Mayhew points out that Tom-All-Alones or rookeries such
as at St. Giles have a population of thieves, poor
vagrants, and the honest poor who worked in omnibus
and cab-yards [carriages], factories, etc., as well
as prostitutes and cadgers ["
London Labour and the
London Poor" Volume IV ("Those That Will Not Work,
comprising Prostitutes, Thieves, Swindlers and Beggars,
by several contributors"), Dover Publications, Inc.,
New York, 1968, p. 299]. In addition,
Mayhew provides a good physical description:
-
"...with an almost endless intricacy of courts
and yards crossing each other, rendering the
place like a rabbit-warren." [Mayhew Vol. IV, p. 299]
.
-
"... with the connected backyards and low walls
in the rear of the street, afforded and easy
escape to any thief when pursued by officers of
justice." [Mayhew Vol. IV, p. 299]
.
-
"In one of the cellars was a large cesspool,
covered in such a way that a stranger would
likely step into it. In the same cellar was a
hole about two feet square, leading to the next
cellar, and thence by a similar hole into the
cellar of a house in [another street]."
[Mayhew Vol. IV, p. 300]
.
-
"...lodging-houses for theieves, prostitutes,
and cadgers. [...] If the beds were occupied
six nights by the same parties, and all dues
paid, the seventh night (Sunday) was not
charged for." [Mayhew Vol. IV, p. 299]
.
-
"...often from twelve to thirty persons
lodged in a room. At the back of this
public-house is a yard, on the right-hand
side of which is an apartment then
occupied by thirty-eight men, women, and
children, all lying indiscriminately on the
floor." [Mayhew Vol. IV, p. 301]
.
-
Prostitutes (lorettes or licentious women
or Cyprians or Paphians) could be cheap or
higher-classed. Cheap prostitutes (transpontine
women) often picked up her customers
indiscriminately at such places as
Haymarket,
Burlington Arcade or the
New Cut prominade.
Higher class prostitutes were found at
"night houses"
such as "Kate Hamilton's" or other such gathering
places and supper-rooms (restaurants), cafés
or parks.