Manuscripts and Special Collections

Photographs

These photographs illustrate some of the insanitary conditions in Nottingham which contributed towards epidemics of disease. The photographs were taken in the early 20th century, when conditions had vastly improved from the 1830s, but are still very different from the living conditions in Nottingham today. The photographs in the pages relating to 'Mid-19th century housing in Nottingham', and 'Water supply and sewerage', are also relevant.

Image Caption
Family with chickens in a court off Red Lion Street, Narrow Marsh area, 1919.
Photograph 1 

Family with chickens in a court off Red Lion Street, Narrow Marsh area, 1919. 

This photograph shows people doing their washing in the middle of their cramped and dark yard, sharing their living space with chickens. 

Image courtesy of Nottingham City Council and http://www.picturethepast.org.uk/ (NTGM001893)
Women rag-picking in Rushton's Place off Bellar Gate, Narrow Marsh area, 1919.
Photograph 2  

Women rag-picking in Rushton's Place off Bellar Gate, Narrow Marsh area, 1919. 

Like the framework knitters of the early 19th century, these people are living and working in the same place.

Image courtesy of Nottingham City Council and http://www.picturethepast.org.uk/ (NTGM000205)
Woburn Court, off Colwick Street, 1930.
Photograph 3 

Woburn Court, off Colwick Street, 1930. 

The paving in this court is broken and uneven, and a drain runs down its centre. The large windows on the second floor of the houses in the foreground indicate that they were built for framework knitters or lace workers.

Image courtesy of Nottingham City Council and http://www.picturethepast.org.uk/ (NTGM002470)

 

Next page: Glossary

 

Manuscripts and Special Collections

Kings Meadow Campus
Lenton Lane
Nottingham, NG7 2NR

telephone: +44 (0) 115 951 4565
fax: +44 (0) 115 846 8651
email: mss-library@nottingham.ac.uk