Mitre Square is a small square in the Aldgate area of the City of London, England. It is historically notable as the site of one of the Canonical Five murders attributed to Jack the Ripper.
Location and Description Located in the eastern part of the City of London, Mitre Square lies just south of Aldgate High Street and east of Duke's Place. Historically, it was a somewhat secluded area, surrounded by commercial buildings, warehouses, and passages. Today, while still a relatively small and quiet space, its surroundings have been significantly redeveloped, featuring modern office blocks.
History The square's name likely derives from the former Mitre Tavern, which once stood nearby. Its layout and character have changed considerably over the centuries.
Mitre Square gained lasting notoriety on the morning of Sunday, September 30, 1888, when it became the scene of the murder of Catherine Eddowes. Eddowes was the fourth of the "Canonical Five" victims of Jack the Ripper. Her mutilated body was discovered in the southwest corner of the square by PC Edward Watkins at 1:44 AM, shortly after her release from Bishopsgate police station. This murder occurred less than an hour after the murder of Elizabeth Stride in Berner Street (now Henriques Street), marking the "double event" that significantly intensified public fear and media coverage of the Ripper killings.
The isolated nature of the square and its dim lighting at the time were factors that likely allowed the killer to operate without immediate detection. Following the murder, the square was extensively searched by police, and the investigation involved numerous witnesses and forensic examinations.
Present Day Mitre Square today is a public space, but its historical character has largely been altered by post-war reconstruction and modern development. The exact spot where Catherine Eddowes' body was found is now incorporated into the footprint of a modern office building, though the general area of the square remains accessible. While little visible trace of its 1888 appearance remains, its connection to one of London's most infamous unsolved mysteries continues to draw interest.