Hanbury Street (Annie Chapman's Murder Site), London

In the early hours of Saturday, September 8, 1888, the deceased body of Annie Chapman was found at approximately 6 AM near the stairs that led to the rear yard of 29 Hanbury Street in Spitalfields. Her gruesome murder shocked the community: Chapman's throat had been brutally severed by two deep cuts. Even more disturbing, her abdomen had been completely opened, and parts of her flesh, including a section of her stomach, were placed on her left shoulder. Another section of skin and flesh, along with her small intestines, had been removed and positioned above her right shoulder. The autopsy further revealed the removal of her uterus, sections of her bladder, and parts of her vagina.

During the subsequent inquiry into Chapman's murder, Elizabeth Long provided a crucial testimony. She recounted witnessing Chapman standing outside 29 Hanbury Street at approximately 5:30 AM in the company of a dark-haired man. The man wore a brown deer-stalker hat and a dark overcoat, giving him a "shabby-genteel" appearance. According to Long, the man asked Chapman, "Will you?" and she responded with a simple "Yes." This exchange became a significant piece of evidence.

Hanbury Street, now situated in the vibrant heart of the trendy East End, bears historical significance due to the events that transpired there. It is also noteworthy for its proximity to the Ten Bells pub, where Annie Chapman was reportedly drinking on that fateful day. Chapman lived in Dorset Street, just across from the pub, but lacked the money for lodging. It is speculated that she may have encountered a man at the pub..

The Ten Bells pub itself had a notorious reputation, located adjacent to Itchy Park and serving as a well-known gathering spot. It stood in the heart of the poverty-stricken Spitalfields area, where the slums were at their most dire. However, Hanbury Street has undergone substantial transformations since then. The entire side of the street where number 29 once stood has been demolished and replaced by brewery buildings, effectively erasing the physical traces of that tragic chapter in history.