An Eerie Tour Ripped from History

Our Ride

Jack the Ripper. Have you heard of him? You may think you know the story but nobody really does.

Aaron and I went on a "Jack the Ripper and the Hauntings of London" tour last night and discovered a dark past to London's rich history. We drove through the city on an open top bus just as the sun was setting. Our first stop was Smithfield, a public execution site in the 13-1500s. There's a memorial there for William Wallace (Braveheart), where the leader in the Scottish Wars for Independence was hung, drawn and quartered when he was captured.

Sir William Wallace Memorial

We continued East along the river and stopped when we arrived at the Whitechapel district of London. This is where we got off and continued on foot just as the night was settling in.

It was here that in 1888 five brutal murders were carried out over the course of two and half months. Each separate crime had similarities, and so it was likely a serial killer was on the loose. Terror spread like wild fire through the streets of London, and still to this day the haunting eeriness lives on.

The story of Jack the Ripper is still popular to this day for a few reasons. First, the killer's identity is still unknown. There have been multiple suspects but none ever had enough evidence to have charges brought against them.

Secondly, it was one of the first serial killer stories to be consumed in a media frenzy. There were letters from those claiming to be the murderer and a kidney supposedly from a victim was sent to a high ranking official all feeding the flame.

Whitechapel church sets a haunting scene

Lastly, the crimes were brutal and bold. The ripper murdered and cut open his victims on public streets- only one murder happened behind a closed door. He was calculated and precise with his mutilations even taking parts of victims with him. In one instance, there is an account of a police officer walking by an area, and then 20 minutes later discovering a body.

How did such brutal killings happen virtually unseen? And how was no one ever caught? This is the mystery and fascination that lies behind Jack the Ripper. Ironically, he is famous for being unknown.

And this is why even after all these years, "Ripperologists" take groups of people on nightly tours to walk the streets that Jack the Ripper walked and learn about the haunting, obscure past that he left on London's streets 126 years ago.