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

Whitechapel 1862

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Whitechapel]

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Table: Summary of Courts and Places visited by the Inspectors, from 29th march, to the 30th day June, 1862.

Summary of Courts and Places visited by the Inspectors, from 29th march, to the 30th day June, 1862.

Total.Names or Courts or Places.Numbers of houses and Rooms. and Numuer of Inmates when Visited.Courts or places where Adults of both Sexes were ascertained to be living and sleeping in the same room, and particulars of such indecent occupation.Remarks.
No. of Houses.No. of RoomsNo. of Inmate*
fuson's-court, Middlesex-st.718481st case.—Father, mother, and adult daughter sleeping in 1 room.Rooms average 9 by 9 by 7½
12nd do. Man and wife, also a woman and child ditto
As this comes under the Common Lodging House Act it has been reported to the Police.
1Mason s-ct. High-st M.E.N.T.81635Only one case, Father, mother, adult daughter, and child sleeping in 1 room.Rooms average 12 by 12 by 7½
1King's Arms-ct., Middlesex-st.2819No case of Indecent Occupation.Rooms average 9 by 13 by 7½
1Nelson s-ct., Little North-st.920501st case.—Mother, son, (18 yrs. of age) and 2 children sleeping in 1 room.Rooms average 11 by 11 by 7¾
2nd do. Mother, son, (16 years of age) and 1 child sleeping together.
Spratt's-alley, Little North-st.816451st case.—A House consisisting of 2 rooms occupied by 1 family as follows:—Kooms average 12 by 12 by 8
1Father, mother, and daughter, 20 years of age sleeping in same bed, and 2 sons (17 & 18 years old) and child in another bed, but in same room.(*) See note below.
2nd case.—Father, mother, and son (18 years of age) in one room.
3rd do.Dittodo.do.20 dittoditto )and child ditto.
1Boundary-court, John-street4821Only 1 case, father, mother, daughter, (17 years ot age) and 3 children ditto.Rooms average 12 by 12 by 8
John's-place, Mile End N. T.13211081st case.—Brother and sister adults, sleeping together.Rooms average 11 by 9 by 8
12nd do.Father, mother, son, 21 years old, and 2 chicken in one room.
3rd do.Dittodo.16do.ditto.
4th do.Dittodo.17do.ditto.
1Anns-court, Preston-street41213Only 1 case, father, mother, and daughter, 30 years of age sleeping in one room.Rooms average 11 by 12 by 8½
1George-court, George-street61228No case of Indecent OccupationRooms average 12 by 11 by 6½
1Goodwins-bids., Wentworth-st.61238DittodittoRooms average 14½ by 9 by 9
1Gt.Tongue-yd.,Whitechapl,-rd101827DittodittoRooms average 12 by 10 by 7
1L.Tongue-yd.,WhiteChapel-rd.4823DittodittoRooms average 11 by 10 by 7
1Hampshire-ct.,Whitechapl.-rd153790DittodittoRooms average 12 by 9 by 8
1Swan-court, Mansell-street62466DittodittoRooms average 12 by 12 by 7 At Nos 4 & 5, nnlicensed Lodging-houses, notice given to Police.
1Sugar Loaf-ct. Mansell-street92770DittodittoRooms average 12 by 10 by 7
1Brunswick-pl.,BackChurch-ra.194692DittodittoRooms average 12 by 12 by 7
1Providence-place, do.71411DittodittoRooms average 11 by 8 by 6
1Williams-rents, do.184058DittodittoRooms average 12 by 11 by 7
1Providence-court, do.51020DittodittoRooms average 10 by 10 by 8
1Bond-court, Chamber-street51013DittodittoRooms average 12 by 10 by 7
20Courts165514875

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* This room is not only indecently occupied by the whole family as a sleeping apartment, but it is also overcrowded; the room being 12 by 11 by 8, which gives only 176
cubic feet to each person. No steps, however can be taken to prevent the it-decent occupation. This family rents two rooms, both of which, if they liked, could be used
as sleeping apart incuts. Expostulation with persons of this class, is generally treated with ridicule.