Angel Alley was a narrow passage which ran north-south from Wentworth Street to Whitechapel High Street..
Angel Alley, located east of George Yard, has a long history dating to at least 1676. Its name originates from the Angel Inn, which once stood on the southwest corner of the alley, adjacent to Whitechapel High Street. In the 19th century, the alley gained notoriety for its Irish tenants who successfully resisted rent collectors for extended periods.
The northern section of Angel Alley underwent significant redevelopment after the construction of Wildermuth’s Lodging House in 1893. This redevelopment effectively shortened the alley and turned it into a dead-end. Around the same time, it appears that the Angel Inn ceased its operations.
Angel Alley is now best recognised as the home of the anarchist ’Freedom’ press and bookshop. Since 2007, it has been incorporated into the Whitechapel Art Gallery as a side entrance.
