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
Battersea 1911
[Report on the health of the Metropolitan Borough of Battersea for the year 1911]
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These defects were not of a serious character and had reference
mainly to dirty condition of premises (walls, floors and ceilings),
defective sanitary appliances, &c.
The powers of the Council for controlling the sanitary condition
of premises where food for human consumption is prepared,
stored and sold, are considerably augmented by the London County
Councils (General Powers) Act, 1908. The systematic inspection
of the eating houses and restaurants of the Borough, carried out
during the past few years in Battersea has resulted in a general
improvement in the conditions under which this class of business
is conducted.
Milk Shops.
The number of registered milkshops in Battersea at the end
of 1910 was 185. During 1911, 25 new milkshops were added and
34 removed from the register, the total number on the register at
the end of 1911, being 176.
The character of the business carried on in premises in which milk was sold in Battersea during 1911, as compared with the three preceding years is as follows :—
| 1908. | 1909. | 1910. | 1911. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dairy produce only | 70 | 72 | 88 | 84 |
| General shops | 131 | 78 | 70 | 65 |
| Confectioners | 13 | 11 | 16 | 16 |
| Dwelling houses | 22 | 14 | 9 | 9 |
| Wholesale | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| 241 | 178 | 185 | 176 |
It will be seen from the above list that there has been a considerable
decrease in the number of general shops and other unsuitable
premises where milk is sold in Battersea, since 1908.
Owing to the nature and variety of the articles sold in such shops
it is most undesirable that milk should be sold in premises other
than those in which dairy produce alone is the business carried on.
Owing to the action of the Council in removing from the
register under the provisions of the London County Council (General
Powers) Act, 1908, the names of a large number of milk vendors
carrying on their business in general shops, which on sanitary
grounds were unsuitable, a very great improvement has been
effected as regards the conditions under which milk is now sold
in Battersea. All general shops in which the sale of milk is now
carried on, have had to remove from their shops any articles likely
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