Following 1900, Shuttle Row (the birthplace of David Livingstone) was in a poor condition. Damp, poorly lit with much room for improving sanitary conditions. In this photo from over a hundred years ago women and children stand at the doorway (I’ve reason to suspect the far off figures may be the Dunsmuir Family).

This photo shows the render was literally falling off the building, exposing the bare brick at lower levels, a sure sign of the rising damp and no damp proof course. Upper mid level homes may have been protected somewhat against rising damp, perhaps even warmer from the heat of homes above and below.