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

View report page

Kensington 1890

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington]

This page requires JavaScript

212
to any single site in the parish. Much good might be effected
by the provision of buildings, on a modest scale, in several
localities, to which the poor could resort for the purpose of
washing clothing. The statistics contained in the successive
Annual Reports of the Commissioners for Baths, &c., demonstrate
a constantly increasing use made of the wash-houses, and are of
a nature to encourage the hope that it may be found not merely
desirable, but prudent also, to provide, at no distant time, for the
wants of the poor in the central and southern parts of the parish.
The total number of washers, 13,950 only, in the year ended March
25th, 1889, rose to 31,113 in the year ended on 25th March, 1890,
and to 39,829 in the year ended March 25th, 1891. The number of
hours employed in washing in the three years consecutively, was
38,709, 84,352, and 106,560. Obviously the question of public
wash-houses might with advantage be separated from that of
public baths. The bathers in 1890-91 were 89,491—viz., males,
77,905, and females, 11,586; in the swimming baths, 48,871, and
in private baths, 40,620. The total number in the previous
year was 79,029.
The Commissioners, in their Annual Report, state that " the
amount received, during the year, of the Vestry
towards the repayment of loans and interest, and to meet the
expenses of maintaining the Institution was £5692, being but a
little more than equal to a rate of three farthings in the £ to
the Ratepayers."
The Sanitary Committee of the London County Council,
having "considered the question of the advisability of the
Council being invested with powers to establish public baths and
laundries in all parts of London came to the
conclusion that this was not one of the questions that pressed
most for central administration, and that it might be deferred
until district councils are created; and with this view the Council
concurred."*
* Annual Report of the Committee, 1889-90.