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

St Pancras 1892

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras, Metropolitan Borough]

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Table: In reference to the number of occupants in rooms, the number of rooms in tenements, and the number of tenements in houses, the following extracts from the Census Return, 1891, Vol. III., are of interest.

In reference to the number of occupants in rooms, the number of rooms in tenements, and the number of tenements in houses, the following extracts from the Census Return, 1891, Vol. III., are of interest.

PARTICULARS OF TENEMENTS OP FOUR ROOMS AND LESS.
ST. PANCRAS.Census, 1891.Rooms in each Tenement.Number of TenementsNumber of Occupants of each Tenement.
123456789101112 or more
Total number of tenements of four rooms and less44693i153685498491124641400711274792641--
Total number of tenements of five rooms and more1265221622012973808331727332117142783743318350162
Total number of tenements, families, or separate occupiers57345386893321600160515391238936656420225933312
Total number of inhabited houses2444344416764276217036366645013761791114821

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Dwelling-houses may be conveniently divided into houses occupied by ono
family, and houses occupied by more than one family; and the latter may again
be divided into those occupied separately, and those occupied in common. It is
much to be regretted that there is no technical distinction between a dwelling and
a lodging. There is a vast practical difference between a common dwelling-house
and a common lodging-house.
Houses let in separate dwellings may either be new houses specially built for
that purpose or old houses made down, altered, or adapted for such use Of those
specially built there are two types: those constructed in self-containe i dwellings,
admission to which from the common stair is obtained by only one entrance ; and
those constructed in such a manner that every room, or almost every room opens
separately on to the common stair. The former embrace residential flats and the
majority of block dwellings, the latter the villa types of residences. Of old houses
made down or adapted there are many varieties, and the adaptations are of varying
degrees of suitability. It is in this class of house that the majority of underground
dwellings are found.
Underground Dwellings.—The number of underground rooms closed against
occupation as separate dwellings was 38.
Registered "houses let in separate dwellings," or, as defined by the model byelaws,
"houses let in lodgings to members of more than one family"; or, more
briefly and more popularly, "tenemented houses," number 144 in the register.
Although they are subject to the bye-laws, the multiplicity of duties falling upon
your Sanitary Inspectors has hitherto left no time available for them to be
regularly inspected, as they should be, at least once a year.
Registered common lodging-houses are under the bye-laws and inspection of the
police; but when requisite a Sanitary Inspector does not hesitate to inspect these
premises also. A list of the registered lodging-houses will be found in the
Appendix.