London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Bethnal Green 1890
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Bethnal Green]
This page requires JavaScript
45
In two instances the summonses were dismissed. In one case
(viewed personally by Mr. Montague Williams) the house had
been emptied by the owner, and so far repaired as to satisfy the
Magistrate that an order was unnecessary. The second case was
an underground dwelling where the sanitary conveniences were
placed in an area under the footway and without proper ventilation.
Mead did not consider the case suitable for a closing order,
and dismissed the summons.
The following particulars are calculated up to August,1891:
| District No. 1. | District No. 2. | District No. 3. | Totals. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Number of house certified since pawing of Act | 39 | 44 | 39 | 122 |
| Number of house closed under Magistrate's order | 39 | 26 | 21 | 86 |
| House Closed by owner | 0 | 14 | 2 | 16 |
| House repaired and rc-opened | 1 | 0 | 5 | 6 |
| Number of houses demolished | 25 | 17 | 2 | 44 |
| Summonses withdrawn | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Summonses dismissed | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Hearing of Summonses part heard and adjourned | 0 | 11 | 8 | 19 |
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS UNDER THE NUISANCE
REMOVAL ACT.
A total of 3674 houses were visited and reported on by the
three Inspectors. Most of these required many re-inspections,
and a total of 7750 subsequent visits were paid, making a grand
total of 11,751 visits during the year. This gives an average of
3.2 visits per ease.
Four thousand and one Statutory Notices were served, and
innumerable letters written. Most of these notices were ultimately
obeyed ; but as in 383 cases the owners either refused to comply