[Report 1925] / Medical Officer of Health, Todmorden Borough.

  • Todmorden (England). Borough Council.
Date:
1925
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1925] / Medical Officer of Health, Todmorden Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    From this it will be seen that although Todmorden is well-known for its exports in cotton goods, in pickers, and in other accessories to the cotton trade, the chief ex])ort of Todmorden has been and is, men and women. This is a serious state of affairs. On the one hand I sugge.st that captains of industry should meet together with you to determine a policy which would offer an opportunit}^ for your natural increase in popu¬ lation to be absorbed locally by industry. On the other hand I suggest to you the possiblity of drastic alteration in your housing policy which would include the extension of Todmorden to the uplands, which we all know as “ Yon Tops.” It is only by such an expansion in industr}^ and in available housing acconimodation that Todmorden can grow in proportion to the enterprise and civic patriotism of its inhabitants. NO. OF INHABITED HOUSES. In Todmorden the number of inhabited houses in the year 1921 was (5,700. It is the exception, not the rule, for more than one family to occupy one house. RATEABLE VALUE AND SUM REPRESENTED BY PENNY RATE. The Rateable \hdue on the 1st April, 1925 was £144,863. and it is estimated that a Penny Rate brings in approximately 4500. SPECIAL CONDITIONS. The people of Todmorden are chiefly occupied in the cotton industry including weaving, picker making, and the manufacture of machinery for the cotton industry. It is unnecessary for me to point out the very great changes which have taken place in industrial environment during the ])ast generation, but I may perhaps point out certain social habits which are changing. Aimnigst the rising generation the clogs and shawl are looked upon as old-fashioned and I regret to say in certain cases still further looked upon as undignified. This is un-