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
Richmond upon Thames 1936
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Richmond]
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The number of cases of overcrowding reported according to the standard fixed by the Minister is 110, or 1.84 per cent. distributed in the following wards:—
| North Sheen Ward | 24 |
| East „ | 17 |
| King's „ | 15 |
| Park „ | 15 |
| Selwyn „ | 12 |
| St. Luke's „ | 11 |
| Sudbrook „ | 6 |
| Central „ | 5 |
| Town „ | 3 |
| Kew „ | 2 |
| Total | 110 |
The total number of persons affected is 711 and Local
Authorities providing housing accommodation for overcrowded
persons, who are to be displaced, will be bound by the provisions of
Section 37 of the 1930 Act as regards the number of persons who
may be deemed to be properly accommodated in any replacement
houses belonging to themselves.
In addition to the 110 cases of overcrowding, there are 12
families which will become overcrowded before December, 1936,
and a further 11 families which will become overcrowded during
1937/1938. All of these will have to be revisited when the
appropriate review dates arrive.
In considering the application of the Standard in relation to
particular families it is to be noted "that apart from the number of
persons who may occupy a house, there is an over-riding condition
that the accommodation available for a particular family must be
such that no two persons both of 10 years of age or over of
opposite sexes, except persons living together as husband and wife,
must sleep in the same room" (Section 2(1) (a)).
The Survey revealed 48 cases of moral overcrowding viz,
where persons of both sexes over 10 years of age were found to be
sharing the same bedroom.