Disorderly Women in Eighteenth-Century London

This is the first full-length study of prostitution in London during the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. It is a compelling account, exposing the real lives of the capital's prostitutes, and also shedding light on London society as a whole, its policing systems and its attitudes towards the female urban poor. Drawing on the archives of London's parishes, jury records, reports from Southwark gaol as well as other sources which have been overlooked by historians, it provides a fascinating study for all those interested in Georgian society.

Tony Henderson

1. Introduction.  2. The Experience of Prostitution.  3. The Geography of Prostitution in London.  4. Prostitution and the Law.  5. Policing the Streets.  6. Policing Disorderly Houses.  7. Attitudes towards Prostitution.  8. Conclusion. Bibliography