London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Finchley 1907
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Finchley]
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43
Housing.
With the continued rapid development of the District
the question of the preservation of open spaces has become a
matter for serious consideration. Comparatively few of the
houses erected during recent years are even semi-detached,
and hundreds of small houses have been built in continuous
long rows.
The rents of even the smaller houses are in many
instances beyond what a working man can afford, and consequently
houses quite unsuited for the purpose of providing
accommodation for more than one family are let off in tenements.
The following tabular statement showing the number of houses passed each year (ending March) has been kindly supplied to me by the Assistant Surveyor, Mr. Catchpole:—
| 1894 | 47 | 1902 | 323 |
| 1895 | 60 | 1903 | 340 |
| 1896 | 101 | 1904 | 338 |
| 1897 | 123 | 1905 | 361 |
| 1898 | 142 | 1906 | 374 |
| 1899 | 189 | 1907 | 436 |
| 1900 | 213 | 1908 | 411 |
| 1901 | 289 |
Drainage and Sewage Disposal.
A dual system of drainage is in force in most parts of the
District, the surface water sewers discharging into the natural
water-courses.
The present general sewerage scheme was commenced in
1885. Previous to this a considerable portion of the sewage
appears to have passed directly into the streams, though most