London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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London County Council 1902

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]

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Westminster, 2.— These premises, consisting of two houses, are registered for 81 women. They
are shortly to be demolished. The buildings consist of basements with three upper floors, each house
having separate stairs, kitchen and lavatories, but there is one entrance only. The basements are used
as kitchens, the whole of the upper floors are used as dormitories. The lavatories are in vaults under
the yards, and contain three wash-basins each, with tubs for washing clothes. There are four waterclosets,
two situated in each yard. The charge is 6d. per night.
Chelsea.— This house is registered for 42 single women.
The building consists of basement, kitchen and lavatory, with three upper floors; a small front
room on ground floor is used as an office, all the other rooms are used as dormitories. There are two
water-closets situate in the open yard at rear. The lavatory in rear basement contains three wash-basins
for use of women, but their clothes are all sent to the laundry. The charge is 6d. per night.
Holborn, 1.— This house is registered for 34 women, who do not pay for their lodgings, and
consist largely of discharged prisoners. Several of them are employed in a laundry here. The
building consists of basement and four upper floors. The basement contains the kitchen in its front
portion, the lavatory is in the rear, and has two baths and five wash-basins. There are two waterclosets,
which were recently constructed on the ground floor. The ground floor is used as an office and
matron's rooms, the first and second floors are used as dormitories and contain hammock beds, the
top floor is used as a laundry.
Holborn, 2.— These premises consist of three houses (numbered 18,19 and 20), and are registered
for 100 persons and contain beds for 92 single women. The buildings of Nos. 18 and 19 consist of a
basement (No. 18) and four upper floors with one staircase for both houses, also situate in No. 18. The
basement and back room on the ground floor are used as kitchens, the two front rooms on the ground floor
and all upper rooms are used as dormitories ; No. 1 room in No. 20 contains 18 beds; it is approached
through the third floor of No. 19 and does not communicate with the men's portion of the same house;
indeed there is no communication with the men's part of the same premises, except through the yard,
the door of which is kept fastened. The lavatory is in a partly-covered yard and contains five wash
basins and three tubs for washing clothes, with four water closets, all used solely by the women, who
pay 5d. each per night.
Holborn, 3.—These houses (numbered 8 and 10) are occupied together but do not communicate,
except through basement room in back yard. At the rear is a very large dormitory on ground floor, the
basement of which is used as a common kitchen. The front basement of No. 8 is also used as a common
kitchen. The houses consist of basement, ground and three upper floors. In the back room (basement)
of No. 8 are situated eight fixed basins for washing purposes. There are also six large and two small
washing and foot baths. There is one w.c. in the yard of No. 8, and three in the yard of No. 10. The
houses are old but well maintained. 78 women, bed 6d. per night.
Holborn, 4.—This is a group of eight old houses approached by an archway out of Newton-street,
all of which are occupied by women. The ground floor rooms of all the houses on one side are used as
kitchens, a portion of the ground floor of the houses on the opposite side being used used as lavatory.
There are altogether six w.c.'s and six fixed wash-basins, and in addition 13 washing and foot baths.
These houses are well maintained. 107 women, bed 5d. per night.
Holborn, 5.—This consists of basement, ground and three upper floors, and was formerly
occupied by men, but only women are now admitted. The basement room is occupied as a common
kitchen. In a very small yard at the rear is one w.c. and a slate slab with three fixed basins ; another
w.c. is situated on the first floor, built out but approached from the stair landing. The kitchen
accommodation is not good, and the maintenance only fair. 23 women, bed 6d. per night.
Hammersmith.— This is a group of five very old two-storey cottages (numbered 13, 15, 17, 19
and 21) with a common yard at the rear, in which are situated two w.c.'s for men and one for women.
These are placed some distance apart, so that separation is effected. There are separate lavatories for
each sex each containing three basins. The common kitchen is situated on the ground floor of No. 17,
and is dark and insufficient. The small ground floor back additions of Nos. 15 and 19 are also
available as day-rooms, but are not so often used. Generally speaking, the front rooms contain single
beds, and the back rooms are occupied as “doubles." The houses are extremely old and the ground
floor rooms damp. The charge for a single bed is 4d., and for a double bed 8d. per night. Two
w.c.s for men, one w.c. for women, three basins for men, three basins for women. 33 single
men, 7 single women, 8 doubles.
Paddington, 1.— This house consists of a basement, ground and three upper floors. It is occupied
as a servants' registry office and home, accommodating 31 women. A portion of the top floor projects
over the adjoining house. The ground floor is occupied privately, a portion being used as a
registry office. There are two w.c.'s on the stairs; one of these is used by the women working in an
adjoining laundry. Wash basins are provided in the dormitories. The premises are not well maintained.
Many of the lodgers use the dormitories as workrooms, and some eat their food there.
31 women, beds, 3s. 6d. per week.
Paddinqton, 2.—This house consists of a ground floor and three upper floors, and is occupied by
married couples and women. There is a common kitchen (detached) in yard, also three w.c.'s, one for
men and two for women. The lavatory in the yard contains four wash-basins. The general maintenance
of the house is indifferent, and the premises are old and worn out. One w.c. for men, two for women.
15 doubles, 15 women; beds, single, 4d. and 6d., double, 8d.
Kensington 1.—These three old houses (numbered 4, 6 and 8) are occupied together, with a
common entrance at No. 8. They consist of ground and first floor only, and are each occupied by
married couples and women. There are two kitchens (detached) at rear of Nos. 6 and 8 for common
use. There is one w.c. ia each yard, the one in No. 6 being reserved for the use of women only. In