View report page

HOUSING OF THE WORKING CLASSES ACT.
Under Part I. of the Act.
ITALIAN COLONY
Details of this area which was represented by me in July, 1901, were given in my Annual Report
for that year.
I may briefly state that the area is situated between Warner Street and the backs of the houses
fronting Clerkenwell Road. It is about two acres in extent and comprises some 120 houses and premises.
37 of the houses are in five small courts. The population of the area is about 1,170, almost all of whom
are Italians of the labouring classes.
The death rate from all causes in the area was 29•2 per 1,000.
Since the representation was made, Nos. 27 to 31 inclusive, Eyre Street Hill, have been
demolished and rebuilt as warehouses, and during the year 1904, all the houses in Summer Court were
voluntarily closed.
The Council sent several communications to the London County Council urging that Council to
proceed with the area.
On the 10th November, 1903, the London County Council resolved that no improvement scheme
could be made.
The Housing of the Working Classes Committee of the London County Council, in their Report
admit the accuracy of the representations made by the Medical Officer of Health, they agree that the
streets are narrow, that a number of the houses are situated in courts whose only approach is by means
of covered arches, that in many cases inadequate, and in some cases no back yards are provided, that in
some of the courts the waterclosets are placed in front of the houses ; and recognising these facts the
County Council admitted that prima facie the area is one that should be dealt with by an improvement