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

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Erith 1919

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Erith]

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36
itself was sent into Hospital where it died next day, and
post mortem examination showed that the cause of death
was Acute Tuberculosis.
F.—Housing.
(i) General Housing Conditions in the District.
The majority of the houses in the district are
cottages containing 6 or 7 rooms, some built in terraces,
some in flats of two stories, others detached or semidetached.
A large number of these were built about 1900 in
accordance with the bye-laws of the Council, and these
have ample air space, both in front and at the back.
Some of the older houses, however, are somewhat
cramped at the back.
At the Census of 1911 there were 5,129 inhabited
houses, and 507 empty, a total of 5,636. During the
years following the Census before the outbreak of war
about 40 or 50 houses were erected, so that at the outbreak
of war there were about 5,680 houses in the
district. During the 4 years 1915-1918 only 12 houses
were built.
In 1900 the works in the district were very busy,
and practically every house was occupied, while building
proceeded rapidly to supply the demand for houses to
accommodate the workmen who came into the district.
About 1906, however, slackness of work and labour
troubles caused the emigration of a number of workmen,
and at one time about 750 houses were empty. In the
year 1913 only a few houses were empty, but with the
outbreak of war, the large factories here were occupied
in munition making, and there was a big influx of workmen,
so that the population went up to well over 35,000
in 1915 and 1916. In 1917 and 1918 it decreased again,
and in 1919 the Registrar General estimated the civilian
population to be 30,525.
It is anticipated that in the near future the South
Suburban Gas Co. and an Electric Co. will erect a gas