Mitre Square (Catherine Eddowes' Murder Site), London

Mitre Square (Catherine Eddowes' Murder Site), London

Mitre Square, situated within the City of London, became a somber location deeply intertwined with the infamous Jack the Ripper case. It was here that Catherine Eddowes's lifeless body was discovered, just three-quarters of an hour after that of Elizabeth Stride was found in close proximity. The scene was nothing short of horrifying, as Eddowes bore the marks of savage brutality. Her throat had been viciously slashed from ear to ear, and her abdomen had been gruesomely torn open by a deep, jagged wound. Adding to the macabre tableau, her intestines had been placed over her right shoulder, and a detached section of intestine was positioned between her body and left arm.

The mutilations inficted upon Eddowes extended beyond her abdomen, as her left kidney and a significant portion of her uterus had been removed. Her face bore disfigurement, as her nose had been severed, her cheek slashed, and incisions measuring a quarter and half an inch vertically marked each of her eyelids; additionally, triangular incisions pointing towards her eyes were carved on each of her cheeks. Thorough examinations of her clothing later revealed that a section of her right ear's auricle and lobe had been severed as well. The police surgeon estimated that these gruesome mutilations would have taken at least five minutes to carry out.

Joseph Lawende, a local cigarette vendor, had traversed the square alongside two companions shortly before the homicide occurred. He recalled seeing a disheveled fair-haired man with a woman who might have been Eddowes. Regrettably, Lawende's associates couldn't corroborate his description. This dual occurrence, involving the murders of Stride and Eddowes, became known as the "double event".

A perplexing twist unfolded when a stained fragment of Eddowes's apron was found at the entrance to a Whitechapel tenement on Goulston Street at 2:55 a.m. Above the apron lay a chilling chalk inscription: "The Juwes are The men That Will not be Blamed for nothing". This message appeared to imply potential Jewish involvement in the crimes, although it remains uncertain whether the graffiti was left by the perpetrator or had no connection to the case. Such graffiti was not an uncommon sight in Whitechapel. To mitigate potential anti-Semitic tensions, Police Commissioner Charles Warren ordered the removal of the writing before daybreak.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in London. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

Download The GPSmyCity App

Mitre Square (Catherine Eddowes' Murder Site) on Map

Sight Name: Mitre Square (Catherine Eddowes' Murder Site)
Sight Location: London, England (See walking tours in London)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in London, England

Create Your Own Walk in London

Create Your Own Walk in London

Creating your own self-guided walk in London is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
City of London Walking Tour

City of London Walking Tour

The City of London, widely referred to simply as the City (with the capital C), is also colloquially known as the Square Mile, for being just 1.12 sq mi in area. Situated on top of the original Roman center of commerce, called Londinium, established in 43 AD, this neighborhood is the historic and financial heart of the British capital. It has been a major meeting point for international business...  view more

Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.6 Km or 2.9 Miles
Walk around Buckingham Palace

Walk around Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace, the British monarch's official residence, is a must-see for anyone visiting London, but so are the adjacent royal establishments that give a unique window into the royal way of life. On this self-guided walking tour, along with Buckingham Palace and its memorable fountain, you will visit the St. James's private royal residence, the wonderful Queen's Gallery, and...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
South Bank Walking Tour

South Bank Walking Tour

The South Bank is a stretch of the Thames in London that is beautiful to walk through because there are so many iconic and magnificent things to see along the way. A lively and ever-changing area at the heart of London’s cultural scene, it also has the advantage of offering views across the Thames to some of the most famous buildings anywhere. The Palace of Westminster is the major feature in...  view more

Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.8 Km or 3 Miles
London Introduction Walking Tour

London Introduction Walking Tour

After the Roman invasion of 43 AD, the settlement of Londinium came into being. Things went well enough until 61 AD. Then Queen Boudica and her Iceni warriors arrived. They burned the town to ashes. They were not just rowdy tourists. Londinium had died but it rose again and it flourished until the Romans left in the 5th century.

With the Romans gone, Londinium was Anglo-Saxon Lundenwic. Until...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.2 Km or 2.6 Miles
Harry Potter Walking Tour I

Harry Potter Walking Tour I

The arrival of Harry Potter books, followed by tremendously successful Hollywood adaptation, has made London an even more popular destination now with the Harry Potter fans all over the world. The list of attractions in the city associated with Potter’s journeys includes both, newly-invented as well as some long-standing locations.

On Part I of the self-guided Happy Potter Walking Tour, you...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles
Charles Dickens Tour

Charles Dickens Tour

Today's world's literature and mass culture are hardly imaginable without the works of Charles Dickens, recognized as the greatest British novelist of the Victorian era. A pioneer of “cliffhanger” endings, Dickens remains one of the most-read English authors whose writings never go out of print and have been repeatedly adapted to stage, screen and TV.

Dickens was born in...  view more

Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.5 Km or 2.8 Miles

Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip


London Souvenirs: 20 Distinctively British Products for Travelers

London Souvenirs: 20 Distinctively British Products for Travelers

Most visitors to London consider shopping as part of their must-do London experience. From street markets to Victorian arcades to snobbish Sloane Square to busy Oxford Street, there are a host of shops selling items which typically represent this vibrant city. Whether you are shopping for souvenirs...