Bow St, formerly known as Thieving Lane, a place of the lowest order and filth

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Bow St, formerly known as Thieving Lane, a place of the lowest order and filth

Bow St, formerly known as Thieving Lane, a place of the lowest order and filth. Date: 1807

Mary Evans Picture Library makes available wonderful images created for people to enjoy over the centuries

Media ID 20951651

© Mary Evans Picture Library

1807 Filth Lane Lowest Order Thieving

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EDITORS COMMENTS
Bow St, formerly known as Thieving Lane, presents a stark and unsettling image of London life in 1807. The narrow, winding street, located in the heart of the city, was notorious for its squalor and criminal activity. The dark, damp alleyways were home to the city's most notorious thieves, pickpockets, and beggars. The air was thick with the smell of filth and decay, as refuse and waste littered the streets. In this print, we see a chaotic scene unfolding. A group of rough-looking men gather around a table, engaged in a heated argument. One man brandishes a pistol, while another clutches a knife. A woman, dressed in tattered clothes, cries out in despair, her arms outstretched. A child, barefoot and clad only in rags, clings to her skirt. In the background, a group of men can be seen playing dice, while others haggle over the sale of stolen goods. Despite the law enforcement presence, in the form of the Bow Street Runners, who were famous for their successful efforts in reducing crime in the area, Thieving Lane remained a place of danger and vice. The poverty and desperation that drove people to engage in criminal activity were deeply entrenched, and the cycle of crime and squalor continued unabated. This print serves as a stark reminder of the harsh realities of life in London during this period, and the challenges faced by those who lived in the city's poorest and most crime-ridden areas.

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