[Report 1913] / Medical Officer of Health, Chatham Borough.

  • Chatham (Kent, England). Borough Council.
Date:
1913
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1913] / Medical Officer of Health, Chatham Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    untidy, iinswept, windows not cleaned, dust and cobwebs everywdiere, grates unswept, table littered with dirty cups, saucers and plates ; upstairs, beds unmade, slops not taken away. The ])residing genius of this establishment is ai down-atdieel slattern, with dirty, unmendeil and Inittonless clothing, kept in place Ity numerous safety and other pins. Her hair is never tidy, and her face and hands are grimy and unwashed. She cannot cook, sew, or clean. Some of the difficulties under which these ])eople labour are due to* economic causes, to the size of the family, and to absence of necessary ('onveniences. It is to a reform of the last condition that municipal administration ('an con- tribute. In addition tO' the rvork above described, I made a special report to your Council on May T3th wdth respect to what is knowm as the Brook area. This area comprises both sides of King Street, the older portion of Cross Street, the whole of Queen Street, and the Brcaok from Xos. T13 tO' 173, inclusive, together with all houses in the rear of and approached from any of these streets. Total extent of area, 4*59 cicres. Number of houses, 160. hlstimated pcapulation, 660. About 90 houses are Ijack-to-back, or non-through. The representation was made under Bart I. of the Housing of the A\’orkmg ( dasses Act, rSgo, Section 4 (amended by Section 22 of. the H ousing and 'Fowm-Blanning Act (T 1909). I have felt for some time that attempts to patch up and repair such ])ro])erty as exists in this area were a waste of effort, because they led to no permanent im])rovement, and that the existing insanitary (Conditions, the poverty, the squalor, and the bad habits of life can only be ameliorated bv attac'king the locality as a wdiole and in a drastic manner. It is a subject of considerable magnitude, and is still under the ('onsideration of a Special Sub-Committee. Bending their decision, whicli cannot l)e long delayed, the Report is not yet available for the pul)li('. Beyond stating that the members of the (Committee have, by ])ersonal visitation, satisfied themselves as t(3 the truth (af my representation, further comment wmuld at present be in- appropriate. A point has been reached in connection wdth the housing problem which needs very serious consideration. A large number of houses have been closed and demolished, and there are several others for which this is the only satisfa('tory treatment, l)ut the accommodation for jieople of the ('lass disjilaced is insufficient. In many cases it is a ])ractical impossiladity to find a suitable dwelling, and unless the deficiency can be made up, a continuance of work under Section 17 ('an only lead to a disastrous method of house sharing, alreadv too prevalent.