The real effects of poor sanitation

‘I call your attention to a sink that is placed at the end of Green Lane, Somers Town, near Trafalgar College, and my premises. The sink was made during the time I was at sea, which prevented my objecting to it, and has been very offensive. My late neighbour, Commander Frankling, lost five daughters and his wife while living in the cottage. I lost a son some time back and a few weeks since a daughter from fever.’ S P Pritchard, Southend, Green Lane writing to the Report to the General Board of Health on the sewage, drainage and water supply of Portsmouth, 1850. Green Lane was one of the more respectable areas of Portsmouth at this time.

Life in Milton

‘The roads in the rural district of St Mary’s ward are at all times in a very bad state of condition, and much infested with gypsies and loose cattle. There is a very obnoxious drain that runs through the village of Milton, which last year was the principal cause of the death of six inmates of one house. There are also in this village several private roads…, the ditches of which are filled from the drain of a large cow-house, and the filth of the same is frequently placed on the road, much to the annoyance of the inhabitants. Jonathan Gain, Lumps Villa, Southsea writing to the Report to the General Board of Health on the sewage, drainage and water supply of Portsmouth, 1850.’

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.

No running water

‘The present supply of water to the borough (Portsmouth) is very defective, and in numerous instances, as where pumping from the well lowers the fluid in the adjoining cesspool, it must be vitiated to a degree dangerous to health. Water is now obtained by the inhabitants from a company who have waterworks, - from pumps, - from local wells, - and from watercarts’. Report to the General Board of Health on the sewage, drainage and water supply of Portsmouth, 1850.