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
Heston and Isleworth 1914
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Heston and Isleworth]
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The following table summarises the work done under this Act in this district since it came into force:—
| Year. | Number of houses inspected. | Number of houses closed (i.e. Closing Orders made). | Number of houses in respect of which Notices were served. (i.e. Intimations). | Number of houses demolished. | Number of houses put into a satisfactory state of repair. | Number of houses inspected and outstanding. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1909* | 12 | 12 | ... | ... | 4 | 8 |
| 1910 | 38 | 30 | 8 | 22 | 1 | 23 |
| 1911 | 114 | 29 | 86 | 26 | 45 | 66 |
| 1912 | 87 | 28 | 42 | 17 | 22 | 114 |
| 1913 | 153 | 37 | 101 | 9 | 124 | 134 |
| 1914 | 101 | 15† | 80 | 13 | 125 | 97 |
*Act only in force for one month.
†In addition, 1 house was closed voluntarily, and 1 has become unoccupied.
The above table shews a progressive increase in the work
done under the Housing Acts in respect of the number inspected,
and a still more marked increase in the number put into a
satisfactory state of repair. It has, however, been somewhat
interrupted owing to the national crisis. I believe it is necessary
to increase the number inspected per annum to about 200 houses,
but I do not feel that it would be safe to go beyond that number
with the present staff without causing a sacrifice of the efficiency
with which the other work is carried out.
The general character of the defects dealt with are—
Dampness due to (1) Absence of damp-proofing.
(2) Gutterings and roofs.
(3) Defective brickwork.
Water-cisterns so placed and kept as to render the water
liable to contamination.
Want of paving and draining to yard surface.
Absence of proper and sufficient dustbins.
Absence of ventilated food cupboard.