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
Paddington 1901
Report on the vital statistics and sanitary work for the year 1901
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7
OVERCROWDING.
33,661) in 1901. The percentages of homes overcrowded were 12.8 and 10.1 respectively. The
standard can only be applied to homes containing not more than four rooms. In 1891 these numbered
17,208, of which 20.3 per cent, were overcrowded, while in 1901 these homes had risen to a total of
21,815, of which 15.6 per cent, were overcrowded. These results again indicate a slight, but so far
satisfactory, improvement in the conditions of housing.
Dealing with each class of home, it appears that reductions took place in each group, as will b( seen from the following statement:—
| Homes of one room. | Percentage overcrowded | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Counted. | Overcrowded. | Of homes of this class. | Of all homes. | |
| 1891 | 4,785 | 1,239 | 25.8 | 4.5 |
| 1901 | 5,035 | 1,035 | 20.5 | 3.0 |
| Homes of two rooms. | Percentage overcrowded | |||
| Counted. | Overcrowded. | Of homes of this class. | Of all homes. | |
| 1891 | 5,537 | 1,582 | 28.5 | 5.7 |
| 1901 | 6,668 | 1,585 | 23.7 | 4.7 |
| Homes of three rooms. | Percentage overcrowded | |||
| Counted. | Overcrowded. | Of homes of tins class. | Of all homes. | |
| 1891 | 4,858 | 531 | 10.9 | 1.9 |
| 1901 | 6,548 | 607 | 9.2 | 1.8 |
| Homes of four rooms. | Percentage overcrowded | |||
| Counted. | Overcrowded. | Of homes of this class. | Of all homes. | |
| 1891 | 2,028 | 144 | 7.1 | 0.5 |
| 1901 | 3,564 | 177 | 4.9 | 0.5 |
In the appended Table a comparison is instituted between the percentages of each group noted
in the selected districts. The ratios for Hampstead suggest that the homes have not been counted
on the same rule as the two enumerations.
TABLE 7. Overcrowding—Tenements. Percentage of each class overcrowded.
| No. of rooms in home. | Census of. | Metropolis. | Kensington. | Westminster. | Marylebone. | Hampstead. | PADDINGTON. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1891 | 32.8 | 29.6 | .. | 31.7 | 28.3 | 25.8 |
| 1901 | 27.2 | 25.0 | 21.1 | 24.6 | 16.1 | 20.5 | |
| 2 | 1891 | 28.9 | 31.7 | .. | 31.6 | 30.0 | 28.5 |
| 1901 | 25.4 | 28.3 | 19.1 | 28.4 | 18.1 | 23.7 | |
| 3 | 1891 | 16.0 | 17.6 | .. | 17.0 | 15.5 | 10.9 |
| 1901 | 13.2 | 16.6 | l1.6 | 15.2 | 8.7 | 9.2 | |
| 4 | 1891 | 8.1 | 8.6 | .. | 8.4 | 7.1 | 7.1 |
| 1901 | 6.9 | 7.0 | 8.3 | 7.8 | 4.2 | 4.9 | |
| All homes of less than 5 rooms. | 1891 | 23.3 | 25.2 | .. | 27.7 | 21.9 | 20.3 |
| 1901 | 18.7 | 20.9 | 16.2 | 22.5 | 12.1 | 15.6 |