Fish selling a Great Nuisance

In 1848 the shop keepers of Landport felt they had cause to complain, stating that: ‘to the great nuisances in this neighbourhood arising from the sale of fish often in a putrid state, the effluvia arising from the same, particularly in summer time, debarring us from opening a window to admit the air, being compelled to keep all closed to avoid, as far as possible, the awful stench, and our families sometimes retching from the unwholesome effects. We have no doubt that it has been the cause of much illness in the place and it is not unusual to see from twelve to twenty wheelbarrows and hand-carts loaded with skate, conger eels, etc: the heads and entrails may be frequently seen lying about the following morning, which is very disgusting and unhealthy.’ Report to the General Board of Health on the sewage, drainage and water supply of Portsmouth, 1850. A recent visit to the Saturday market in Commercial Road, Landport revels not much has changed in the intervening 160 years.