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 1893
Thirty-eighth annual report on the health and sanitary condition of the Parish of St. Mary, Islington
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so, it follows as a matter of course that the overcrowding in the oneroomed
tenements is a still greater evil for here the occupants cook,
work, dress, and sleep—in fact, live, move, and have their being.
Having these facts in view, the following table is of great
interest:-
Table VI.
| Rooms in Tenements. | No. of over-crowded Tenements. | Occupants. | No. of Rooms. | Occupants. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Per Tenement. | Per Room. | ||||
| 1 | 4,077 | 15,150 | 4,077 | 3.71 | 3.71 |
| 2 | 6,377 | 28,524 | 12,754 | 4.47 | 2.23 |
| 3 | 1,752 | 13,742 | 5,256 | 7.85 | 2.61 |
| 4 | 743 | 7,188 | 2,972 | 9.67 | 2.41 |
| Total | 12,949 | 64,604 | 25,059 | 4.94 | 2.57 |
I have dealt solely with tenements containing less than five
rooms only because there are no other particulars furnished by the
Census Returns. It is not, however, to be understood that there is no
overcrowding in those of larger size. It is more than probable that
there is; but, not having the figures, I am not in a position to make
a positive statement.
A discussion of the figures given in the preceding pages would not
be valuable unless there were some facts with which they could be
contrasted. Fortunately, in the Census General Report a table is
given which shows the overcrowding in the rural and urban districts of
England and Wales, and I have constructed other tables for London,
from which I have obtained corresponding information for it. Consequently,
I have been able to contrast three other groups of places; and
I print a table which gives important particulars as to the housing
of the population in tenements in Islington, London, and in the urban
and rural districts.