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40
1919
writer. If we compared the conditions in the South-West Ward
with those in the other wards in the district, we should consider
the conditions in the former ward to be unsatisfactory. On the
other hand, if the conditions in the South-West Ward be compared
with some districts and areas within, say, the County of London,
the comparison would be very favourable to the South-West Ward.
Structurally, the general standard of housing in the district is high.
There are no courts, alleys, Back-to-back houses or cellar
dwellings. There are half a dozen mews within the district.
With the exception of these mews and a few houses, such as those
in the Steyne, all the streets are wide and the houses have a garden
or yard belonging exclusively to them. In one of the latest books
on Housing, a list of the requirements necessary in a healthy
dwelling is given, and most of the houses in the district conform
to the majority of these.
The development of the district being a comparatively
recent one, it has escaped the worst features of older districts.
In 1861, the population of the district was 3,151, and in 1871,
it was 8,306.
' '
The Local Board of Health was formed in 1866. It may
therefore be said that most of the district has been developed
since the adoption of bye-laws, and the houses have been erected
under supervision.
Probably, there are not more than 50 inhabited houses
in the district which are not and cannot be made fit for human
habitation.
As stated on another page, though, according to the best
and most recent authorities, there is overcrowding on space in
all the wards.
Besides although the general structural conditions remain
the same, the standard generally is lower than it was before the
war. Owing to the difficulties encountered, repairs which conduce
to the health and comfort of the occupiers have not been carried
out in the houses. A house-to-house inspection of a certain area
is now being carried out; this area consists approximately of
3,000 houses and probably 10 per cent. of them will be found to
be seriously defective. This area, of course, is a selected area,
and is not representative of the whole district.