Spitalfields in London is named after the medieval priory and hospital of St Mary Spital, founded in 1197 on the east side of Bishopsgate. The name is a contraction of "hospital" and "fields," referring to the surrounding open fields owned by the religious institution, which was one of the largest in medieval England.
Spitalfields takes its name from the hospital and priory, St. Mary's Spittel which was founded in 1197. Lying in the heart of the East End, it is an area known for its spirit and a strong sense of community.
The Goat is a symbol for the waves of immigrants who found sanctuary in Spitalfields. Spitalfields derived its name from the hospital and priory, St Mary's Spittel, founded in 1197. Explore this charming museum here.
Whitechapel was named after the Chapel of St. Mary Matfelon, a white building which stood on what is now Whitechapel Road. Spitalfields got its name from the area around St. Mary Spital, a religious house founded by Walter and Rosina Brune in 1197.
LONDON Walking Tour - SPITALFIELDS , History of Architecture
Where in London was Jack the Ripper?
In the autumn of 1888, a serial killer murdered five women in Whitechapel in the East End of London. The murderer was never identified, but became known as Jack the Ripper. A print from the 1830s showing Whitechapel Road.
There's a herd of 21 elephants in Spitalfields at the moment β one adult and 20 orphaned juveniles. If you're worried about elephant dung, these are bronze elephants, sculptures to raise awareness of elephant poaching in Africa by the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.
GOAT = π? The term stands for βThe Greatest Of All Timeβ and it used to refer to a person or thing that is considered to be the best ever in a particular field! π So, don't get confused when you receive a goat emoji π, because it means that you're doing something very well!
Many London areas offer the perfect blend of privacy and luxury, making it the ideal place for celebrities to reside. Holland Park, Hampstead, Richmond and Chelsea all feature residences for millionaires and celebrities.
The Barbadian singer, who became a mother of two in August 2023, lived in the luxe suburb of St Johns Wood, which is teeming with celebrities. Kate Moss, Bill Nighy, The Rolling Stones' Keith Richards, and Sir Paul McCartney all count themselves as Rihanna's former neighbours.
Annual total crime rate in Spitalfields & Banglatown (ward) is 303 per thousand resident population. This can be rated as 7 out of 10 or high crime level compared to other wards in England and Wales.
Brick Lane was in existence by the 1500s as a field path in open countryside outside the City of London, east of the boundary of the medieval Augustinian Priory of St Mary Spital, which gave Spitalfields its name. Originally the street took its name from the brick kilns first brought here by early Flemish settlers.
Who owns Spitalfields Market? It was acquired by the City of London in 1920. In 2005, a redevelopment programme split the market from Old Spitalfields market which is owned by Ashkenazy Acquisitions. Read more about our history on our history page, Wikipedia or British History Online.
Borough Market has a history spanning over a millenium and is widely considered London's oldest retail and wholesale food market. It's been operating at its current site since 1756. With over 100 stalls covering about 4.5 acres, Borough Market is also one of the largest food markets in the capital.
Spitalfields Market in Tower Hamlets was a rural trading site in open fields in the 1600s. It was named after the medieval hospital of St Mary Spital, historically referred to as Spittel or Spitel. Archaeological excavations on the site between 1991 and 2007 revealed cemeteries stretching back to Roman times.
The idea for the sculpture comes from a tradition of displaying British military strength by creating trophies from weapons and armour. This dragon has been created from parts of armour and other objects that represent the 10 institutions that were once housed at the Tower.
According to legend, the elephant knows when the end is near. Rather than trying to stick with the herd and potentially slowing them down, the elephant heads for the elephant graveyard. Here he can not only die in peace, but his descendants can easily locate him and visit his remains in the future.
Forensic scientists say they have finally fingered the identity of Jack the Ripper, the notorious serial killer who terrorized the streets of London more than a century ago. Genetic tests published this week point to Aaron Kosminski, a 23-year-old Polish barber and a prime police suspect at the time.
Developed by John Flower and Gowan Dean after 1655, Flower and Dean Street deteriorated to what was thought to be a dangerous slum and was demolished in 1892, to be replaced by Rothschild Buildings. These in their turn were replaced in 1984 by the games area of the Flower and Dean Estate.
Did Queen Victoria do anything publicly about Jack the Ripper? Her grandson, Prince Albert Victor, was considered a suspect and the situation in the East End was dire.