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BARKING TOWN LOCAL BOARD
Created by Order of Local Government Board
October 5th, 1882.
Robert Hewett, Esq., Chairman
(December, 1882—April, 1890)
Messrs. W. Bewers, F. E. Fitt, S. Glenny,
The Rev. H. Lindsell, H. H. Mason, H. Martin,
J. Smith and G. S. Trewby.
Clerk: C. E. Wilson
Surveyor: C. J. Dawson, F.R.I.B.A.
Medical Officer of Health: H. H. Mason, M.R.C.S., L.S.A.
Inspector of Nuisances: F. Martin
Amongst other activities the local board carried out a £21,000
sewerage scheme and built the first infectious disease hospital on
Upney Meadows. Its powers were taken over by the newly created
Urban District Council in 1895.
The Urban District Council carried out extensions to the sewerage
system and, in conjunction with Ilford, obtained powers to discharge
sewage into the Northern Outfall Works of the L.C.C Plans were
also laid to rebuild the Infectious Diseases Hospital and to build a
Maternity Hospital, whilst roots of the present clinic services began
to form.
Rapid expansion followed the incorporation of Barking as a
Municipal Borough in 1931, and the development of the L.C.C's
Becontree Estate. Later in this report I shall deal in gre; er detail with
these personal health services which, by 1948, must ha\ been second
to none in the country.
HOUSING.
Amongst the most important of the duties of a Medical Officer
of Health is that requiring him to "inform himself as fa; as practicable
respecting all matters affecting or likely to affect the public health of
the district and be prepared to advise the authority on any such
matter" (Sanitary Officers (Outside London) Regulations 1935).
I have not found it possible to make a comprehensive survey
of housing conditions within the Borough during my first nine months
of office, although I hope to devote more time to this next year. The
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