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
Harrow 1968
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Harrow]
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113
SHOPS
At the end of the year there were 2,176 occupied shops on the register,
45 fewer than at the end of the previous year. Many of the premises that
fell vacant were re-opened for business purposes other than retail trade, for
example, as launderettes, betting shops or as agencies. This has, in fact,
been the trend over a period of many years. At the end of the year over 80
shop premises were vacant.
Two new large food stores opened up during the year and the number
of small food businesses in the Borough fell by 30.
The following is a list of the various types of shops in the Borough, classified under their principal trades. (The figures in brackets indicate the 1954 position).
| Antiques | 14(9) | Motors & Accessories | 132 (99) |
| Boot repairs | 35 (61) | Musical | 9(4) |
| Boots and Shoes | 46 (52) | Newsagents | 109 (125) |
| Builders' Merchants | 22 (25) | Opticians | 18 (20) |
| Butchers | 109 (133) | Ladies' Outfitters | 103 (93) |
| Chemists | 58 (77) | Gents' Outfitters | 77 (81) |
| Coal Order Offices | 23 (36) | Photographic | 20 (15) |
| Confectioners/Cafes | 151 (172) | Pet Stores | 13(6) |
| Drapers | 27 (55) | Public Houses | 54 (56) |
| Radio, T.V. & Electrical.. | 91 (62) | Second-hand Wardrobes | 4(6) |
| Fish and Fried Fish | 40 (63) | Sewing Machines | 7 (—) |
| Florists | 19 (27) | Stationers | 24(6) |
| Fruiterers & Greengrocers | 101 (144) | Tobacconists | 116 (144) |
| Furnishers | 70 (50) | Toys, Sports Equipment . | 24 (14) |
| Glass & China | 13(14) | Paint & Wallpaper | 35 (12) |
| Grocers | 158 (229) | Wines & Spirits | 44 (41) |
| Hairdressers | 147 (129) | Wools | 22 (22) |
| Hardware | 64 (68) | Timber, woodwork | 25 (-) |
| Jewellers | 27 (30) | Large mixed stores | 27 (14) |
| Leather goods | 10(11) | Miscellaneous | 88 (95) |
| TOTAL | — 2,176 |
During the year 1,341 visits were made for purposes connected with
the administration of Shops Acts 1950/1965; Sunday and evening
observations were also made.
Many minor contraventions were noted and dealt with. Summary
proceedings were only necessary in one case, namely, where a trader
persisted in selling non-exempted goods on a Sunday. He was fined £5
plus five guineas costs.