The many masks of Jack the Ripper

Some of us know Jack the Ripper by only his name and not his story. So, who was Jack the Ripper and why is he so widely recognised? Before you take a trip down the incredible Jack the Ripper walk, how about a little bit of history first to get you going?

Jack the Ripper was the name given to one of the most recognized unidentified murderers most famously known for his brutal crimes against prostitutes which all took place in Whitechapel in 1888.

However, what sets him apart from most unsolved murder cases is his alleged sociopathic mind and sadistic way of murdering his victims which include severe mutilation of their bodies.

In his time, Jack the Ripper viciously murdered five prostitutes; Mary Jane, Kelly Polly Nicholls, Lizzie Stride, Annie Chapman and Catherine Eddowes. Although, violence towards prostitutes was not unheard of at this time in history, the state which his victims were left in shocked and terrified the public in Whitechapel.

In addition to the murders, it was found that several letters signed from the killer himself were addressed to London’s Metropolitan police station. The letters were used as a taunt to the officers that his identity still remained unknown and he also specified the murders to come. Chilling stuff, huh?

Due to him still not being able to be identified to this very day, police suspected that he was a figure that did not stand out from the crowd and that he was someone who had in depth knowledge about the human anatomy based on the structure and callousness of his killings.

When the murders came to an end in the fall of 1888 and with a total of at least five prostitutes killed by this merciless figure, Whitechapel wanted answers they could not get and even now, these questions remain unanswered.

There have been several supposed suspects over the years following the Jack the Ripper frenzy; however no one was ever found guilty of his case. His case is sometimes described as the many masks of Jack the Ripper due to his secret appearance and character.

With East End London’s Jack the Ripper tour, it gives you the opportunity to experience the life of Whitechapel’s citizens during this unsettling time in history, walk the streets where the ripper himself stalked the nights and also to visit the very places where the five prostitutes were sadly killed.

This incredible tour is full of historic appreciation and touches on many lives that lived in fear of the ripper at this time. Walk with us as we tell you more of the history behind the faceless Jack the Ripper.