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63
[1920
The houses generally are old, damp and dilapidated, and are closely
crowded and cannot be put into a reasonably habitable condition; the walls
bulge, roofs sag, woodwork, plaster and fittings are in a bad condition, no
proper provision is made for the storage of food or fuel, washing accommodation
is poor and drying grounds are very small, the rooms are in many cases
small, draughty and damp, staircases are badly planned and mostly insufficiently
ventilated, the stairs leading from the lower rooms to the first floor
are unlighted and sometimes without handrails, the stair treads are worn and
dangerous, and handrails, if present, are loose; most of the stairs are too
steep and narrow and have badly arranged winders. Gas cooking is common,
and because of the smallness of the premises the cookers are generally in most
unsuitable places, even being in combined living and sleeping rooms or on
staircases. The water supplies are most unsatisfactory, being from draw-off
taps in the yards; the service pipes freeze very quickly in the winter and the
constant dripping and splashing of water makes the walls and surroundings
very damp. Many of the houses are dark because these have not windows
in the main back wall of the lower rooms, and also because of the proximity
of the high walls at the rear. (This applies particularly to the narrow strip
on the south side of Georges Road). The small yards are much shut in and
the water closets are deprived of efficient lighting and ventilation.
The streets are narrow and not well paved; the increasing heavy traffic
in passing close to the buildings causes vibration, and there is considerable
danger owing to the narrowness of the footpath. The rents are comparatively
low, and this has caused continued occupation by the inhabitants. There
being very small, in some cases, no, yards, the children are forced to play in
the street. Complaint of rat infestation in the area is extremely frequent.
While the houses in the area facing Eden Grove are somewhat better in
quality, they are also poorly constructed, with decaying brickwork, and are
necessary to complete the scheme.
Inhabitants.— Most of the inhabitants are of the labouring class, some
few being in constant work, but many of them casual labour only ; some are
street traders.
Area.
15 to 87a, Georges Road, 8 to 15, Hope Street, 83 to 97, Eden Grove,
Population 214. Population 64. Population 80.
Total population : 358.
Total deaths from all causes in 5 years (1925 to 1929), 49.
Average, 10 deaths per year.
Death-rate per 1,000 population of area (5 years' average), 28.0.
Death-rate for Lower Holloway Sub-District (5 years' average), 12.1.
Death-rate for Borough of Islington (5 years' average), 12.3.
Number of Infectious Disease Notifications (1923 to 1929), 28. Yearly
Rate, 15.64. (Not including Measles, Whooping Cough or Chicken Pox, or
those under 2 years).
Number of Tuberculosis Notifications received (1925-1929), 4. Yearly
Rate, 2.24.
Average I.D. Notification Rate for whole Borough (1925 to 1929), 6.40.
Average I.D. Notification Rate for Lower Holloway Sub-District, 6.89.
5 years' average Notification of Tuberculosis for Lower Holloway, 1.78.
5 year's average Notification of Tuberculosis for Borough, 2.13.