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
Hackney 1959
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hackney]
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37
SWIMMING BATHS. I am indebted to the General Manager, Baths and Civic
Recreation Department, for the following report on the public swimming baths
provided by the Borough Council:-
"The borough is served by three indoor swimming pools all situated at the
Central Baths, Lower Clapton Road, E, 5- the sizes of the pools are as follows:-
Large Mixed Pool- 120' x 42' containing 142,000 gallons of water
Gents Pool- 90' x 33' containing 84,000 gallons of water.
Ladies Pool- 80' x 29' containing 66,000 gallons of water
Water for the pools is supplied by the Metropolitan Water Board and 'is
then heated to a comfortable temperature for swimming. Purification is by
continuous circulation with a turn-over time of 354 hours- the water passes
through pressurised sand filters where pollution added by the bathers is
removed, The water is chemically treated and efficiently sterilised by the
latest chlorinating equipment Alkalinity, pH and Chlorine Residual Tests
are taken twice daily to ensure that the Ministry of Health standards are
maintained The Large Mixed Pool is converted to a Public Hall during the
winter months."
The one open air swimming bath situate in London Fields is provided and
maintained by the London County Council. Water is supplied by the Metropolitan
Water Board, and during the summer season a mechanical system of filtration
and chlorination is carried out. Copies of periodic chemical and bacteriological
examination of samples carried out by the Scientific Branch of the
Public Health Department at County Hall, are sent to me by the County Medical
Officer
SECTION 234 (Provision of Mortuaries). At the Council's Public Mortuary
which adjoins the Churchyard of the Parish Church of St. John-at-Hackney,
refrigerated accommodation is provided for fifteen bodies There is a well
equipped Post-Mortem Room and a Chapel/Viewing Room During the year alterations
were carried out whereby bodies can now be viewed through a window, so
obviating the need for relatives to enter the Chapel Also during the year a
bungalow building providing waiting room and interviewing room for the use of
the Coroner's Officers was erected on land adjoining the mortuary premises
Since 1956 this Mortuary has received bodies from the boroughs of Hackney, Stoke Newington, Bethnal Green and Shoreditch and the cost of the Mortuary is borne on a population basis by the four authorities.
| Hackney residents | Sho recti tch residents | Bethnal Green residents | Stoke Newington residen ts | Residen ts of other areas | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of bodies received | 265 | 70 | 79 | 86 | 73 | 573 |
| (i) to await burial | 2 | - | 6 | - | 1 | 9 |
| (ii) to await post-mortem examination | 263 | 70 | 73 | 86 | 72 | 564 |
| Cause of death certified by Coroner | 227 | 61 | 63 | 77 | 59 | 487 |
| Number of inquest cases | 36 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 13 | 77 |
LONDON COUNTY COUNCIL (GENERAL POWERS) ACT, 1937
SECTION 66 (Noise Nuisance) enacts that a noise nuisance is a nuisance which
may be dealt with summarily under the Public Health (London) Act, with the
proviso that a complaint made to the court other than by a sanitary authority
shall be of no effect unless it is made by no less than three persons being
either householders or occupiers of premises within the hearing of the noise