[Report 1911] / Medical Officer of Health, Clayton-le-Moors U.D.C.

  • Clayton-le-Moors (England). Urban District Council.
Date:
1911
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1911] / Medical Officer of Health, Clayton-le-Moors U.D.C. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    7/52 (page 7)
    Social Conditions. The inhabitants of Clayton-le-Moors present the general charcteristics of most Lancashire people, and may be said to be both industrious and thrifty. Evidence of distress and pauperi- zation is not apparent to any extent. During the year the numbers of persons in receipt of out-relief in Clayton-le-Moors were 38 adult males, 62 adult females, and 87 children, at a total cost of ;£^i95 ios. od In cases requiring hospital treatment the inhabitants have the advantage of admission at the Victoria Hospital, Accrington, which is utilized somewhat largely for this purpose. Clubs, social and other kinds, are in evidence, and means of improvement, intellectually and morally, are not absent. From the estimation of the number of houses in the Town- ship there is no evidence of much overcrowding ; yet a few more extensions would be welcomed. There are 1,995 houses inhabited, representing 4.4 persons per house. The major portion of the inhabitants are employed in cotton factories, as spinners and cotton weavers, both male and female. In the cotton weaving about 85 per cent, are females. Other industries are millers, soap-boilers, brick-makers, miners, and machinists. Many inhabitants are employed in the iron and machine works in the Borough of Accrington. The occupations which the general body of workers in the cotton mills follow partake of that character which cannot be said to be favourable, either to health or physical development. The conditions of noxious effluvia, dust, and germ-laden atmo- sphere are difficult to eliminate, and have their deteriorating effect. The compulsorily somewhat hurried meals and fanciful dietary which, under this term, means that workers in cotton factories are not as healthy in appetite as out-door workers, may also be considered as one of the contributory causes of deterior- ated vigour. The female workers have also other conditions to