What is house of ill?

repute

A house of ill-repute is an archaic term for a brothel or a place where prostitution occurs. In the past, these establishments were often located in the poorest and most deprived parts of cities and towns where they went largely unnoticed. However, they were illegal and could be subject to raids from the police, which would often result in arrests and the closure of the establishment. The workers who worked in these houses were typically women who were forced to do so due to a lack of economic opportunity or social support. Today, the practice of prostitution is still illegal in many countries, but in others, it is regulated or decriminalized.