispin Street at the far end of
the picture. Miller's Court would have been along the stretch of the
street now occupied by the green shutter doors. Taken: Thursday, May 13,
1999. Photograph courtesy of Johnno.
Above: An eastward view of the area which was once known as Dorset Street,
Spitalfields. Commercial Street and some of the ground surrounding Christ
Church can be seen at the far end of the picture. Taken: Thursday, May 13,
1999. Photograph courtesy of Johnno.
Above: A close-up view of the approximate location of Miller's Court in
the area which was once known as Dorset Street, Spitalfields. This view
looks eastward towards Commercial Street. Taken: Thursday, May 13, 1999.
Photograph courtesy of Johnno.
Above: A view of the approximate location of Miller's Court. This view
looks slightly north-east. Taken: Thursday, May 13, 1999. Photograph
courtesy of Johnno.
Above: A view of the approximate location of Miller's Court from the
opposite angle, looking slightly north-west. Taken: Thursday, May 13,
1999. Photograph courtesy of Johnno.
Crispin Street Women's Refuge. This Victorian building was once a women's
refuge in Spitalfields. It is located on Crispin Street, a street
perpendicular to the western end of Dorset Street. Taken: Thursday, 27
July, 2000. Photograph courtesy of Johnno.
Providence Row.
Roman Catholic nuns' convent dating from c1860. Inspired by the Rev. Dan
Gilbert at a time when Spitalfields had become one of London's worst
slums. It's night refuge catered for up to 50 men and up to 300 women and
children each night. Its Listed frontage is now being converted to front a
much larger office building. Pictured from the corner of Crispin Street
and the former Dorset Street. Photograph courtesy of Viper.
