Any discussion of prostitution in the 19th century must begin by saying we have no idea of the numbers involved. In the 19th century, many people used it more widely, to refer to women who were living with men outside marriage, or women who had had illegitimate children, or women who perhaps had relations with men, but for pleasure rather than money.
Certainly at least half this figure of 50, women consisted of unmarried women living with a partner, while only 20, referred to what we would today call prostitutes. His likely route would have taken him past several areas known for streetwalkers, so he may have passed many working women.
.jpg "Teen girls Bridge")
But short of accosting each one, it seems likely he based his judgements on appearance: women who dressed or behaved in ways men considered inappropriate were deemed to be whores.
From the little information we have, we know that most women who earned their living from selling sex were working class, the majority taking up with men from their own socio-economic background before going out on the streets.
The more fortunate, usually in the West End and the prosperous suburbs, worked as prostitutes for a few years, while saving up to get married.
