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
Kensington 1904
The annual report on the health, sanitary condition of the Royal Borough of Kensington, etc., etc., for the year 1904
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60
I am indebted to Mr. Duncombe Mann, Clerk to the Metropolitan Asylums Board, for the
subjoined statement, showing the existing and projected accommodation : it leaves out of
consideration the Gore Farm Hospitals (1,850 beds), not now in occupation, and in regard to
which no decision has been arrived at as to their future use (but see pages 38 and 39).
Return showing the permanent Fever Hospital Accommodation, existing and projected:—
| (i.) | Accommodation existing:— | Beds. |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern Hospital | 362 | |
| North-Eastern Hospital | 600 | |
| North-Western Hospital | 460 | |
| Western Hospital | 450 | |
| South-Western Hospital | 366 | |
| Fountain Hospital | 402 | |
| Grove Hospital | 518 | |
| Park Hospital | 548 | |
| Brook Hospital | 560 | |
| Northern Hospital | 752 | |
| Total | 5,018 | |
| (ii.) | Accommodation projected— | |
| 800 | ||
| South-Eastern Hospital (now being reconstructed) | 488 | |
| Grand Total | 6,296 |
"For Small-pox Patients the existing accommodation is as follows:—
| Beds. | |
|---|---|
| Long Reach Hospital | 300 |
| Orchard Hospital | 800 |
| Joyce Green Hospital | 940 |
| 2,040 |
It is thus seen that the accommodation far exceeds the theoretical requirement of one bed
for each thousand of the population. On that scale London would require not more than 4,700
beds; it has, or soon will have, more than 10,000 beds.
THE HOUSING OF THE WORKING CLASSES.
(Housing of the Working Classes Act, 1890, Part III.)
The Council took an important step, last year, in regard to this important question, by
acquiring a considerable number of houses in Kenley Street, Notting Dale, in the exercise of their
powers under Part III. and adapting them for occupation by persons of the poorer classes. In
view of this new departure, a retrospect of previous proceedings of the Kensington Sanitary
Authority in regard to the housing question, may not be out of place.
For the purpose of elucidation it is desirable to go back to the meeting of the late Vestry,
held 11th March, 1896, when the following resolution was unanimously passed:—
" That the several reports which the Medical Officer of Health has submitted to the
Vestry relating to the Notting Dale Special Area be referred to a Special Committee for
consideration and report, as to whether any steps can be taken by the Vestry, either singly or
in conjunction with some other authority, to effect an improvement in the conditions at present
prevailing in the district in question."
A Special Committee was appointed forthwith, which included the Rev. the Hon. E. C. Glyn,
Chairman of the Vestry, Vicar of Kensington, and Rural Dean, and Mr. T. W. Wheeler, Q.C. (the
mover of the resolution), who was elected Chairman of the Committee, and subsequently became
Chairman of the Vestry.
The Committee visited the locality, inspected some of the houses, took evidence, oral and
documentary, of the clergy, poor law medical officers, relieving officers, School Board superintendent
and attendance officers, the inspector of police for the district, and the County Council inspector of
common lodging-houses; and having considered the reports of the medical officer of health, and a
report of the Sanitary Committee, dated 14th March, 1893, submitted a report which is printed in
the Minutes of the Vestry, 15th July, 1896 (page 257).