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
Bermondsey 1928
Report on the sanitary condition of the Borough of Bermondsey for the year 1928
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(66)
Premises purchased or leased and renovated.
| No. of families accommodated. | ||
|---|---|---|
| Rotherhithe Street | 2 houses | 4 |
| Dartmouth Road | 2 „ | 5 |
| Derrick Street | 3 „ | 3 |
| Dockley Road | 2 „ | 3 |
| Bermondsey Wall | 1 house | 1 |
| Clarence Street | 1 „ | 1 |
| Esmeralda Road | 1 „ | 1 |
| Fendall Street | 1 „ | 1 |
| Freda Street | 1 „ | 1 |
| Neptune Street | 1 „ | 1 |
| Odessa Street | 1 „ | 2 |
| Paradise Street | 1 „ | 1 |
| Reverdy Road | 1 „ | 2 |
| Ridge Street | 1 „ | 1 |
| St. James's Road | 1 „ | 2 |
| Silver Street | 1 „ | 2 |
| Millstream Road | 3 houses | 3 |
| Neston Street | 2 „ | 2 |
| Union Road | 2 „ | 4 |
| Rock Grove | (3 cottages and | 3 |
| (2 flats) | 2 |
It will be seen that careful attention has been given to this
problem which yet is far from solution. Its very solution raises
other difficulties which must be mentioned. When action has been
successful and overcrowding has been abated, if care is not taken,
the rooms may be re-let and the nuisance created afresh. This is
done not merely as the result of ignorance and stupidity, but often
under the pressure of economic conditions. The rent of the whole
house being too great for the tenant to bear by himself, he takes
in a lodger with whose assistance he is enabled to pay the weekly
charge. A careful record is kept in all cases where overcrowding
has been abated. During the last quarter of the year 374 houses
were visited by the Sanitary Inspectors. In 120 cases it was
found that the tenant had himself taken over the vacated rooms,
while in the remaining 254 cases the rooms had been re-let. In
six of these latter cases the premises were again found to be overcrowded,
and the necessary steps were taken at once to abate the