Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Martin-in-the-Fields]
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42
Lumley Court.—A. court situated in the Strand.
Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4 are very old and out of repair;
the court in the situation of these houses is only
7 feet 4 wide, and opposite to them is a large wall
belonging to the Vaudeville Theatre, which darkens
the rooms. These four houses are populated by
forty-three people. I consider they are not healthy
habitations.
This, gentlemen, concludes the report of my
inspection, and in the event of these habitations
I have mentioned being pulled down, the question
will be: What class of house is to replace them,
whether as at present, or on the model lodging-house
system? Should my advice be asked on the subject,
I would recommend the model lodging-house plan,
for the following reasons:—
Better supervision could be exercised over the
inmates in the way of cleanliness; in case of diseases
of an infectious nature the Superintendent of the
establishment would at once be made acquainted
with the fact, when measures could immediately be
taken for the removal or isolation of the patient; and
again in view of the great value of land in this neighhood,
the model lodging-house system would house
more people on less land than the present plan. I
have very strong objection to the way a house is let
out to the poor at present. The landlord may live
miles away, consequently, there is no one responsible
for order and cleanliness; if anything goes wrong in