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
Southwark 1894
Annual report for 1894 of the Medical Officer of Health
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16
Parish of St. George the Martyr, Southwark.
It is noteworthy that the Inland Revenue Acts throw the burden and responsibility
of making a thorough inspection of houses, with a view to the levying of imperial
taxes, upon the Local Authorities.
No definition, moreover, is given, of what is meant by the somewhat vague and
elastic expressions "suitable accommodation" and "sanitary requirements," the
interpretation of these phrases being left to the judgment of the individual Medical
Officer of Health.
Housing- of the Working Classes Act, 1890.
Summary of Representations, under Part II., made by the Medical Officer
of Health during the year 1894.
TABLE XIII.
| Premises. | Date of Official Representation. | Result. |
|---|---|---|
| 4, 5, 6, and 7, Green Street | January 18th. | Closed with costs. |
| 1, 2, 3, 4, Chadwell Court | January 18th. | Closed with costs. |
| 116, Blackfriars Road | January 23rd. | Closed with costs. |
| 1 and 2, Maypole Alley | Februay 4th. | Closed with costs. |
| 2, Green Street | February 6th. | Closed with costs. |
| Block II.—Nos. 1 to 28, Artizans' Buildings, Gun Street | February 7th. | Works completed. |
| 1,2, 3, 4. 6, and 7, Pontypool Place, Valentine Place | July 10th. | Closed. |
| 25, 26, and 27, Gerridge Street | August 1st. | Closed with a view to demolition, the Summonses being adjourned. |
| 8, Willmott's Buildings | October 16th. | Closed with costs. |
| 1, 2, and 3, Taylor's Buildings | Nov. 20th. | Closed with costs. |
| 7, Willmott's Buildings | Dec. 11th. | Closed with costs. |
Summary.
Houses and tenements, respecting which representations were made to the Vestry
that they were in a state so dangerous or injurious to health as to be unfit for human
habitation.
Houses and tenements 69
Inhabitants 345
During the years 1892, 1893, and 1894, applications have been made for closing
orders in the case of 210 houses and tenements unfit for human habitation.
These dwellings have sheltered upwards of a thousand persons, and I think some
steps should be taken to re-house those whose occupations necessitate their living in
or near the district.
I would respectfully commend the serious attention of your Sanitary Authority
towards the equitable solution of this pressing problem.