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
Hampstead 1935
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hampstead Borough]
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81
I have no record of all the underground rooms in Hampstead,
but they probably exceed 4,000—they are not all, of course, occupied
by members of the working classes. However, more than 50 per cent,
require investigation, and some of these may only be capable of
remedy under the Public Health (London) Act, 1891. The most
satisfactory way, in my opinion, of dealing with underground rooms
is, if possible, to persuade the owner to make them conform to the
Regulations or Requisites by such means as widening areas, concreting
sites, etc. In certain instances it is impracticable for this work to be
done, or the owner may refuse to do it. The question then arises of
the making of Closing Orders, or, alternatively, of taking other steps
to deal with the infringement of the law.
County Council Housing Estates.
The following figures relate to families removed to London County Council Estates since 1927, through the action of the Borough Council:—
| Number of houses at the Wormholt Estate at the disposal of the Borough Council by payment to the L.C.C. of a yearly subsidy of £7 per house | 66 |
| Number of houses at the Watling Estate at the disposal of the Borough Council under similar arrangements | 34 |
| Number of houses allotted to Hampstead under special arrangements with the L.C.C. for relief of overcrowding:— | |
| Watling | 78 |
| Tottenham | 4 |
| Downham | 1 |
| Morden | 20 |
| Total | 203 |
The total number of families removed from Hampstead to County
Council houses since 1927, through action by the Borough Council, is
247 involving 1,335 persons. The additional 44 families are accounted
for by changes in tenancies at the subsidy houses (16 at Walling and
28 at Wormholt), the Borough Council having the right to nominate
tenants for any of the 100 subsidised houses which become vacant.