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 1930
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]
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Factories and Workshops where women are employed.—The following table shows the various trades and occupations carried on in registered workshops and factories where women are employed:—
| Trade or Business. | Workshops. | Factories. | Total. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bakers | 1 | — | 1 |
| Blind makers | 1 | — | 1 |
| Blouse makers | 3 | — | 3 |
| Boot makers and repairers | 5 | 1 | 6 |
| Corset makers | 9 | — | 9 |
| Dressmakers and ladies' tailors | 287 | 1 | 288 |
| Dyers | 7 | 1 | 8 |
| Embroidery workers | 6 | — | 6 |
| Florists | 12 | — | 12 |
| Furriers | 14 | 1 | 15 |
| Hairdressers | 18 | — | 18 |
| Invisible menders | 3 | — | 3 |
| Jewellers | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| Knitted goods | 2 | — | 2 |
| Lace workers | 3 | — | 8 |
| Lampshade makers | 4 | — | 4 |
| Laundries | 39 | 44 | 83 |
| Milliners | 39 | — | 39 |
| Outfitters | 5 | — | 5 |
| Photographers | 7 | — | 7 |
| Picture frame makers | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Restaurants | 4 | — | 4 |
| Sundry businesses | 21 | 8 | 29 |
| Toy makers | 2 | — | 2 |
| Umbrella makers | 1 | — | 1 |
| Upholsterers | 10 | — | 10 |
| Weavers | 2 | — | 2 |
| Total | 511 | 59 | 570 |
Home Work.—Of the 198 outworkers registered, some are employed on premises which are
factories or workshops within the meaning of the Factory and Workshop 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.
The number of outworkers belonging to each of these three classes is shown in the following table :—
| Outworkers in workshops or factories | 54 |
| Outworkers in domestic workshops | 18 |
| Outworkers in their own homes | 126 |
| Total number of outworkers | 198 |
The factories and workshops referred to in the above list are included in the tables which show
the trades carried on in the factories and workshops on the Council's register.
The nature of the work given out to the 126 home workers on the register is as follows :—
| Tailoring | 68 |
| Dressmaking | 29 |
| Bootmaking | 11 |
| Outfitting | 4 |
| Drapery | 3 |
| Linen working | 3 |
| Fancy goods | 2 |
| Blouse making | 1 |
| Underwear | 1 |
| Collar making | 1 |
| Confectionery | 1 |
| Embroidery | 1 |
| Box making | 1 |
| 126 |