Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras, London, Borough of]
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65
Underground Booms.
From special weekly returns made by the Temporary Inspectors 7474 basement
rooms were measured up and particulars taken of occupation, use, &c.;
this number practically includes all the basement dwelling rooms in tenement
houses in the Borough.
The enquiries extended over a period from November, 1901, to June, 1902,
as the occupation of these rooms is constantly changing; some of those rooms
that were illegally occupied at the time of enquiry may be legally occupied, or
unoccupied now.
I append a table showing the number of streets and houses where inquiries were made, also the number and use of the rooms, approximately:—
Number of Streets. | Number of Houses. | Number of basement rooms. | Occupied for sleeping. | Occupied for other purposes. | Unoccupied. | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Occupied for sleeping. | Illegally so occupied. | Legally so occupied. | |||||
129 | 4480 | 7474 | 2324 | 1077 | 1247 | 4615 | 535 |
Smoke Shafts.
There are 215 smoke shafts on the register requiring periodical observation.
Under the present mode of smoke inspection the shafts attached to bakehouses
escape observation. The ordinary time of observation is between 10.30 a.m.
and 5.30 p.m., during which time very little baking is done. The smoke
problem in St. Pancras will always be a difficult one to deal with owing to the
number of railways and railway sidings in the Borough.
I am, &c.,
W. G. Auger.