Using the sources of information provided, what evidence is there to suggest that there were serious health problems in Wigan in 1900?

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Public Health in Wigan

1900 - Present Day

Question 1 = 20 marks

Using the sources of information provided, what evidence is there to suggest that there were serious health problems in Wigan in 1900?

Use maps / diagrams / Photographs / etc. to illustrate your answer.

Wigan was a town that developed rapidly as the result of the Industrial Revolution. It was situated on the South Lancashire coalfields, and many of its inhabitants either worked in the mines, or in mining related industries. The coal produced was "exported" to other towns in the region, firstly by canal, and then by the railways. Wigan was on the Leeds Liverpool Canal, the west coast main railway line, and a local railway network linking all major north west towns. Much of this railway network has since been dismantled. The other main industry in Wigan in the 19th century was the cotton industry.

These industries brought many people into Wigan during the early part of the 19th century. The population increased from ten thousand, around 1800; to forty thousand in 1840. In order to provide accommodation for all these people, a large number of poorly built houses were constructed in the town. These were built of cheap materials, and were as close to the pit, factory, or mill as possible. They were very cramped, and generally had no sanitation. This lead to the spread of disease, and high death rates particularly amongst very young children.

There were three main types of  houses built during this period. "Cellar houses" were built with cellars, in which people either lived, or worked as weaver's workshops. Another common type was "court housing", were the house were built behind the streets around a small courtyard. The third type was "back to back" housing, which were terraces built with a common back wall. They only had one out side wall. Many houses had attics which people also lived in. In the second part of the 19th century, houses were more likely to be built as terraces, with small backyards and access to a narrow rear passage way. The worst housing was found in the Scholes and Standishgate areas.

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Diagram of "Back to Back", and "Court" housing.

In those days families with ten children were not uncommon, and so all types of housing were over-crowded. Most houses didn't even have a supply of drinking water, and only wealthy people had houses with toilets and drains. The conditions were very much like mediaeval England as raw sewage was left in "middens", or simply thrown in the street. To make matters worse, there were slaughter houses in the middle of the houses, which often sold infected meat. Wigan Records Office recorded ...

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