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31
PUTNEY AND ROEHAMPTON.
Report on the Sanitary Condition of Putney and Roehampton, for
the year 1856. By Mr.R. Harland Whiteman.
TO THE BOARD OF WORKS FOR THE WANDSWORTH DISTRICT.
Gentlemen,
The value of any science is usually estimated according to its
tendency to promote improvement, and to secure the well-being and happiness
of mankind. The science of sanitation is now only beginning to
be so estimated. In its application, under the Metropolis Local Management
Act, many difficulties have to be encountered, prejudices overcome,
vested interests conciliated, and judgment and decision exercised upon
matters keenly controverted on all sides. The Health Officer, then, whose
duty it is to watch over the sanitary welfare of the locality to which he
has been appointed, and to suggest measures of improvement for (hat
locality based upon the science referred to, has need to possess a considerable
share of patience, together with no little determination of purpose.
The calm approval of his conscience must for long time stand him in the
place of popularity; for the measure with which he is associated cannot at
present be said to be of the most popular character, nor will it, perhaps,
become so, to any great extent, until a few years of patient exertion on
the part of those to whom has been given the office of executing the
behests of the Legislature shall have fully demonstrated its utility. Some
very unsentimental, but, nevertheless, important truths have yet to be told
with respect to the best means of securing the public health on a permanent
and satisfactory basis; and it will now become my duty, in this
report, to place these truths, so far as they concern my own sub-district,
in as clear and comprehensive a manner before the Board as the space I
can command will admit of.
I. Natural and Acquired Features of the Sub-district—its
Extent—Soil—Density of Population—Past and Present
State of Health —Longevity of its Inhabitants—Progress
of Improvement, &c.
In some very ancient records of the manor of Wimbledon the parish of
Putney is stated to contain 94 yard-lands, or 1,410 acres, but it is
described, in a survey made in the reign of Henry VII., to consist of
1,239 acres, and at a still later date (1612) of 1,630 acres. The present
area, in modern statute acres, is 2,176. Although there is considerable
waste land in the parish, there is much that has been brought under
excellent cultivation by the market gardeners of the district. The soil is