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
Battersea 1937
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Battersea Borough]
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The following table gives details of the outworkers' premises in the Borough, most of which are visited by the female sanitary inspector. The figures in brackets indicate the premises visited by the male inspector, which are included in the totals shown.
| Trade. | Number on Register. | Persons Employed. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premises. | Workrooms | ||
| Blousemaker | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Bootmaker | 14 (14) | 21 (21) | 24 (24) |
| Dressmaker | 32 | 32 | 37 |
| Embroiderer | 25 | 25 | 29 |
| Fancy goods | 13 | 13 | 13 |
| Fancy boxes | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Fine needlework | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Glovemaker | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Knitting and crochet | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Tailor | 60 (44) | 70 (54) | 108 (91) |
| Underclothing | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Other trades | 19(2) | 19(2) | 21 (4) |
| Female Inspector | 121 | 121 | 132 |
| Male „ | 60 | 77 | 119 |
| Total | 181 | 198 | 251 |
There were 43 new outworkers' premises added to the register
and 39 were removed, there being thus an increase of 4 in the
number registered.
There were 721 inspections of outworkers' premises, of which
536 were by the female inspector. Two intimation notices were
served for sanitary defects found on inspection.
Three cases of infectious disease occurred in these premises
during 1937, and the usual precautionary measures were taken to
prevent the spread of infection.
Bakehouses.
There were 55 bakehouses in Battersea at the end of 1937, at
three of which no person other than the proprietor was employed.
Of this total 47 use power and are therefore technically factories.
Fourteen of the 55 are underground bakehouses. Additions to and
removals from the list during 1937 were:—
New bakehouses Factories—3.
„ ,, Workshops—1.
Premises closed Factories—2 (1 underground and
1 above ground)
„ „ Workshops—2 (above ground).