Although covered in a cloak of anonymity, Jack the Ripper remains the world's most notorious serial killer. He is also as much a part of London's old East End as the Blitz, the Kray twins, jellied eels, and West Ham FC. So it's something of a surprise that a film about the monster of Whitechapel was filmed in Prague. According to set designer Martin Childs, the decision was made to film in the Czech capital because the London of Jack the Ripper had all but disappeared (via The Guardian). Yet there was a problem with Prague. Childs explained, "None of it looks like London when you began to examine it; it just looks old."
An alternative plan was hatched to build a complete Whitechapel set on a field located just outside of Prague in the small village of Orech. Borrowed cobblestones from the streets of Prague added a touch of old-world authenticity but the rest of the 9,000-square-yard set was built from scratch. In the official "From Hell" production notes, Childs explained, "We couldn't find anyplace here that resembled Whitechapel from all angles, so we ended up building it in the middle of a field. It became the unexpected highlight of the entire enterprise." He added that due to restoration work in Prague they "were able to borrow cobblestones from the city." Castle Hradek, Opocno Castle, Castle Minisek, Prague Castle, Castle Kacina, and Castle Doksany were also used to shoot scenes. Queen Victoria talking in Buckingham Palace, the Freemasons meeting, the Elephant Man cameo, and the mortuary examinations were all shot in these stately and historic locations.
