The Curiosities of Dudley and the Black Country, From 1800 to 1860 / Also an Account of the Trials and Sufferings of Dud Dudley, with His Mettallum Martis: Etc.

by C. F. G. Clark

Mr. Lee began by remarking on the scanty attendance, which either showed that the inhabitants were not generally aware of the enquiry being about to take place, or that they did not feel very much interested in the question. It was, however, a question of very great importance to all the residents of the town, and he regretted very much that the room was not filled. All the rated inhabitants had a right to be present, and to be heard on any matter touching that enquiry, and it had been proved that full notice had been given, so as to enable the inhabitants to know when and where the enquiry would be held. The fact of there being reporters present would enable those inhabitants who were not present to know something of the proceedings, and he hoped that the result would be that if any misapprehensions existed, they would be removed. In the few remarks he should make, he thought it would be well to direct their attention to that portion of the Public Health Act which related to preliminary inquiries. Under that Act, the General Board of Health was appointed to intimate its application under certain circumstances stated in the 8th section. They were to appoint inspectors to make preliminary enquiries in large and populous towns and places, and these enquiries would be instituted either upon the petition of not less than one-tenth of the inhabitants rated for the relief of the poor, or where the returns of the Registrar-General showed that the deaths annually exceeded the proportion of twenty-three to a thousand. Upon the latter alternative the Board had the power of directing an enquiry to be made, without any petition from the Inhabitants. The section then went on to state the chief objects of the enquiry. The report was to be made to the General Board of Health by the Inspector in writing, and was then to be printed and circulated in the parts to which the enquiry related. Upon that report any inhabitant might make any statement in writing, as to anything contained in, or omitted from, such report. It would be the duty of the General Board of Health to consider the report and statements made; and there were then two modes of proceeding for that body to adopt, according to circumstances. If the inquiry had been instituted upon the petition from the inhabitants of the locality, if the boundaries for the district were the same as those from whence the petition came, and if there should be no local act of Parliament in force in the district, then the act might be applied by an order of Privy Council, naming the day when the election of a Local Board of Health should take place. But if the inquiry should have been instituted in consequence of the mortality being over twenty-three to a thousand, and if the boundaries were different, and if there were a local act of Parliament, then the General Board, if they thought the Public Health Act should be applied, would have to make a provisional order, which would have no force or effect until it had been approved by Parliament. In the case where a Municipal Corporation exists, it is made the Local Board of Health. As the inhabitants of Dudley had no Corporation, either the Commissioners must act as a Local Board of Health, or the residents must meet and elect one. Mr. Lee then proceeded to detail the duties that would fall within the province of the Local Board, stating that their powers were permissive, not compulsory, and that money to carry out the necessary works could be borrowed on the rates, to be repaid by equal annual instalments, running over a space of thirty years. By the latter provision, all difficulty as to causing a burden on the inhabitants was removed, for if the amount should come to anything like the sum of £5 per house, the rate of interest would not be more than one penny per week. He would now take them back to the grounds on which that inquiry had commenced. The census of 1851 had been taken, but the returns of the Registrar-General had not been made up so that the general rates of mortality could be ascertained. There was no difficulty, however, in the returns for any particular town, and it would be sufficient for him to show to them that the rates of mortality had increased very considerably in Dudley since 1841. He had before him the Registrar-General’s return for Dudley, dated the 7th of June, 1851, made according to the terms of the act, from the year 1844 to 1850 inclusive. The present population of the parish of Dudley was 37,954. The deaths during those years were 6,864, giving an annual mortality of twenty-eight to every thousand of the inhabitants living. If he took the comparative returns of 1841, he should take a much more favourable view of the condition of Dudley than now existed. In 1841, according to the census returns, the rate of mortality in England and Wales was little more than twenty to a thousand of the population; and at that time the rate of Dudley was 26.7, while in Walsall it was 24.2, in Wolverhampton 25, and in Birmingham, (with a population four times more than Dudley,) 26.5. He found that in the same year the deaths in Dudley were 1 in 37; in Walsall, 1 in 41; in Birmingham, 1 in 38. The deaths from epidemic diseases in Dudley were 1 out of every 131 of the population annually; in Walsall, 1 out of 154; and in Birmingham, 1 out of 202. The average age of all who died in Dudley was only 17 years, at a time when the mortality was less than it was now. In Walsall it was 19 years and 3 months; in Wolverhampton, 19 years and 1 month: and in Birmingham, 23 years and 9 months. They would see by that excessive mortality how large a proportion of the community were cut off before they arrived at the years of maturity. Of those who died above 20 years of age, the average was 50 years and 10 months; in Wolverhampton it was the same; in Walsall, 52 years and 6 months; and in Birmingham, 51 years and 7 months. There they saw that no place among them all was so bad as Dudley. Taking the whole of the deaths, and dividing their per centage, there were 34.5 per cent. under a year old, in Dudley; in Walsall, 29.7 per cent.; in Wolverhampton, 27.6; and in Birmingham, 24.8. Under five years, in Dudley, 60.8 per cent.; in Walsall, 55.7; in Wolverhampton, 55.3; and in Birmingham, 48.4. Seven out of every ten persons under 20 years of age died annually, a much larger rate than any other place mentioned. As death had done its main work during the years of infancy, they were not persons who had lost their lives in mines, for two-thirds of their population died under five years of age; as they got farther on in life there were, of course, fewer remaining in Dudley to be killed, and consequently the per centage was less in unhealthy than in healthy districts, as the greater portion had been destroyed before arriving at the years of maturity. He would give one instance—between 70 and 80 years of age 4.4 died in Dudley; in Wolverhampton, 4.8; in Birmingham, 5.7 The figures were greatly to the disadvantage of Dudley. Indeed there were very few places in the kingdom so unhealthy as Dudley. To show the enormous disparity that existed between Dudley and registration districts in the counties of Worcester, Stafford, and Warwick, Mr. Lee quoted a number of other figures. For instance, he showed that in the district comprising Bewdley, Martley, and Tenbury, (containing a population equal to that of the Dudley district,) the average age at death was 41 years and 4 months against the average of 17 years in Dudley. Now he said, there might be persons who talked about economy with respect to sanitary arrangements, and would be fearfully alarmed at the expense that would be brought upon the town of Dudley by the adoption of sanitary measures. It would be found from the registration districts he had named, with a population equal to their own, by the most extensive experience, not only of the medical men, but of those who had made the strictest enquiries into the sanitary condition of the country, that there were not less than twenty-eight cases of sickness in excess, spending on an average 20s. each, to every death in excess. Well, comparing the registration district of Dudley, which contained, in 1841, 86,000 inhabitants, with the district he had cited, they would see that there were 831 deaths in excess in a year, and of these more than one-third were due to the parish of Dudley. Taking twenty-eight cases for each death in excess, it exhibits a loss of £23,268. Taking next, the mourning fees, coffins, and other incidental expenses connected with a funeral, which could not amount to less than £5 each, they would have a loss by funerals of £4,115. Every adult lost eight years and eight months of his life, and every individual twenty-four years and four months. Taking only the adult deaths, and reckoning those adults to have been able to earn only 7s. 6d. per week each on an average, the loss in labour would be £115,934. Those three items of loss, by one year’s deaths alone, for sickness, funerals, and labour, was £143,357. They would all admit that, at a very moderate estimate, one-third of that cost would fall upon the parish of Dudley, and they then would find that the parish were annually losers in those three items to the extent of £47,786. That was the loss upon a mortality of 26.7, but the last returns exhibited a mortality of 28 to every thousand of the inhabitants, during the seven years’ average. They might, therefore, fairly conclude that their loss at that present moment, from excessive deaths, was £50,000 per annum. Could anybody imagine for a moment that the most efficient sanitary works that could be constructed in Dudley, would bear to be looked at, in comparison with these figures. He could direct their attention to a very important table from the same returns, containing 61 registration districts in England and Wales, with a population of 1,003,124 persons, having a mortality of only 16 to a thousand, and where all who were born, on an average lived to the age of 37 years and 5 months; and adults on an average to 60 years of age. Now, compare that with Dudley, and though no sanitary means were used at the places he referred to, nevertheless the mortality was 16 as against 28, in the parish of Dudley; average age, 37 years 5 months, as against 17 years; adults, 60 years as against 50 years and 10 months, and the percentages of deaths under 20 years of age, 38.4, as against 70.1. Could anybody doubt that there was a cause for that, and one that might to a great extent be removed? Could any reasonable man say it was not a case of vital importance, and one that demanded careful enquiry? Was it not the duty of every inhabitant to promote such an enquiry, and if it were found that remedies could be applied, to take the greatest interest in their application? He did not suppose that any person resident in Dudley was aware that such a comparative state of things existed. They had the facts now before them, and he therefore anticipated that he should receive all the assistance they could render him in making that enquiry, while he stayed in Dudley. They perceived that the jurisdiction of the General Board of Health arose from the excessive mortality, over 23 to 1,000, which the Legislature regarded as such an excess as to call upon the General Board to take proceedings to apply the act without any petition from the locality. The mortality of Birmingham, Sheffield, Bradford, and Leeds, was less than Dudley, and he did not believe the mortality of Manchester was higher. He could not recollect a large town in the whole country, except it was Liverpool, as it existed previous to the application of sanitary measures, that was in such an awful condition as Dudley appeared to be. It was growing worse, as was the condition of most unimproved towns. The filth accumulating in open cesspools, ash-pits, privies, &c., in consequence of badly-constructed channels and drains, was constantly saturating the earth, and going into the subsoil underneath. As that saturation increased, the unhealthiness of the town would increase, and there would come a time when the subsoil of such towns would become a mere dunghill, and the site of the town would be uninhabitable. They saw themselves how the healthiness of the place had decreased since 1841. He next explained the manner in which he intended to conduct that enquiry. Awaiting the assembling of the inhabitants that morning, he had taken down several complaints that had been made to him of nuisances existing in the vicinity of houses, and he should be glad to enter more upon his minutes. He would place also upon his minutes the name of any person who should wish to accompany him in making an inspection of the town. He should adjourn the enquiry, as far as that room was concerned, until that inspection was complete. He should have to depend upon those who accompanied him to point out the worst parts of the town, and, if there was a difference of opinion existing amongst them, he should wish both parties to accompany him. After other general observations, he concluded by saying that his object was to discharge faithfully his duty to the Board of Health and the inhabitants of Dudley.

About five minutes before Mr. Lee concluded his address, Isaac Badger, Esq., entered the room. As soon as the Inspector sat down, Mr. Badger said he wished to ask a question, as he had that morning met most of the principal gentlemen of the town, not one of whom knew anything about the origin of the enquiry. He wished for some information why the meeting was held, and was proceeding to remark that although he did not deny something of the sort was wanted, yet that he thought Dudley could very ill afford to go to any expense at all; when Mr. Lee interrupted him with “Don’t make a speech, if you please; if you ask any questions I will answer them.” He had before met with cases of this sort, where gentlemen of influence in the locality came in after he had given his explanation of the cause of the enquiry—an explanation which in the present instance had occupied an hour in the delivery, after waiting nearly another hour past the time appointed—and would have him to go over the explanation again, for their personal information. He would put it to those present whether such a thing could be expected from him.—Mr. Badger said it was an important thing for the town, and he was surprised the authorities knew nothing about it. He might have signed a requisition if he had been asked to do so, and he wanted to know who was the cause of the meeting being called.—Mr. Lee: As they doubtless knew there was to be an enquiry here this morning, they should have been here at ten o’clock.—Mr. Badger: What I have asked for is information that the town ought to have, but as he refuses to answer the question, I will now withdraw. I saw a very respectable medical practitioner yesterday, and he tells me—Mr. Lee: You had better address yourself to me, sir.—Mr. Badger: All I have to say is, that the town never was in a more healthy state than at present; and I object to the whole proceedings. Mr. Badger then left the room, accompanied by J. G. Walker, Esq.—Mr. Lee said that any other gentleman might come into the room and put such questions, and with equal reason expect him to answer them. It was not a matter affecting his own convenience, but it was a waste of time which he would not permit. The gentleman had thought proper to withdraw, and perhaps he would say that he had been refused information, but there were those present who could correct such a statement. At a subsequent stage of the proceedings, the Inspector, in reply to a remark that he had spoken to Mr. Badger “in a way to which he was not accustomed,” said he had no respect of persons, and could make no distinction between the rich and the poor.

Mr. Fletcher presented the evidence taken before Mr. Slaney, M.P., in 1842, while inquiring into the state of Dudley under the Public Health Commission; and after receiving some evidence as to the nuisance in existence, Mr. Lee adjourned the inquiry.

Tuesday afternoon was spent in viewing some parts of the town; and on Wednesday Mr. Lee continued his inspection, in company with the Rev. Dr. Browne, J. C. Bourne, Esq., J. Maughan, Esq., Messrs. Bateman, J. Marsh, and other respectable inhabitants of the borough. He proceeded to the Friends’ Chapel, in the High Street, Wolverhampton Street, Shaver’s End, St. James’s Terrace, the Dock, Vicarage Prospect, Spring’s Mire, Stafford Street, Cross Street, &c., jotting down his observations as he went along. We may venture to affirm that few places require the surveillance of an inspector of some kind or other more than the Ball Court, Belper, Marrian’s and Pagett’s Yards, the Barracks, the Lodging-houses, (chiefly occupied by Irish) in Cross Street, and some other places, which have always been noted as hotbeds of epidemic and contagious diseases—the cholera, fever, small pox, scarlatina, and measles, having always in these localities assumed their most virulent type. By some of the gentlemen in attendance it was confessed that they were entirely unaware of such hotbeds of pestilence existing in such crowded localities. On Thursday Mr. Lee again attended at the Town Hall, when some evidence was offered on the part of J. Bennett, Esq., as to Messrs. Smith and Pigott having certain premises in Tower Street, to which, on account of their close proximity to the Workhouse, whenever epidemic disorders prevailed, many pauper patients were always brought, thus becoming to some extent an hospital for the poor. Mr. Lee was this day attended by J. G. Bourne, J. Bennett, and J. Maughan, Esqrs., Messrs. Hollier, Dudley, Bateman, Marsh, and some others, and inspected the Workhouse, New Street, Tower Street, Green Man Yard, Birmingham Street, Pottery Fields, &c. Some of the courts and yards, in Birmingham Street particularly, attracted the notice of Mr. Lee and the gentlemen with him as being close, confined, ill drained, and badly ventilated.

As it appears very probable that the provisions of the Health of Towns Act will be enforced in Dudley (for we cannot imagine what other report than an unfavourable one can be presented to the Board by Mr. Lee), would it not be better that the town itself should take the matter up, and by a new Town Act or Charter of Incorporation endeavour to procure those powers which will enable the inhabitants to act for themselves rather than be compelled to adopt the provisions of the Health of Towns Bill, which must entail upon the Borough a vast expense, that at the present time it is but ill able to bear. It is high time these matters were thought of by the inhabitants of Dudley, and that the obstinate opposition of some one or two parties should not be allowed to stop all improvements, as otherwise they will be compelled at last to adopt those measures which a little more consideration might have prevented.

We believe Mr. Lee will continue his inspection, which is expected to last some days longer.

August 16th, 1851. Nothing especially resulted from the above exposé of the flagrant unsanitary condition of this town, except a scare, from which the Town Commissioners (the only ruling authority we then had in the town), began to fear that their brief authority would shortly be taken from them by the Board of Health in London; consequently on October 3rd, 1851, an extraordinary meeting of the Town Commissioners was held this day at the Hotel, “to consider the propriety of applying to Parliament for increased powers in the Dudley Town Commissioners Act,” which dated back to 1791. After a lengthened discussion (in a very numerous attendance of members) it was resolved on the motion of Mr. C. F. G. Clark, chemist, seconded by Mr. Thomas Fletcher, “That the anticipated early application of the Health of Towns Bill to this parish would obviate the necessity of any increased powers in the Dudley Town Commissioners Act.” There was also a very strong feeling expressed in favour of applying for an Act of Incorporation as soon as it might be deemed advisable. This desire for incorporation very soon cooled down, for the town was not incorporated for sixteen years afterwards (in 1867).

Died, August 24th, 1851, Mr. Wm. Badger, the second son of Thos. Badger, Esq., J.P., “The Hill Home,” Dudley. Aged 34 years.

August 27th, 1851, a new fire engine was sent to this town by the Birmingham Fire Insurance Company; Mr. C. F. G. Clark was the local agent.

Died, November 14th, 1851, at Schwalbach, Duchy of Nassau, the Lady Selina Constance, the first wife of Lord Ward. Aged 22 years.