[Report 1905] / Medical Officer of Health, Bacup Borough.
- Bacup (England). Borough Council.
- Date:
- 1905
Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
Credit: [Report 1905] / Medical Officer of Health, Bacup Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.
19/50 page 17
![GENERAL REMARKS. The Borough of Bacup is a very hilly district. It i.s situated on tlie western spurs of the Pennine Hills. The river Irwell takes its rise at Cliviger. just outside the Northern boundary of the Borough, and flows about five miles through its entire length. The elevation varies from 800 to 1500 feet above the sea level. The average number of persons per acre is 3‘6. The population is very sparse in the upland and moorland portions. In the central part of Bacup and Stacksteads the population is much more dense. The geological formation is the mill-stone grit, above which are thick beds of clay. The soil is cold and damp. House Accommodation.—The houses are built of stone ; very few of bricks. Owing to the improved condi- tion of the slipper and cotton industries there has been an influx of people. Nearly all the empty houses have been repaired and are now occupied. There is a scarcity of artisan dwellings with three bedrooms. This type of house is needed, and would readily let. A few have been built during the year, and have been occupied as soon as they were I’eady for occupation. Owing to the physical features of the town, it was the custom to build back-to-back houses, and in some veiy hilly portions, having houses one above another, the upper houses being reached by a street at the back. In recent years none of these have been built Every year manj^ of these houses have been improved by securing more light and ventilation, and making them into through houses. Removal and Disposal op House Refuse.—This woi’k is done by our Scavengers, and gives much more satisfaction than when it was done by contractors. In the larger number of houses the contents of the tubs and pails are I'emoved weekly. Much moi'e might be done to lessen the bulk if all vegetable matters, paper. Ac., were burnt, instead of being mixed with ashes. The refuse is deposited on tips. Since the division of the Borough into seven cleansing districts by ]\Ir. Harnes, Sanitary Inspector, the work has been still more efficiently done This, too, at a considerable saving to the I'ates. Sewerage and Drainage.—The Sewering of the Borough has made considerable progress during the year.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b28898564_0019.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
