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
City of Westminster 1901
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]
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have been displaced by other causes, and who have had to find
accommodation in other localities.
It is satisfactory to note that the average number of persons
living in one-room tenements has fallen from 2.9 to 1.8, showing that
overcrowding has been considerably abated during the 10 years.
The figures generally show an improvement in this respect.
Density of Population.—In studying Table VII it will be seen
that a reduction of population, as in St. Margaret and St. Anne
Wards, may lead to a greater number of persons per house, but,
owing to the meaning given to the word "house" by the RegistrarGeneral,
it is safer to take the number of persons per tenement.
From this point of view, so far as comparison can be made with the
1891 figures, it appears that the demolition or conversion of houses
has led to a greater average number of persons inhabiting each
tenement, this being especially marked in the Wards comprising the
Strand Union, and those forming the St. James's part of the
Westminster Union.
Table VII.—
| Wards. | Persons per Tenement. | Persons per Inhabited House. | Persons per Acre. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1891. | 1901. | 1891. | 1901. | 1891. | 1901. | |
| Conduit | 4.3 | 5.3 | 10.2 | 8.7 | 121.0 | 93.2 |
| Grosvenor | 8.0 | 8.3 | 31.0* | 30.0* | ||
| Knightsbridge St. George | 4.2 | 6.7 | 6.7 | 86 0 | 85.0 | |
| Vietoria | 9.6 | 9.7 | 109.9 | 114.0 | ||
| Hamlet | 4.9 | 5 0 | 8.5 (1896) | 8.4 | 21.1* | 21.9* |
| St. Margaret | 4.0 | 11.0 | 13.6 | 68.2* | 62.6* | |
| St. John | 12.8 | 11.2 | 162.4* | 142.4* | ||
| St. Anne | 4.1 | 4.2 | 13.2 | 13.8 | 230.6 | 215.2 |
| Great Marlborough | 4.2 | 4.7 | 13.3 | 12.2 | 283.3 | 201.2 |
| Pall Mall | 7.4 | 9.0 | 75.0 | 84.0 | ||
| Regent | 9.0 | 9.2 | 136.2 | 127.9 | ||
| Charing Crose | 4.4 | 4.8 | 9.0 | 11.5 | 30.1 | 23.1 |
| Covent Garden | 11.6 | 11.5 | 169.8 | 140.0 | ||
| Strand | 11.4 | 11.0 | 126.9 | 80.5 | ||
| The City | - | 4.4 | 8.7 | 9.9 | 80.7* | 73.1* |
* Inclusive of parks.
I have slated in previous reports that from inspection of the
Strand and Covent Garden Wards this process was taking place, and
that houses formerly occupied by one or two families, were being
"made down" to accommodate a family on every floor, and even in
every room.