London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Kensington 1911
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]
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The nature of the work given out to the homeworkers in the 149 homes on the register is as follows:—
| Nature of Work. | No. of Premises. |
|---|---|
| Tailoring | 39 |
| Ironing | 31 |
| Outfitting | 17 |
| Bootmaking | 33 |
| Dressmaking, Blousemaking | 12 |
| Shirt making | 1 |
| Waistcoat making | 7 |
| Upholstery | 2 |
| Millinery | 1 |
| Brush making | 1 |
| Lace mending | 2 |
| Fur making | 1 |
| Embroiderer | 2 |
| Total | 149 |
In 20 instances in the course of inspection, addresses were found incorrectly given, or the
outworker had left or given up work.
| Nature of Room used for Work. | Condition of Rooms. | Total Number of Rooms. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clean. | Fairly Clean. | Dirty. | ||
| Rooms used for work only | 26 | 4 | 0 | 30 |
| „ for work and as living rooms | 68 | 14 | 1 | 83 |
| „ for work and as bed and living rooms | 29 | 7 | 0 | 36 |
| Totals | 123 | 25 | 1 | 149 |
The sanitary defects remedied in the 149 homes were as follows:—
| Rooms cleansed | 1 |
| W.C.'s found defective and remedied | 1 |
| Number of Defects Remedied | 2 |
On the whole the homeworkers, many of whom are women, belong to a respectable thrifty
class and keep their rooms in a clean and tidy state. Their homes compare favourably with those
of the lower labouring classes, and instances of persons in great poverty carrying on work for an
insufficient wage in insanitary surroundings are in Kensington practically unknown. The foreign
outworkers are for the most employed in registered workshops which are regularly inspected, and
the practice of letting out sittings in workshops, which leads to grave abuses in certain districts,
does not prevail in the Borough of Kensington.
Infectious Disease.—Infectious disease occurred in 8 premises where home work was carried
on. In no instance was it found necessary to make an Order under Section 109 to stop the work,
nor to prosecute under Sections 109-110 as the infected persons were immediately removed to
hospital, and disinfection carried out. In no case had there been any contact with the work
carried on.