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
West Ham 1956
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for West Ham]
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(e) Ventilation,
The remarks given under (d) natural lighting apply, broadly speaking, to ventilation.
(f) Drainage and Sanitary Convenienses.
This item, so far as slum clearance considerations are concerned, causes little or
no trouble in this Borough, as all the houses aire provided with drains and water closets.
If it were known that the drains were defective action would probably be taken under the
Public Health Act, as defective drains are regarded as serious and cannot be left in a
defective condition for months or maybe years, whilst the slum clearance procedure is going
through.
(g) Facilities for the Storage, Preparation and Cooking of Pood and for the Disposal of
Waste Water.
One of the first essentials under this heading is a suitable larder ventilated
directly to the external air, but this is lacking in the large majority of houses in West
Ham. Other essentials, which every house in the Borough possesses, are an oven and a sink.
Summary of Action Taken Under the Housing Acts, 1936-55.
| Areas Officially Reoresented. | Houses | Families |
|---|---|---|
| Godfrey Street | 10 | 10 |
| Denmark Street | 9 | 8 |
| Sutton Road (3 areas) | 20 | 26 |
| Constance Street (3 areas) | 10 | 14 |
| Andrew Street and Constance Street (2 areas) | 42 | 51 |
| Gray Street | 4 | 6 |
| Waddington Street (2 areas) | 36 | 33 |
| Naples Street (2 areas) | 12 | 12 |
| South Street | 4 | 4 |
| West Street | 4 | 4 |
| Mays Buildings, Chapel Street | 12 | 11 |
| Francis Street | 13 | 12 |
| Primrose Court and Cullum Street | 15 | 7 |