The historic environment - 2 Knowledge, selection and use of sources for…

The idea

To investigate Whitechapel effectively, historians rely on a variety of local sources that provide specific details about the period and its issues. Housing and employment records, alongside council records and census returns, reveal the dense overcrowding and transient nature of the population. Charles Booth’s survey offers a detailed, colour-coded map of poverty levels street by street. Workhouse records detail the destitute seeking relief, while local police records (like H Division logs) and coroners’ reports provide insight into crime, policing challenges, and causes of death. Photographs capture the physical environment, and London newspapers, such as the East London Observer, reflect local attitudes and report on daily events, though they may sensationalise issues to boost sales.

What earns the marks

• Identify specific local sources such as Charles Booth's survey or census returns.
• Explain how housing, employment, and council records provide evidence of living and working conditions.
• Use local police records and coroners' reports to investigate crime and mortality in Whitechapel.
• Evaluate the utility of London newspapers and photographs for understanding local attitudes and the physical environment.
• Connect workhouse records to the broader issue of poverty and the reliance on poor relief.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Confusing local London newspapers with national newspapers.

  Put it right: Ensure you distinguish between local papers like the East London Observer and national ones like The Times, as their audiences and purposes differ.

• Assuming Charles Booth's survey is purely objective.

  Put it right: Recognise that while Booth's survey is highly detailed, it still reflects middle-class Victorian judgements about the poor.

• Treating photographs as unedited reality.

  Put it right: Victorian photographs were often staged or framed to convey a specific message about poverty.

Exam tips

• When asked about a specific enquiry, explicitly name a relevant local source, such as H Division police records for crime.
• Always link the type of source to the specific information it can provide, e.g., census returns for tracking population density.
• Consider the limitations of local sources, such as missing records or the subjective nature of newspaper reporting.