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certain cases, that a large portion of the open space originally existing
between the street backs has now been filled in. The houses have
thus become, practically speaking, 'back-to-back' houses. Moreover,
the immediate proximity of some kinds of workshops to dwelling-houses
readily gives rise to nuisance of various kinds.
There can be little doubt that it is changes of this kind that
have made house property in Finsbury unsatisfactory, and increased
overcrowding. Finsbury is at present undergoing a radical change from
a residential district into a non-residential commercial district
comparable to the City of London. Such a transition acts prejudicially
for along period of years on dwelling-house property and overcrowding.
The new Borough inherited from the former vestries a number of
areas already represented for clearance under the Housing of the
Working Classes Act 1890 and earlier Acts.
These consisted of(a)5 areas to be dealt with by the London County
Council. These covered 4 5/8ths acres with 264 houses in which
1704 persons were living. On the site it was proposed to build
accommodation for 2,656 persons, and
(b) 6 areas to be dealt with by the Borough council. These included
110 houses in which 859 persons were living.
In addition, seven other areas are referred to with 109 houses and
746 residents not as then represented but which ought to be cleared.
In 1963 the Borough had a quite different aspect, for commerce and
industry had displaced residential accommodation to a very considerable
extent and the building of many new blocks of flats had increased the
proportion of this type of accommodation to that of houses, the total
number of flats being estimated to be 7.210. There were still in 1963
ten areas already represented for clearance and 11 others determined
upon to be dealt with by the end of 1965 and these included a substantial
area known as the Clarke's Close Estate.
But these properties, although unfit, were not to be compared in
regard to their insanitary condition and surroundings with those that
existed in 1901,and would not at that time have been regarded as unduly
unsatisfactory The slums of 1901 were by 1963 past and almost forgotten
history.
Considerable numbers of properties still existed in the Borough
however,which provided most unhappy and unhealthy conditions for those
living in them, because of general dilapidation and the sharing of
houses between several independent families. They did not however form
more than about 10 per cent of the total housing accommodation.
During 1901 new Byelaws were framed, passed and confirmed, with
respect of Houses let in lodgings. It was then hoped that by the
enforcement of requirements set out in them, that the sanitation and
cleanliness of the Borough would be advanced.
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