A Night In The Open - The Homeless of Victorian London 1894.

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  • Опубликовано: 4 окт 2024
  • In August, 1894, a journalist set out to spend a night amongst the homeless on the streets of Victorian London. Moving from Trafalgar Square to Oxford Street, and then down to the Embankment, via the Adelphi Arches, he spoke to any who were willing to tell him about themselves.
    In this video you can hear their stories, accompanied by evocative photographs of those who had fallen through the crack of 19th century society and ended up on the streets.
    An out of work servant, a job-seeking navvy, an itinerant flower seller, as well as the habitual loafers, to whom the benches on the Embankment provided a place to sleep, all got to tell their stories in heart-rending detail.

Комментарии • 80

  • @LucasLucas-ne4xs
    @LucasLucas-ne4xs 2 года назад +41

    Richard Jones, a true story teller. These little gems are just what we need on a cold dark december evening. Those poor souls...

    • @JackTheRipperTours
      @JackTheRipperTours  2 года назад +1

      Very kind of you, Lucas.

    • @Dan-oe3my
      @Dan-oe3my Год назад

      Chimes very well with jack London people of the abyss

  • @shaunpenne1840
    @shaunpenne1840 2 года назад +23

    It's disgusting and disheartening to think that 127 years later that people are living like this in the 21st century! The photos of those down at the heel Victorian folk are so heartbreaking! They say a picture speaks a thousand words. Their faces say so much more!😔😔😔😔

  • @clayallison7321
    @clayallison7321 2 года назад +13

    I really could listen to these stories told by Mr. Jones all night long.

  • @bobbyunavailable
    @bobbyunavailable 2 года назад +9

    You’re a wonderful narrator. I am heartened that your channel is branching out from the Whitechapel murders into Victorian life more generally, amongst the unfortunates and down and outs.

  • @deanrussell2224
    @deanrussell2224 2 года назад +18

    Beautifully narration of a subject that’s unfortunately still very much with us / no idea how in the 21st century… a really well produced piece of work - thank you

  • @weilandiv8310
    @weilandiv8310 2 года назад +7

    A homeless fella I recently sponsored said it's no easier these days either. Waking to an angry policeman sounds like a bad end to restful dreaming.

  • @andybarratt0704
    @andybarratt0704 2 года назад +18

    very poignant story told really well as always richard. how sad that we havent improved things much after all these years. still so many people on the streets struggling.

  • @FrankJGZ
    @FrankJGZ 2 года назад +12

    Well done Richard your stories and your narration are poignant as usual. Although your channel is called "Jack the Ripper Tours" and you do talk about that monster and his murders; you also shine a light of humanity in that dark abyss that is nineteenth-century London. It's been 127 years since the story was first published. The journalist and the people he met and spoke with are long dead. My hope Is that these nameless, faceless and forgotten men and women had their unfortunate situations improved. But if it didn't I hope they met their deaths in peace. God rest their souls 🙏

  • @mhariekissell5116
    @mhariekissell5116 2 года назад +7

    Aw, what a lovely video. Hearing these stories reminds me how truly blessed I am compared to these poor souls. Thank you for sharing this with us x

  • @shereerihari2691
    @shereerihari2691 2 года назад +4

    1894, the year my grandfather was born in Poplar, London. He left for New Zealand, alone, in 1909/10 and never saw his family again. He was part of a group of young men sent here to work by Rev Sedgwick as far as we have been able to find out.

  • @brianbommarito3376
    @brianbommarito3376 2 года назад +7

    So very sad. Many of these people no doubt died in their impoverished condition, being moved back and forth by police constables, both London city and Metropolitan, all their lives like a tennis ball in a court passing between players, because even the space they occupied on a park bench was only temporary.

  • @danielscott712000
    @danielscott712000 2 года назад +4

    I always look forward to your videos. It’s a real pleasure to take a trip into the past with you!

  • @mytzyxptlyx
    @mytzyxptlyx 2 года назад +7

    Most of the comfortable believe in two myths, that they got where they are all by themselves. And that those that didn't make it have only themselves to blame.

    • @EMVelez-qb1zu
      @EMVelez-qb1zu 2 года назад

      We’re all to blame for creating a society that does not take care of one another.

  • @omarhamid3638
    @omarhamid3638 2 года назад +4

    How sad! Credit to the newspaper for telling it in the first place.
    Very evocatively told and you can already imagine yourself walking there and seeing the deep inequality unfold before your eyes. It’s like to think things are better now but I’m sure if you know where to look in London you don’t have to look far to see such unfortunate scenes.
    Thanks Richard 👍

  • @zero_bs_tolerance8646
    @zero_bs_tolerance8646 2 года назад +1

    The more things change, the more they stay the same.
    Thanks.

  • @BlueMountain2017
    @BlueMountain2017 2 года назад +5

    Interesting but sad--nothing has changed. Didn't realize there were so many homeless people back then though I knew there were a lot of poor people who didn't get enough to eat.

  • @kl6772
    @kl6772 2 года назад +2

    Sad,beautifully narrated tale,poor souls.Sadder still,it still happens today.

  • @macgyversmacbook1861
    @macgyversmacbook1861 2 года назад

    This absolutely breaks my heart, especially the pictures of the vagabonds curled up sleeping. There’s a reason the songs Underneath The Arches and While London Sleeps get my eyes all misty

  • @mathewlawton8944
    @mathewlawton8944 2 года назад +3

    Thank you great interesting video.

  • @garethparr9482
    @garethparr9482 2 года назад +2

    Sadly somethings are hardly any better 120 yrs later. Was a sad reflection on society just as it is now!

  • @anthonysheppard9247
    @anthonysheppard9247 2 года назад +2

    Tragic story, truly tragic that nothing has changed every city ,every country has this truly sad story ,

  • @091053JG
    @091053JG 2 года назад +2

    Mr. Jones you are outstanding!

  • @Westeross
    @Westeross 2 года назад +2

    Beautiful Richard…thank you 🇦🇺👍🏻🇦🇺

  • @wdm5211
    @wdm5211 2 года назад +1

    Just discovered this wonderful channel. Thank you for sharing your wealth of knowledge,Richard. It is highly appreciated!

  • @bilindalaw-morley161
    @bilindalaw-morley161 Год назад

    I've commented elsewhere on your story telling but must say again how much I appreciate it. Kudos.
    I'm really noticing your excellent scripts too and really appreciate your skill and work to bring us such high quality productions.
    PS If you ever tire of Tubing (heaven forbid!) you'd do very well at audiobook narration!

  • @TheIndependentLens
    @TheIndependentLens 2 года назад

    Great article and heartbreaking slideshow. I hope those people found peace if not in life then in death.

  • @franceshaypenny8481
    @franceshaypenny8481 2 года назад +1

    The past will always repeat, whether we remember it or not.

  • @igorstein5616
    @igorstein5616 Год назад +1

    Brilliant

  • @ruiseartalcorn
    @ruiseartalcorn 2 года назад +1

    Very sad indeed!!! :(

  • @Robbie7441
    @Robbie7441 2 года назад +1

    Im looking forward to this 👍🏻👍🏻

  • @louisemerriman1079
    @louisemerriman1079 2 года назад

    Richard Jones is my favourite ripporologist and historian. Love these uploads 😀

  • @filmbuff2777
    @filmbuff2777 2 года назад +1

    I like your videos.

  • @victorcontreras9138
    @victorcontreras9138 Год назад

    So sad! In most places I've been, I rarely saw a person sleeping in the streets and hardly never a woman. In this part of London it was a common occurrence every nite.

  • @keepitsimple4629
    @keepitsimple4629 2 года назад +3

    How very, very sad. These souls are better off dead. Now their struggles are over. Then 50 was considered elderly. Now "60 is the new 40".

    • @EMVelez-qb1zu
      @EMVelez-qb1zu 2 года назад

      Better off dead? Why not better off housed, healthy, and alive?

  • @joansavage1857
    @joansavage1857 2 года назад +1

    A wonderful video. Thank you….

  • @nigelsaunders7468
    @nigelsaunders7468 2 года назад +2

    Luv the video Richard , Hope you are well.

  • @caveman3021
    @caveman3021 2 года назад +1

    Very interesting video! Thanks for posting : )

  • @bilindalaw-morley161
    @bilindalaw-morley161 Год назад

    I'm only two n a half minutes in but paused to say, as other commenters have, how infuriating it is that over a century later, nothing has really changed.

  • @michaelpout4798
    @michaelpout4798 2 года назад

    Very sad indeed

  • @jaw0608
    @jaw0608 2 года назад +2

    Man's inhumanity to man...

  • @vespasian606
    @vespasian606 2 года назад +2

    Not addressing poverty and homelessness is not necessarily a crime if that country simply doesn't have the means. But this was and still is a country relatively well off in world terms. Unfortunately just as in the victorian era we seem set on building an economy around cheap labour and poor working conditions. For a lot of people the result of this is an existence that hangs by a thread just as it did then. This is the real issue. All it can take is a change in domestic circumstances or redundancy and then the thread breaks with telling results.

  • @JoannaLamont333
    @JoannaLamont333 2 года назад +1

    Another lovely video. I have only one complaint Richard. Since when are ladies of 50 regarded as very old? 😂

    • @JackTheRipperTours
      @JackTheRipperTours  2 года назад +1

      Well spotted, Joanna! As someone of advanced years myself I noticed that, and said it through gritted teeth!

    • @JoannaLamont333
      @JoannaLamont333 2 года назад

      @@JackTheRipperTours 😂😂😂

    • @EMVelez-qb1zu
      @EMVelez-qb1zu 2 года назад

      50 was apparently “elderly” at that time since the average life expectancy was much shorter.

  • @johnreed8336
    @johnreed8336 2 года назад +4

    Shameful , shameful , shameful .
    We all need constant vigilance of the
    political class or else these dark days will all too willingly return !

    • @EMVelez-qb1zu
      @EMVelez-qb1zu 2 года назад +1

      They are already here. It’s never changed. Where have you been?

  • @kashesan
    @kashesan 2 года назад +2

    "Elderly women of fifty years old..."

  • @Oakleaf700
    @Oakleaf700 2 года назад +1

    Read ''People of the abyss'' and weep.

  • @TheIndependentLens
    @TheIndependentLens 2 года назад

    Who is the journalist?

  • @ianclarke3627
    @ianclarke3627 2 года назад +1

    Thank our lucky stars we didn't live back then . Although in a way we did , our ancestors passing on their Genes to us must of experienced this degradation. I don't think anyone in my family tree was rich back then , some of my relatives came to England around the time of the potato famine in the 1850's . Yes I count my lucky stars .

  • @Wolfietherrat
    @Wolfietherrat 2 года назад

    Our Queen Elisabeth II saw to it this ended

  • @jespermortensen3760
    @jespermortensen3760 2 года назад

    God weekend

  • @DoctorBastard
    @DoctorBastard 2 года назад +3

    Wouldn't it be nice to say our homeless situation has improved... But alas no.

    • @leedsman54
      @leedsman54 2 года назад +1

      I would say it has improved greatly. I know homelessness is a terrible situation but at least there is some help these days.