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 1925
The annual report on the health of the Borough for the year1925
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It will be seen that there are only three common lodging houses for men in the Borough, one
of these being in the Golborne Ward and the other two in the Notting Dale district of the Norland
Ward.
Of the five common lodging houses for women, one is situated in Sirdar Road, one in Bangor
Street and three in Crescent Street. Curiously enough, these houses are within a stone's throw
of one another and are located in the Notting Dale area of the Norland Ward.
In each of three of these institutions for women, two adjoining dwellings have been converted
into a common lodging house, and in each of the other two, one dwelling is being used for the
purpose. The total number of ordinary dwelling houses taken up by these five common lodging
houses is eight. The houses are the ordinary basement type commonly found in that district, and
were originally built as single family houses; they are ill-adapted for their present use, and they
make probably the poorest kind of common lodging house in London. Perhaps the worst feature
is the fact that the basement is used as a common kitchen in three cases.
HOUSING ACCOMMODATION PROVIDED BY THE COUNCIL BEFORE
THE WAR.
The number of tenements for the working classes provided, prior to the War, by the Council under the Housing Acts, is shown in the following table:—
| Rooms in Tenement. | Number of Tenements. | Rent per Week. |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 26 | 3/4 to 4/10 |
| 2 | 62 | 7/2 to 9/6 |
| 3 | 32 | 10/2 to 11/1 |
| Totals | 120 | 3/4 to 11/1 |
These tenements are situated in Kenley Street, Hesketh Place and Runcorn Place,
abutting on Avondale Park in the Notting Dale district.
HOUSING ACCOMMODATION PROVIDED BY THE COUNCIL SINCE THE WAR.
The provision of additional housing accommodation under the Housing, Town Planning, etc.,
Act, 1919, and amending Acts, has been delegated by the Council to a Special Housing Committee,
which Committee have been given all the powers possessed by the Council in regard to the
preparation and execution of housing schemes except the power to borrow money or make a rate.
After considering a report submitted by the Medical Officer of Health in 1919, which indicated
that 314 houses would be required to meet the needs of the Borough, the Special Housing
Committee prepared three schemes which were approved by the Council and the Ministry of
Health.
The following statement shows the new accommodation provided during the last six years or in course of provision in connection with these three schemes, together with the approximate expenditure.
| The following statement shows the new accommodation provided during the last six years or in course of provision in connection with these three schemes, together with the approximate expenditure. | |||
| Cottages | 54 | ||
| Flats | 180 | ||
| Flats and maisonettes (conversions) | 102 | ||
| 336 | |||
| s. | d. | ||
| Acquisition and conversion of houses in Powis Square, Colville Terrace, Elgin Crescent, Ladbroke Grove, Bassett Road and Adair Road, into 102 flats and maisonettes | 84,517 | 12 | 6 |
| Avondale Park Gardens and Mary Place Scheme— | |||
| Provision of 32 Cottages, including cost of site and road and sewer works | 42,193 | 9 | 1 |
| St. Quintin Estate Scheme— | |||
| Cost of land, fencing &c. | 14,512 | 7 | 0 |
| Construction of roads and sewers | 12,677 | 2 | 1 |
| Buildings— | |||
| Section 1. 36 flats and 4 cottages) „ 2. 40 „ 4 „ | 60,205 | 10 | 1 |
| „ 3. 38 „ 5 „ (estimated) | 21,475 | 0 | 0 |
| * „ 4. 36 „ 4 „ „ | 22,500 | 0 | 0 |
| † „ 5. 30 „ 5 „ | 23,225 | 0 | 0 |
| £281,306 | 0 | 9 | |
* The Architects final certificate in respect of this section has not yet been issued.
† Buildings in course of erection.