The Former Mortuary St. George-in-the-East - A Jack The Ripper Location.

In the tranquil churchyard of St. George-in-the-East, you will find a curious little red-brick ruin that has a dark and sinister past. It was originally built to provide a mortuary for the parish.
It gained an association with the Jack the Ripper murders when it became the mortuary to which the bodies of two of the Whitechapel murders victims - Elizabeth Stride and the Pinchin Street torso were brought in the aftermaths of their deaths.
In this video, we pay a visit to the churchyard to admire the soaring white-walled church of St. George-in-the-East which towers over it, before turning our attention to the former mortuary as we follow it history, from the 1860s, when the local vestry were complaining of the need for adequate mortuary facilities for the district, and on to the early 20th century when the little building became a Nature Study Museum.
You will learn of some of the events that took place within the tumbledown walls of the curious little building and hear about various witnesses who arrived here to try to identify Elizabeth Stride and the Pinchin Street murders.

[@kerzenlicht7709]

The building is a silent witness to this time of deprivation. It should be declared as an historic monument. 🙏

[@JackTheRipperTours]

I do hope they preserve it. It really does have an atmosphere.

[@foxgloved1]

@@JackTheRipperTours If you think about it ,it is amazing that the little building even stands today!

[@imtheitchyouneedtoscratch]

This little mortuary must be saved and preserved as it's part of history.

[@vinnieviddivicci5459]

I agree, 100%. It's not like the Brits to let this one fade away.

[@slyaspie4934]

Yeah the trouble is it's age, it's most likely a listed building meaning you need permission to do anything to it, and any work carried out on it would be very expensive because it needs to be period correct, so a lot actual handcrafted fixtures and fittings, as well as genuine skilled tradesman to restore it. Depending on what grade it's listed as, you probably can't just throw in some new pvc double glazed windows and doors or other modern things, even if they look the same, so I can't see it happening unfortunately, unless there's a way to get that money back. It happens quite often it's just not worth the cost to most people, so these old buildings get left to mother nature because I don't think it's that easy or cheap to get permission to knock them down either

[@abicat6158]

I agree. My ggrandfather was Parish Clerk, Sexton & undertaker of St George in the East in the 1850s to 1870s. I'm sure he would have been in that mortuary building too many times.

[@keithshwalbe6981]

Very well narrated Richard. Preserving and restoring this building to its mortuary state, would be highly valued for the country.

[@JackTheRipperTours]

Thank you, Keith.

[@keithshwalbe6981]

@@JackTheRipperTours . . The pleasure was entirely ours.

[@gaggymott9159]

Why are the Incumbent, Churchwardens, Vestry and Parishioners not refurbishing this historic building? It should be preserved as a matter of urgency!

[@TheBrummie60]

Fascinatingly gruesome tale: exemplary commentary. 👍 My grandfather was a 16 year old lad of Spitalfields at the time of the Ripper murders; he adamantly claimed to have seen several bobbies at the scene where one of the poor victims lay, early one morning on his way to work.

[@Fred-rj3er]

Wow! If you are like me, bet you are thinking of questions you wished you had asked and written and preserved the answers to. It was all not that very long ago really.

[@BarryAllenMagic]

As a 1960's Wapping lad born and bred, I'm more than au fait with this beautiful Church and fascinating out-building; as well as the swimming baths adjacent to it. I truly cannot believe; particularly given the obscene amount of money that has appeared across the E1 area since the 1980's; that funds have not been found to preserve such an important monument to East End history. Basically, it closed in 1939........and has been left to rot. Truly shameful.

[@Fred-rj3er]

If the council are like ours in Leeds, they will be hoping that it will be declared unsafe and then, even if it is a listed building (it should be made one) they can quietly pull it down for "public safety. I guess this building was meant to last though lol.

[@londonbeyondtimeandplace2489]

Wonderful video. I once stayed in a room opposite St-George-in-the-East, looking directly at its spire through the window. It stands in an atmospheric area with so much history: A Hawksmoor's church, Wilton's Music Hall, Swedenborg Gardens, the Ratcliffe Highway murders, the Ripper murders, Pinchin Street, the Battle of Cable Street... And yet, the churchyard is so peaceful and the mortuary, even though it is quite a sad sight now, also adds to the atmosphere. Thanks for the video, Richard! Can't wait to go there again!

[@JackTheRipperTours]

Pleased you enjoyed it Philipp. Did you stay in the inn by the churchyard gates?

[@londonbeyondtimeandplace2489]

@@JackTheRipperTours I stayed in an Airbnb in Crowder Street, directly opposite of the entrance to the church. My room looked out on to the front of St-George-in-the-East. Could be quite creepy when I returned at night!

[@keithnaylor1981]

Sad to see it in ruins. It should be converted to a Ripper museum with a small entrance fee before it is gone forever. I wonder where the other ripper victims were taken?

[@simmers100]

I hope its preserved before it has to be demolished. Wonderful video conveying the atmosphere and solemnness of the time and place. It is indeed a silent witness!

[@JackTheRipperTours]

Thank you.

[@DAYBROK3]

its a beautiful tumbled down shed, look at those little details on the gable ends and the decorated bricks and brickwork, those tiny little arches, beautiful.

[@darransykes5703]

This small building should be renovated and refurbished back to its 1888 period as a mortuary. Its a shame this small building has been left to ruin and fall to pieces instead of being lovingly restored and listed as an historic building that should be graded... Shame on the council for letting it go to ruin!!!

[@JackTheRipperTours]

Indeed, Darran.

[@DirtySanchez943]

Who rules over there is it so hard 2 achieve???

[@chrisdavid1410]

I hope this building is preserved. It would be a historic loss otherwise.

[@JackTheRipperTours]

Me too Chris.

[@TheOde28]

I love the music you chose for these videos! Thank you for this one, very educational. I always enjoy your videos.

[@JackTheRipperTours]

Glad you like them!

[@terencepetermccoombe7413]

An amazing building to see, and a lot of dark history connected to it. Some brilliant comments made by other viewers too.

[@JackTheRipperTours]

It really is!

[@JoannaLamont333]

Very good video & really interesting. I think the building should be restored. It’s an interesting link to the past which deserves a noted place in history. Once lost, it’s lost forever & that would be a travesty.

[@JackTheRipperTours]

Thank you for your kind words, Joanna. It is such a pity that so much is being lost.

[@rogerscottcathey]

Pity, there aren't career schools in the area to undertake the project of restoration. History, both foul and fair, needs tending to.

[@bmeghani88]

This mortuary, probably one of the only remaining structures of the time other than that school on Bucks Row, is located a few steps away from the mural of the Battle of Cable Street.

[@davidmoore2308]

There are many building of the time that are still in use today.

[@davesmith7432]

That was really fascinating and cool! I hope to see it for myself one day!

[@JackTheRipperTours]

You should!

[@brianbommarito3376]

4:19 This is very sad and very disturbing that they didn’t have a proper mortuary for so long. On another channel I’ve occassionally watched, which deals with the cleaning up of crime scenes after the police are finished with them, they’ve had cases where they were brought into houses where the resident had been dead for several days before they were found. The stench was horrific and flies and maggots were everywhere in the house. They had to tear out bits of the flooring because decomposition was so bad. And if that can happen now, imagine what it would’ve been like in the Victorian era in a house occupied by seven people, and the remains of one of them has nowhere to go. It is a very frightening thought that something like that could ever have happened.

[@robynvandebussche5077]

Fascinating!!! More videos like this please.

[@JackTheRipperTours]

More on the way over the next few weeks.

[@DirtySanchez943]

Its like a portal to days gone by...

[@carolquayle9921]

Thank you again for another informative article. The church and garden is beautiful. It would be nice if the little mortuary could be restored, if I had the money.....

[@blrenx]

Another Site that should be preserved !

[@si.6859]

Cannot wait to get back into town for a wonder, great vid as usual. 👌🏻

[@JackTheRipperTours]

Thank you.

[@seattlescofflaws]

Love your videos. I have been interested in this case since the 1980s. I took a Ripper Walk tour in 2000.

[@JackTheRipperTours]

Very cool!

[@starchild7843]

I like to learn more about the torso that was found. Can you do a video on that of who it could be was it before, during or after the Ripper killings? If it happened right about the time of the Ripper killings, did the investigators think it could be linked to those killings? So if you don't mind please try and do a video on this? Thank you for sharing these with us I really do appreciate them! Hope you have a wonderful and blessed day! ☺️♥️☺️

[@victorcontreras9138]

I'm watching these videos from the USA and though I'm not near that historic building, I pray that it will be restored and not demolished. It seems a valuable piece of history that is directly tied to one of the victims.

[@velocityadventures949]

Your videos and fascinating and so informative

[@JackTheRipperTours]

So nice of you

[@dsaword2622]

Very interesting well done 😊

[@JackTheRipperTours]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@brenda6201]

I believe in keeping up and restoration. This is another part of London that should stand as a reminder of days gone by. 🙏😥💋🌹RIP beautiful women...

[@darcydavies-jones1503]

The guy that sold the grapes was mentioned in the autobiography of Jack the ripper. The men apparently met again and Mr Packer recognised him so JR fled onto omnibus

[@teresapaskell5459]

Well there is plenty of contact with nature now. With the lack of roof. Very sad

[@JackTheRipperTours]

It is in a very sorry state.

[@oldlechmere8012]

Hello Richard, you remind me of American writer Thomas Wolfe with all of your four and five syllable words. But yet this is a great video even though I am greatly biased because I like anything related to Jack the Ripper. Catch me when you can Mr. Jones.

[@JackTheRipperTours]

Thanks for listening

[@markthompson7261]

so sad to see buildings in this state

[@Fred-rj3er]

A few years ago I watched a documentary which put forward the theory that Jack was an assistant at this mortuary. There were things relating to 2 murders before the canonical 5 which were where he was day "cutting his teeth". Evidence about the 5 and evidence about 2 or 3 murders later that were not as violent. The man in question died of TB after the last murders and part of the theory was that his failing health and strength had led to the murders after Mary Kelly being less violent because of his weakness. I would love to see you do something on this line if you can find anything. Thank you so much for your amazing vids. Some cracking pics of the times as well as speculation and facts.

[@iankelly5797]

Lovely story.

[@JackTheRipperTours]

Thank you! 🙂

[@h.calvert3165]

If I ever visited, I would stop to say a prayer for the souls of the Ripper victims. Then another one for the others brought there over the years. Then one more for the Ripper himself, for he must have been mad & he has heavy burdens to carry into eternity. ✝️

[@JackTheRipperTours]

That is very moving.

[@davidhallett8783]

I m shocked. Shocked to discover that the rest of London didn't seem to give a shit how bad things got in Whitechapel. Jack was lucky he stopped when he did or that box of toys would have certainly caught him probably before world war one. Maybe

[@MrRugercat45]

It would certainly be a huge mistake to demolish this beautiful building. Just because it’s in ruin doesn’t mean it should be destroyed. Leaving links to the past is important if we want to remember it.

[@Oliviawww164]

I may be mistaken, but I am sure I heard a story about one of the Mortuary attendants being a suspect? I may be wrong

[@iwasglad122]

No. you're correct. The suspect was Robert Mann, the mortuary attendant. It is the basis of the book, 'JACK THE RIPPER - QUEST FOR A KILLER' by M. J. Trow. (2009)

[@keithnaylor1981]

I too remember that story. I think it was suggested that the murder sites were were too dark for the mutilations and organ removals to be carried out and that they must have been done when the bodies were moved to a mortuary.

[@simonyip8571]

I think that it was the mortuary located further north of this building that you are thinking about? I could be wrong, but I think it was the mortuary off Old Montague Street very close to Bucks Row and not more than 10 minutes or so walk from Hanbury Street, Dorset Street, George Yard, Commercial Street and Commercial Road, Wentworth Street and the especially notorious Flower and Dean St/Thrawl St/George St/Keats Court and Brick Lane and other infamous streets and locations directly associated with the Whitechapel Murders.

[@DirtySanchez943]

Bet ripper visited the body as well.

[@victorcontreras9138]

I just had to see this video again. It'll be a sad day if they decide to demolish such a historic building especially tied directly to the ever increasing popularity of the murders! As I see it, the little old place has a certain beauty and allure all its own. E. Stride had been to many buildings during her life but this one was the one after her death before her coffin. To stress the importance of it, though I live in the USA, I would willingly donate lots of money towards it's preservation if I were to win a lottery of substantial funds. I have always been a lover of old, buildings.

[@drbigmdftnu]

Fascinating

[@seattlescofflaws]

Robert Stephenson is a distant relative.

[@VloggerMcGamer]

I know where this is as I walk past it on my way to the gym at St George’s swimming baths

[@brenda6201]

😥💔🙏🌹

[@TheSuelee66]

It is so sad how we do not value the historical value of a building. Typical throw away society