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
Woolwich 1938
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Woolwich]
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TABLE No. 32—
| Premises. | Action Taken. | Date. |
|---|---|---|
| 1, Nightingale Vale | Demolition Order. | 27 th April |
| 20, Samuel Street. . | Closing Order | do. |
| 73, Brookhill Road | do. | 25th May |
| 21, Rectory Place | do. | do. |
| 94, Eltham Road | do. | 29th June |
| Nightingale Maple, Swingate Lane | Owners undertaking accepted. | do. |
| 5, Taylor s Buildings | do. | 20th July |
| 6, Taylor's Buildings | do. | do. |
| 225, Bexley Road. . | Demolition Order | do. |
| 86, Eltham Road.. | Closing Order | do. |
| 57, Elmley Street | do. | 28th September |
| 1, Scotts Place | Demolition Order | do. |
| 1a, Courtlands Avenue | Representation | 14th October |
| 9. Passey Place | Closing Order | 23rd November |
| 17, Brewery Road | Representation | 13 th December |
| 10, Eltham Green. . | Closing Order | 21st December |
Underground Rooms.—Section 12 (2) of the Housing Act, 1936, states that
a room, the surface of the floor of which is more than 3 feet below the surface of
the street adjoining or more than 3 feet below the surface of any ground within
9 feet of the room, shall be deemed to be unfit for human habitation if either:—
(a) The average height of the room from floor to ceiling is not at least
7 feet ; or
(b) the room does not comply with regulations made by the local authority
for securing proper ventilation and lighting, and protection against dampness,
effluvia or exhalation.
In 1936 the Council submitted a revised set of Underground Room Regulations
to the Minister of Health. Later the Ministry indicated that in consequence of
the new legislation they were revising their Model Regulations. In these
circumstances the Town Clerk agreed that it would be advisable to defer consideration
of the proposed new Regulations until such time as the Model Regulations
of the Ministry were revised. The draft Regulations had not been approved by
the Minister by the end of 1938.