1,071
Views
21
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Papers

‘Unhealthy areas’: Town planning, eugenics and the slums, 1890–1945

Pages 24-46 | Published online: 08 May 2007

References

  • Marwick , A. 1964 . Middle Opinion in the 1930s: Planning, Progress and Political Agreement . English Historical Review , : 285 – 298 .
  • Freeden , M. 1979 . Eugenics and Progressive Thought: A study in Ideological Affinity . History Journal , 22 (30) : 645 – 671 .
  • M'Gonigle , G. C. M. and Kirby , J. 1937 . Poverty and Public Health , 76 London : Gollancz .
  • Barnes , H. 1926–7 . The Slum Problem . Journal of Town Planning Institute , : 147 (J.T.P.I.)
  • For a general discussion of sanitary reform, see
  • Wohl , A. 1984 . Endangered Lives: Public Health in Victorian Britain , London : Methuen .
  • For the effect of the 1880s on public health reformers’ aspirations, see Chapter 11, ‘Home Sweet Home’ and especially pp. 324–8.
  • Titmuss , R. 1943 . Birth, Poverty and Wealth. A study of Infant Mortality , 14 London : Hamish Hamilton Medical Books .
  • Wohl , A. Endangered Lives , 324
  • ibid: p. 326. On the significance of the East End in terms of housing policy, see
  • Stedman Jones , G. 1976 . Outcast London, A Study in the Relationship between Classes in Victorian Society , Peregrine Books .
  • Wohl , A. 1977 . The Eternal Slum: Housing and Social Policy in Victorian London , 318 – 321 . London : Edward Arnold .
  • Housing of the Working Classes Act 1890. Section 4. These terms repeat those used in the 1875 Housing Act.
  • Evans , L. C. 1922–3 . (Town Clerk, Salford) . Acquiring and Replanning Congested Areas J.T.P.I. , : 84
  • Bell , G. 1849–50 . Day and Night in The Wynds of Edinburgh and Blackfriars Wynd Analyzed reprinted Wakefield, 1983.
  • From 1900 onwards, the WNHC supported the idea of local authority housebuilding in the suburbs, advocating not merely the provision of cottages with gardens, baths and hot and cold water, but estates ‘pleasant to the eye’ and equipped with communal facilities [Public Record Office CAB 27/42 DC 29. Memorandum by Addison, 3 December 1918].
  • Hennock , E. P. 1976 . Poverty and Social Theory in England: The Experience of the 1880s . Social History , : 67 – 91 .
  • The membership of social hygiene groups is discussed in
  • Jones , G. 1986 . Social Hygiene in Twentieth Century Britain , London : Croom Helm .
  • Mazumdar , P. M. H. 1980 . The Eugenists and the Residuum: The Problem of the Urban Poor . Bulletin of History of Medicine , : 212 – 3 . LN
  • Jones , G. Social Hygiene in Twentieth Century Britain , 19 43 – 7 . 50 – 2 .
  • Freeden , M. “ Eugenics and Social Thought ” . 654 – 7 .
  • National Service Medical Boards . November 1917 ‐ October 1918 1920 . Physical examination of Men of Military Age: Report Vol. 1 , November 1917 ‐ October 1918 ,
  • PRO HLG 29/129 Housing Act 1923 ‘Average Increase in Numbers of Houses since 1900–1914’. The Tudor Walters Committee reckoned a shortfall of 500,000. On unfitness, PRO HLG 47/699 Memorandum to Ministry of Health, signed 1. G. Gibbon, dated 29.7.20 ‘Unfit Houses and Unhealthy Areas’. For the viewpoint of the then Minister of Health see
  • Addison , C. 1922 . The Betrayal of the Slums , London : Herbert Jenkin .
  • This view has been argued by
  • Swenarton , M. 1981 . Homes Fit for Heroes , London : Heinemann .
  • Ritchie , A. W. 1924–5 . The Housing Shortage and its Baneful Effects . Journal of The Royal Sanitary Institute (J.R.S.I.) , : 388
  • Barnes , H. 1926 . Housing: The Fact and the Future , London : Ernest Benn .
  • Carrott , E. 1920–21 . (Sanitary Inspector, Bristol), ‘The Duties of the Sanitary Inspector in Relation to the Housing Acts’ . J.R.S.I. , : 336
  • Ministry of Health. Unhealthy Areas Committee . 1921 . Final Report 16 – 17 .
  • PRO HLG 47/700 Unhealthy Areas Report. Minute. Signed I. G. Gibbon. Dated 24.6.1921.
  • PRO HLG 47/700 Unhealthy Areas. Ms. Note, Arthur Robinson, Minister of Health. Dated 23.5.1921.
  • PRO HLG 47/699 (1) I. G. Gibbon Minute ‘Designation of Unhealthy Areas’ dated 22.12.1919. Local Authorities were given only 6 months to carry out the survey and submit a programme to the Minister. (2) I. G. Gibbon Minute to Minister. Dated 12.2.1920. ‘Unhealthy Areas Town Planning’. (3) I. G. Gibbon Minute to Sir Arthur Robinson. Dated 8.12.1920. ‘Slum Areas’.
  • PRO HLG 47/699. Draft Minute. I. G. Gibbon to Minister of Health. Dated 29.7.1920.
  • ibid.
  • PRO HLG 47/699. I. G. Gibbon to Sir Arthur Robinson. Dated 8.12.1920. ‘Slum Areas’.
  • PRO HLG 47/699. Minute prepared for I. G. Gibbon. Dated 13.6.1921. ‘Suggested “Rationing Arrangement” ‘.
  • PRO HLG 68/29. Sir Alfred Mond, Minister of Health. Cabinet Memorandum. Dated 22.6.21.
  • Jones , G. Social Hygiene in Twentieth Century Britain , 50 – 2 .
  • Laws , G. 1932–3 . Housing Act, 1930. Slum Ending or Slum Mending . J.R.S.I. , : 432 – 3 .
  • Hanks , Louis . 1927–8 . Improved Houses for Poor Families . J.R.S.I , : 178 – 9 .
  • Sutherland , Joan . The Prevention of Slums . ibid , 259 – 61 .
  • Hodson , C. B. S. 1923–4 . Eugenics and Public Health . J.R.S.I. , : 248
  • Tredgold , A. F. 1926–7 . The Place of Inheritance in Preventative Medicine . J.R.S.I. , : 182
  • For Tredgold's support for the detention and sterilisation of the feeble minded (including the senile, those referred by parents as in need of detention, those ‘defectives’ found wandering, neglected or cruelly treated plus any others in ‘special circumstances’ as defined by the Secretary of State), see
  • Jones , G. Social Hygiene in Twentieth Century Britain , 31 – 3 .
  • Bowley , A. L. 1923 . Death Rates, Density, Population and Housing . Journal of Royal Statistical Society , : 516 – 46 .
  • Ward , S. 1974 . The Town and Country Planning Act, 1932 . The Planner ,
  • Platt , F. 1928–9 . A Brief Review of the Present Condition of National Housing . J.R.S.I. , : 169
  • Frazer , W. M. 1933–4 . Housing and Slum Clearance . J.R.S.I. , : 376 – 87 .
  • Robertson , Professor Sir John . 1930–1 . The Slum Problem . J.R.S.I. , : 279 – 84 .
  • PRO HLG 29/213. Housing. Dated 13.12.1933. ‘Slum Clearance deals with the worst ... picks out the eyes’.
  • Hanks, Improved Houses for Poor Families.
  • Odlum , Doris . 1928–9 . The Influence of the Environment on the Mental Health and Development of the Child: with Special Reference to Housing and Sanitary Conditions Generally . J.R.S.I. , : 245
  • PRO HLG 47/11. Statements showing the position of clearance and improvement’ areas at 31 December, 1932.
  • PRO HLG 29/213. Notes of Departmental Conference. Dated 12.3.1934.
  • ibid.
  • Crothers , Hamilton . 1930–1 . Housing: with Special Reference to the Housing Act 1930, from the Point of view of a Town Councillor . J.R.S.I. , : 625 – 31 .
  • Jefford , F. R. 1933–4 . Reconditioning in Relation to Urban Housing . J.R.S.I. , : 451 – 8 .
  • Cresswell , W. T. Town and Country Planning . J.R.S.I. , 659 – 69 .
  • Sutherland , Joan . 1927–8 . (Manager of Working Class Property in London) . The Prevention of the Slums J.R.S.I. , : 259 – 61 .
  • Galton , M. 1926–7 . Housing of the Very Poor . J.R.S.I. , : 386 – 8 .
  • Speake , T. 1929–30 . Housing of the Poor and slum Clearance . J.R.S.I. , : 571 – 5 .
  • PRO HLG 29/213 Housing. Dated 13.12.33.
  • PRO HLG 29/213. Memorandum. Signed Sir Arthur Lowry. Revised 7.1.34.
  • PRO HLG 29/213. Draft of a proposed Housing Bill. Dated 18.1.34.
  • PRO HLG 29/213. Sir E. Hilton Young, Cabinet Memorandum, Housing Policy, Dated January 1934.
  • PRO HLG 29/213. Conference Hilton Young and Miles Mitchell. Conference with Representatives of Local Authorities. February (?). 1934. Dated 28.2.34.
  • PRO HLG 29/214. Letter addressed to the National Housing Council. Signed E. Hilton Young. Dated 13.2.35.
  • PRO HLG 29/213. Notes of Conference. Minister and Representatives of the Association of Municipal Corporations. Dated 13.4.34.
  • ibid.
  • PRO HLG 29/213. Note on Memorandum of Sir Arthur Lowry. Dated 4.1.34.
  • PRO HLG 29/213. Memorandum. Dated 1.1.34.
  • PRO HLG 29/213. Memorandum. Revised 7.1.34. (Sir Arthur Lowry).
  • PRO HLG 29/213. Note on Memorandum of Sir Arthur Lowry. Dated 4.1.34. PRO HLG 29/214. Housing Bill — Notes for Second Reading. A review of the new standard applied by Ministry officials to the Borough of Camberwell in London gave an increase in overcrowding of 50% compared with the 1931 Census.
  • In relation to the overcrowding standard, it was held that ‘more important almost than the abatement of overcrowding was the prevention of new overcrowding’. PRO HLG 29/214. The Objects and Methods of the New Housing Bill. Dated Spring 1934.
  • M'Gonigle , G. C. M. and Kirby , J. 1937 . Poverty and Public Health , 10 – 1 . Gollancz .
  • ibid. pp. 102–3.
  • ibid. p. 104.
  • ibid. p. 11.
  • ibid. p. 263.
  • ibid. p. 275.
  • A. Marwick, Middle Opinion in the 1930s.
  • G. Jones, Social Hygiene in Twentieth Century Britain, Ch. 6.
  • M. Freeden, Eugenics and Progressive Thought.
  • Odium , D. “ Influence of Environment on Mental Health ” . 246
  • Jeffries , L. M. 1932–3 . Practical Aspects of Conception Control from a Medical Woman's Point of View . J.R.S.I. , : 201
  • ibid. Discussion, p. 206 (Dr A. G. Thompson).
  • Titmuss , R. 1943 . Birth, Poverty and Wealth. A study of Infant Mortality , London : Hamish Hamilton Medical Books .
  • ibid, p. 59.
  • ibid, p. 83
  • ibid, p. 95.
  • ibid, p. 100.
  • Wilkinson , R. , ed. 1986 . Class and Health: Research and Longitudinal Data , London : Longman .
  • For an evaluation of the current status of eugenics, see
  • Kevles , Daniel L. 1985 . In the Name of Eugenics: Genetics and the Uses of Human Heredity , New York : Knopf .
  • Lockwood , M. 1985 . Nature , 317 10 October : 481 – 2 .
  • Dr Patrica L. Garside is Senior Lecturer in Environmental Health and Housing at the University of Salford; her chief research interest is the history of planning and housing policy, and its relationship with urban development. Previous publications include Metropolitan London: Politics and Urban Change 1837–1981 (with Ken Young, 1982).

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.