Hanbury Street: Where Annie Chapman Died

England, London · United Kingdom · Urban site · Scare 3/5

In the back yard of number 29 on this street, Annie Chapman was found early on the morning of 8 September 1888.

In the back yard of number 29 on this street, Annie Chapman was found early on the morning of 8 September 1888. The house stood well into the following century but was demolished when the brewery next door expanded. There is no plaque, no memorial stone, nothing. That is a deliberate choice. The borough authorities have consistently refused to put up signs at the murder sites, precisely to avoid attracting murder tourism. Today Hanbury Street is a quiet side street, a stone's throw from the market and food stalls of Brick Lane.

There are almost no ghost stories attached to the site, and the few that exist are recent inventions from the tourist trade. We leave them out. This is a stop where we do not tell a ghost story, but explain why we refrain. The real weight lies in the silence: the demolished house, the missing plaque, the ordinary street where a woman died and the city chose not to make a spectacle of it. Stand still for a moment in the ordinary. Sometimes respect is frightening enough.

FAQ

How scary is Hanbury Street: Where Annie Chapman Died?

Hanbury Street: Where Annie Chapman Died has a scare factor of 3/5 according to Haunted Places’ verified ratings.

Where is Hanbury Street: Where Annie Chapman Died located?

Hanbury Street: Where Annie Chapman Died is in England, London, United Kingdom.

Image: Matt Hucke · CC BY 2.5 · Wikimedia Commons