09/05/2026
One of the best little pubs on our famous Jack the Ripper Pub tour is the White Hart pub at 89 Whitechapel High Street, by Aldgate East.
The pub’s claim to Ripper fame is its close link to one of the prime suspects for the killing spree. A Polish immigrant called Severin Klosowski, later known as George Chapman, worked in a barber shop in the basement of the White Hart. So given the chance we just had to go exploring this piece of history.
The murder of Martha Tabram, who some believe may have been the first victim of Jack the Ripper, took place no more than 50-feet from the back of the pub.
But was he really Jack ?
Severin Klosowski qualified as a junior surgeon in Poland in 1887. Later that year he decided to move to London where he worked as an assistant hairdresser.
The barber shop he worked in was located in the basement of the White Hart. (I did hunt around a bit but couldn’t find where any doorway or staircase could have been located but then again some of the walls have been plastered up since 1888 and the roof has had repairs done.
In 1891, Klosowski emigrated to America with his then wife Lucy Baderski. However, in 1892, Lucy returned to England after a violent argument with Klosowski, who followed her back just a few weeks later. In 1893, Severin started a new relationship with Annie Chapman. They split up shortly after but Severin chose to ‘borrow’ her name, becoming George Chapman.
George Chapman became a suspect in the Ripper murders after he was arrested for the murder of three of his wives in 1903.
This gave rise to suggestions that he could have been the Ripper. However, there were also a number of inconsistencies that led investigators to believe this probably wasn’t their man.
Whether or not he was the Ripper it’s still an interesting basement to go loitering around as it’s part of the old east end. There’s still an eerie atmosphere lingering around.
Why not book one of our tours and come explore the London nobody knows over a fine pint (or 2)
www.thejacktherippertour.com