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
Islington 1910
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Islington, Metropolitan Borough of]
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217
[1910
The following tables show the comparative general conditions relative to the basement, ground floor, and upper storey kitchens when inspected in the years 1907, 1908, 1909 1910:—
| 1907— | Total. | Satisfactory | Unsatisfactory. | Percentage Unsatisfactory. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basement | 88 | 41 | 47 | 50 per cent |
| Ground floor | 431 | 288 | 143 | 30 „ |
| Upper storey | 74 | 63 | 11 | 15 „ |
| 1908— | ||||
| Basement | 134 | 80 | 54 | 40 „ |
| Ground floor | 438 | 339 | 99 | 23 „ |
| Upper storey | 79 | 73 | 6 | 7 „ |
| 1909— | ||||
| Basement | 109 | 69 | 40 | 37 „ |
| Ground floor | 355 | 300 | 55 | 16 „ |
| Upper storey | 66 | 65 | 1 | 2 „ |
| 1910— | ||||
| Basement | 84 | 55 | 29 | 34 „ |
| Ground floor | 342 | 281 | 61 | 17 „ |
| Upper storey | 68 | 65 | 3 | 4 „ |
The basement kitchens show very little improvement in the numbers registered as
unsatisfactory, because, as I mentioned in my previous report, the structural conditions
prevent proper light and ventilation.
In regard to the possible alteration of these premises I have given some consideration
to the other parts of the house when making an inspection ; and it appears that at least 40
per cent, of them could be altered without serious inconvenience or expense to the owners
and occupiers. There are, in some instances, upper floors at present disused, or merely used
for storage purposes, that might be converted into kitchens at a comparatively small cost.
In others a yard, or garden at the rear offers ample accommodation for the erection of a
lean-to kitchen, well lighted and ventilated.
In the remaining 60 per cent, the facilities for alteration are not so good as in the
previous examples, though in no case does it appear impossible. But the responsibility of
carrying this improvement into effect on a time limit of, say, three years, should fall upon
the owners, with the necessary proviso that for the future no premises would be let for the
purposes of preparation or storage of food for sale that were not structurally in compliance
with the regulations laid down.
I would respectfully submit to you that this is not the drastic and unnecessary alteration
that it would appear to persons who are unacquainted with the facts. In my previous
reports I have drawn attention to the very unsatisfactory conditions of these places, and
can only add that as regards light and ventilation the men and women in them work under
conditions that would not be tolerated in a well-ordered stable. In reference to the percentage
of ground floor and upper storey kitchens reported unsatisfactory, the inspections made
during the year have been chiefly those places previously unfavourably reported on, in
preference to those places known to be clean and satisfactory. If these had been included
there would have been a marked increase in the satisfactory number of upper storey kitchens.