Uncover The Salvation Army's history with our Whitechapel Walkabout

 
 


 When the weather gets warmer, why not revisit the Army's roots on the Whitechapel Walkabout! The Whitechapel Walkabout allows people to follow in William Booth's footsteps and discover the origins of The Salvation Army.

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[Map credit: shaun@studioscamps.co.uk]

Click on the map to see full route on Google maps.

Starting point: Whitechapel Underground Station

1. The Blind Beggar Public House: In June 1865, William Booth addressed a group of mission workers outside this pub.

2. and 3. The Bust And The Statue: The bust of William Booth was unveiled in 1927 and the statue commemorated the 150th anniversary of his birth.

4. 220 Whitechapel Road: In 1867 The Christian Mission purchased the Eastern Star beer house for £120. This became the Mission's first headquarters.

5. The Skittle Alley: This car park was once the site of the Alexandra Hall, a converted skittle alley. William Booth preached here in 1867 and 1870.

6. The Dancing Academy: 23 New Road bears a blue plaque indicating that on Sunday 3 September 1865, Professor Orson's Dancing Academy was used for the first indoor Christian Mission meeting.

7. 102 Christian Street: Elizabeth Cottrill, a soldier at Whitechapel Corps, lived here in 1881 and housed saved prostitutes. This signalled the unofficial beginning of the Army's rescue work.

8. The Ebenezer Hall: From 1870 to 1880, The Christian Mission used the hall (situated on the left-hand side of Fieldgate Street) for meetings.

9. The People's Mission Hall:   The Christian Mission purchased 20-22 Whitechapel Road in 1870 for Sunday worship as a new headquarters. By 1893 the building housed a men's hostel and men's social work headquarters.

10. The Effingham Theatre: From 1867 to 1870, William Booth added the theatre to his Sunday preaching stations. The site is now a car showroom.

11. The Pavilion Theatre: This theatre was used for an eight-week period when the Effingham Theatre was rebuilt.

12. The Tent: On Sunday 2 July 1865, William Booth led meetings here in a large tent on a disused Quaker burial ground. From this beginning grew the worldwide work of The Salvation Army.

13. Hanbury Street Rescue Home: The site, now a block of flats, was the Army's first rescue home.

Download a complete copy of the Whitechapel Walkabout map