In September 1895, an outbreak of “fever” occurred in Blantyre. Several cases of enteric and typhoid fever were being reported with serious implications to the health of Blantyre residents.
In the Village, two families were affected and in Stonefield, quite a number of people had been removed to hospital. The “talk” throughout the district was that following a recent water scarcity, some water had been diverted from an old pit at Larkfield at Dixon’s Colliery 4 and this had something to do with it.
The authorities gave no explanation, but looking at the Parish Council meetings of the following months, some lengthy discussions were given to the sanitation of the area which would become Watson Street. I can’t help but feel the open nature of sewers which had existed for decades would have had an impact on seeping into the water table and the proximity to the colliery location at Larkfield (now the Bing), is somewhat coincidental.
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