London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Marylebone 1955
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Marylebone, Metropolitan Borough]
This page requires JavaScript
9
SECTION C.—SANITARY CIRCUMSTANCES.
Sanitary Inspection.
The number of complaints received (excluding those relating to rat and mouse infestations) was
1,278. Details of the various nuisances detected and remedied, to the total number of 1,695, are set
out in Table 3 below:—
TABLE 3.—Nuisances.
| Nuisance Abated or Defect Remedied | Number |
|---|---|
| Houses damp, dirty or dilapidated | 394 |
| Doors, windows, floors, ceilings, sash cords, grates and flues, etc., defective | 494 |
| Insufficient and unsuitable water-closet accommodation | 4 |
| Drain, water-closet and waste pipe stoppages | 135 |
| Drains, water-closets and waste pipes defective | 122 |
| Yard, area and wash-house defects | 9 |
| Roofs, gutters and rainwater pipes defective | 267 |
| Insufficient water supplies | 28 |
| Water cisterns dirty or defective | 24 |
| Ashpits, dustbins, etc., defective | 56 |
| Rubbish accumulations | 59 |
| Animal nuisances | 9 |
| Miscellaneous | 94 |
| Total | 1,695 |
Notices.—Intimation notices numbered 509, and 150 of these were followed by the service of a
statutory notice to secure abatement of nuisances. In addition, twenty-nine notices were served
under Byelaws made under the Housing, Metropolis Management or Public Health Acts.
Legal Proceedings.—Table 4 below gives details of legal proceedings taken under the provisions
of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936, and Byelaws made under the Public Health (London)
Act, 1891
TABLE 4.—Legal Proceedings : Public Health (London) Act, 1936, Etc.
| Nature of Offence | Fine | Costs | Remarks | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Failure to cleanse water storage cisterns or to maintain them in a cleanly state. Byelaws made under the Public Health (London) Act, 1891. | - | - | After an adjournment summons was withdrawn, the work having been completed. Council received 2 guineas costs from defendants. | ||
| Failure to comply with a Notice to secure abatement of a nuisance Public Health (London) Act, 1936. | - | - | After several adjournments summons was withdrawn as the defendant had been removed to a London County Council home under the provisions of Section 47, National Assistance Act, 1948. | ||
| do. | £5 | 0 | 0 | - | Order made for work to be done within 28 days. |
| do. | £1 | 0 | 0 | - | Order made for work to be done within 3 months. |
| do. | £5 | 0 | 0 | £2 0 0 | Order made for work to be done within 28 days. Summons subsequently adjourned sine die, as defendant was no longer owner of premises concerned. Work was completed at a later date. |
| do. | £5 | 0 | 0 | £2 2 0 | Order made for work to be done within 28 days. |
| do. | £2 | 0 | 0 | — | Order made for work to be done within 28 days. |
| do. | - | - | Five separate summonses withdrawn—work completed. Council received 2 guineas costs from defendants in each of three cases. | ||
| do. | - | - | |||