[Report 1908] / Medical Officer of Health, Okehampton Borough.

  • Okehampton (England). Borough Council.
Date:
1908
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1908] / Medical Officer of Health, Okehampton Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    fto tbe ©feebampton TIown Council. * annual IReport of tbe flbebical ®fficer of Ibealtb, 1908. Qentlemen, I have the honour of submitting my Twenty- first Annual Report as your Medical Officer of Health. In dealing with the subject matter I will take up the several points laid down in the official memorandum of the Local Government Board, covering, as they do, the ground in a comprehensive manner. The small market town of Okehampton lies near the centre of the county, on the north-western edge of Dartmoor. The height above sea-level varies from 450 feet to 750 feet. Two rapid streams (the East and West Okement) pass through the town, joining just below. Geologically, the town lies in the Culmiferous Trough of Central Devon, stratified rocks underlying being mainly shale and slate. The lower part of the town is built on an ancient river bed, made up of water worn stones and gravel, with occasional small beds of clay. The population at the census of 1901 was returned as 2,568. There has been an increase since then, and is now probably 2,900. The population is employed pretty much as is usual in a small but growing market-town. A boot factory employs several hands, and a quarry worked by the London & South Western Railway finds employment for over 100 of the inhabitants. The area of the borough is 502 acres. House Accommodation—During recent years considerable building operations have been carried out, chiefly in new streets. The bye¬ laws have been satisfied, both as regards the structure of houses and sufficiency of air space around. In parts of the town, also, street widening is carried out as opportunity arises. The surroundings of the newer houses are generally in a clean condition. Two or three courts of old houses still remain, and isolated blocks of old cottages are met with here and there. Each year, however, is marked by demolition ; and I think the time is not far distant when few of these unsatisfactory cottages will remain,