From the archives: The clearance of London’s worst slum, 1843 - 1846

St Giles google

Source: Google

Letters and news items chart the construction of a new road through the centre of the notorious St Giles slum, the “haunt of the drunkard and the debauchee”

St Giles in the 21st century is a polished commercial district in London’s West End, but in the 18th and 19th centuries it was one of the capital’s worst slums. The densely populated district was known as a notorious “rookery”, a word borrowed from the term for bird nests to describe the area’s chaotic maze of narrow alleys and overhanging buildings.

Already registered? Login here

To continue enjoying Building.co.uk, sign up for free guest access

Existing subscriber? LOGIN

 

Stay at the forefront of thought leadership with news and analysis from award-winning journalists. Enjoy company features, CEO interviews, architectural reviews, technical project know-how and the latest innovations.

  • Limited access to building.co.uk
  • Breaking industry news as it happens
  • Breaking, daily and weekly e-newsletters

Get your free guest access  SIGN UP TODAY

Gated access promo

Subscribe now for unlimited access

 

Subscribe to Building today and you will benefit from:

  • Unlimited access to all stories including expert analysis and comment from industry leaders
  • Our league tables, cost models and economics data
  • Our online archive of over 10,000 articles
  • Building magazine digital editions
  • Building magazine print editions
  • Printed/digital supplements

Subscribe now for unlimited access.

View our subscription options and join our community