Grantham houses declared unfit to live in

This is Middlemore Yard in 1937, shortly before demolition

Following an outbreak of various fevers in the area. Inspectors who paid a visIt to Middlemore Yard, Castlegate, in 1863 were shocked by the sanitary condiiions they found.

When they arrived, they discovered heaps of mud lying around in the main yard with pudddles of water.

Some pnvles had sleeping rooms above while several families shared each them.

The lavatories were in various states of cleannliness with some as filthy outside as inside. Water and filth had acccumulated in the drains and in heaps in the yards and roads.

Mr Wilks, the agent for the lower part of the yard, admitted there was a need for purer drinking water and that one of the privies drained into the well supplying fresh water.

Inspectors urged the owners to asphalt the road to the houses as there was no other way the houses and inhabiitants could be cleaned.

In 1912, nine houses in Middlemore Yard, Castlegate, were in such poor condition, the town council ordered  the residents to leave.

They said they were dangerous and unfit for human habitation.

An order was made prohibiting them to be lived in until they were refurbished and fit to live in.