On Monday 15th August 1892, petitions were presented to Hamilton Sheriff Court for various clean up orders against landlords who were failing to provide proper sanitation.
One factor, Thomas Brock of Burnbank was served an order for houses situated at Birdsfield, High Blantyre for providing accommodation for families without any proper latrine or ash-pit forcing them to ‘make their own arrangements’ around the vicinity of the property.
Brock was fined £1 8s and 2d with the order saying he had to make things right within 14 days.
Thinking on this a little further, I can only imagine what unpleasantness got into the water table in Blantyre in those days. Into ground, where people nearby would be pumping what they believe is fresh water. Many early deaths must have been directly related to this.
Photo: For illustration only
