Health and housing

Health in Changing Britain (1760-1914)

The Industrial Revolution led to rapid population growth placing strain on sanitary conditions.
Many people migrated to urbanised areas, exacerbating overcrowding and health issues.
Poorly planned and hastily constructed housing provided inadequate ventilation, promoting spread of diseases.
Sanitation was extremely low with no access to clean water and sewage management, leading to frequent cholera outbreaks.
Changing attitudes in the late 1800s led to public health reform. Edwin Chadwick’s 1842 report on sanitary conditions greatly influenced this change.
As a result of growing awareness, the Public Health Act of 1848 was passed, marking a shift towards concern for public health.
The Act caused creation of a national General Board of Health, establishing local boards tasked with maintaining cleanliness and managing disease outbreaks.
It also propelled the building of water and sewage infrastructure systems which significantly reduced waterborne diseases.

Housing in Changing Britain (1760-1914)

The rapid urbanisation resulted in poorly designed, cramped dwellings known as back-to-backs.
These houses often housed multiple families in very close quarters, typifying the housing problem of the era.
In the 19th century, row houses became common. They were a slight improvement with better ventilation and separate rooms, but still suffered from overcrowding.
With industrial growth, slums became a pervasive part of urban experience with appalling living conditions.
The need for change was slow to be recognised. The Public Health Act of 1875 was a turning point which regulated conditions of drainage, sewage, water supply and overcrowding.
By this act, local authorities were given powers to close down and demolish unsanitary houses.
By the end of the 19th century, ‘model’ villages and towns constructed by philanthropic industrialists such as Saltaire by Sir Titus Salt, began to appear, providing workers with healthier living conditions.
These new housing initiatives paved the way to modern standards with provision for clean water, adequate ventilation and waste disposal.