What I am about to tell you is true.

In the late summer and autumn of 1888, in the poorest area of London, a murderer stalked his victims in the night. He became known to history as Jack the Ripper.

This is "The Ten Bells" public house in Whitechapel. It is a matter of record that at least three of Jack the Ripper's known victims were regular drinkers in this pub. The building has hardly changed in over 100 years.

Today is the anniversary of the murder of the first of Jack's victims - Polly Nichols, 31 Aug 1888.

On the night of Polly's murder, the rain was sharp and frequent and was accompanied by peals of thunder and flashes of lightning and the sky on that night was turned red by the occasion of two huge fires down in Shadwell dry dock.

Polly was last seen alive round the corner from the pub talking to a friend, Emily Holland, who was returning from looking at the fires.

It was 2.30am and she was touting for business. Polly was a prostitute; the going rate was 3 pennies - the price of a large glass of gin in any local pub or the price of a bed in the doss house. She was desperate for a client; any client. But the streets were quiet.

Who knows how long Jack was standing, watching, waiting. Judging his moment. In the shadows.

Perhaps he stood in the doorway where I took this photograph.

And then he moved out of the shadows and approached...

....makes you think doesn't it?

Pleasant dreams tonight......

:) a terrible story. garysktam · 2007-08-31: 10:03

thanks alot.. I already have problems sleeping.. no really .. it is a terrible part of history .. the picture you did well to add to the spooky ... well done!!! ????? · 2007-08-31: 10:48

Thanks for this - great to have these areas in London shrouded in so much history still standing. Morbid though it is, it reminds us how little we have progressed as a society and how fascinated we are with things past and delude ourselves that we are better now than we were back then. Interesting shot regardless of the background to the building! Ed1973 · 2007-08-31: 10:57

Scary....the shot conveys this very well! ????? · 2007-08-31: 11:13

great picture but makes you think indeed, Even more when you watch the news lately.... eljapa · 2007-08-31: 12:12

Oh... Great history, liked the scary tone. vmathewk · 2007-08-31: 12:57

:-O Scary! Brrrrrr... mariovirga · 2007-08-31: 13:10

great idea - that "bloody" effect really makes photo dramatic. The story you told us is more sad than scary. Well, maybe that's just professional point of view... burbulz · 2007-08-31: 15:02

I had to lough for a second, when I`ve seen the title and than the red touch you added to the shot (which works very well!) THe whole building seen to swim in blood... If you meant to make this post dramatic and scary, you`ve succeded! For me, the most fascinating fact in your story is, that there is a very good chance Jack waited for his victim right exactly there where you were standing! Stunning story and pic! longimanus · 2007-08-31: 15:46

119 years ago and the building looks as bad as it probably did that night. Nice pic. tonyinmontana · 2007-09-01: 00:44

Impressive and oryginal.. It's also creepy;-) swetrwpaski · 2007-09-01: 02:35

very thoughtful, great shot fionarobinson · 2007-09-01: 05:30

Nice idea of the red at the bottom. RodolpheDeus · 2007-09-01: 08:12

Coool shot..."From the hell J." Nachogarcia · 2007-09-01: 15:44