Esther M. Zimmer Lederberg
Tom-all-alones or Rookeries
London Slums

Tom-all-alone

Mayhew points out that Tom-All-Alones or rookeries such as at St. Giles have a population of thieves, poor vagrants, and the honest poor who worked in omnibus and cab-yards [carriages], factories, etc., as well as prostitutes and cadgers ["London Labour and the London Poor" Volume IV ("Those That Will Not Work, comprising Prostitutes, Thieves, Swindlers and Beggars, by several contributors"), Dover Publications, Inc., New York, 1968, p. 299]. In addition, Mayhew provides a good physical description:
  1. "...with an almost endless intricacy of courts and yards crossing each other, rendering the place like a rabbit-warren." [Mayhew Vol. IV, p. 299]
  2. .
  3. "... with the connected backyards and low walls in the rear of the street, afforded and easy escape to any thief when pursued by officers of justice." [Mayhew Vol. IV, p. 299]
  4. .
  5. "In one of the cellars was a large cesspool, covered in such a way that a stranger would likely step into it. In the same cellar was a hole about two feet square, leading to the next cellar, and thence by a similar hole into the cellar of a house in [another street]." [Mayhew Vol. IV, p. 300]
  6. .
  7. "...lodging-houses for theieves, prostitutes, and cadgers. [...] If the beds were occupied six nights by the same parties, and all dues paid, the seventh night (Sunday) was not charged for." [Mayhew Vol. IV, p. 299]
  8. .
  9. "...often from twelve to thirty persons lodged in a room. At the back of this public-house is a yard, on the right-hand side of which is an apartment then occupied by thirty-eight men, women, and children, all lying indiscriminately on the floor." [Mayhew Vol. IV, p. 301]
  10. .
  11. Prostitutes (lorettes or licentious women or Cyprians or Paphians) could be cheap or higher-classed. Cheap prostitutes (transpontine women) often picked up her customers indiscriminately at such places as Haymarket, Burlington Arcade or the New Cut prominade. Higher class prostitutes were found at "night houses" such as "Kate Hamilton's" or other such gathering places and supper-rooms (restaurants), cafés or parks.

Back

© Copyright 2006 - 2018    The Esther M. Zimmer Lederberg Trust     Website Terms of Use