London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Kensington 1922

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]

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The businesses carried on at the registered premises are set out in the subjoined list:—

Trade or Business.Workshops.Factories.Total.
Art needlework3—3
Blind maker2—2
Blouse maker1—1
Boot maker and repairer1—1
Boot closer1—1
Button maker—11
Cabinet maker—11
Cardboard box maker1—1
Chemist1—1
Cigarette maker1—1
Corset maker718
Dressmaker and ladies' tailor194—94
Dyer and cleaner21324
Florist12—112
Furrier16117
Glove maker—11
Hairdresser5—5
Hair-dye manufacturer1—1
Invisible mending1—1
Jeweller112
Lace worker5—5
Lampshade maker1—1
Laundry272047
Machinist282452
Milliner39—39
Motor car maker—11
Non-inflammable composition manufacturer—11
Outfitter5—5
Photographer7—7
Pictorial advertisements112
Pipe maker—11
Powderpuff maker1—1
Shirt maker1—1
Tailor43—43
Toilet requisites1—1
Typist1—1
Toy maker1—1
Umbrella maker2—2
Upholsterer8—8
Weaving2—2
Wire brush maker1—1
Wig maker1—1
Total44457501

Routine inspections of the workshops shown on the above list were carried out during the
year, and complaints from His Majesty's Inspectors or anonymous sources received immediate
attention.
Ventilation.—Additional means of ventilation were provided in one of the workrooms visited,
Whilst a very marked improvement in the ventilation of workshops has taken place, it is still
necessary to serve notices in cases where premises become newly occupied as workshops.
Overcrowding.—Employers are provided by the Council with cards showing the maximum
number of workers allowed in each workroom and cases where the number is deliberately
exceeded are now of rare occurrence.
Cleanliness—Eight workrooms were cleansed and whitewashed after notice and one other
sanitary defect was dealt with.
Sanitary Conveniences.—During the year one defective sanitary convenience in a workshop
was found and remedied.
HOME WORK.
Of the 260 outworkers registered, some are employed on premises which are factories or
workshops within the meaning of the Factory and Workshops Act, 1901, others work in domestic
workshops, whilst the remainder are the genuine "Home Workers" engaged in their homes on the
work given out to them by various firms and contractors in Kensington and other districts.