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 1935
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]
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92
Overcrowding in itself is fairly symptomatic of bad housing. Where
gross overcrowding exists housing conditions generally are invariably
bad ; there is a very proximate correlation between them. It has always
been held that overcrowding is not a major problem in Westminster and
the very close and exact investigation now completed confirms this
premise. The following figures given by the Registrar General at the
censal periods clearly shows the decline in overcrowding over a period of
20 years.
Population in Westminster of persons living at a density of more than 2 persons per room.
| 1911 | 16,596 |
| 1921 | 11,364 |
| 1931 | 7,223 |
Among London boroughs, Westminster with 4.2 per cent. now stands
well. Those showing less overcrowding are the suburban districts of
Hampstead, 2.4 per cent., Woolwich, 2.7 percent., Wandsworth, 3.2 per
cent., and Lewisham, 3.3 per cent. In such a central area as Westminster
where the demand for housing near places of work is so great the City
Council may take credit for the administration of the public health during
those decades during which the nuisance of overcrowding has so impressively
diminished. The surveys have likewise revealed the upward trend
in housing conditions in working class dwellings which has been revealing
itself during the past ten years. This may partly be due to better ownership,
but also in great measure to a growing sense of responsibility among
the tenants; the results perhaps of improved education, greater social
consciousness and sobriety.
Houses Let In Tenements.
In those of the better type in this category coming within the
application of the London County Council by-laws it is found that no
less than 56 per cent. have baths and in only 25 per cent. can it be said that
water supply is not readily accessible to every tenant.
It is important to note that there has been an increase in the provision
of these and other amenities since 1926 when the by-laws came into force.
Other factors responsible for the improvement of housing standards may
be those established by the Council itself in its working class dwellings,
and the special requirements laid down by Parliament in the post-war
Housing Acts.