Housing for The Irish Lesson starter: Describe working conditions for Irish immigrants.(3 marks)

When immigrants arrived in cities like Glasgow they had to take the cheapest possible accommodation due to their poverty This placed them in shocking conditions.

What problems would homes like these present? 19 th century Glasgow close

MISERABLE HOMES In 1839 a Government official investigated the old narrow streets of Glasgow and he was horrified.

“ Until I visited the wynds of Glasgow I did not believe that so much crime, misery and disease could exist in any civilised country. These dwellings are so damp no-one could wish to keep his horse in them. In the middle of every court there is a dung heap.” ‘Their bed was a litter of mouldy straw mixed with rags. There was little or no furniture.’ Write down the words/phrases in the source which demonstrate the poor housing conditions. (7 marks)

Slum housing in Aberdeen in 1880

Why was Scottish housing so poor? 1.The population was increasing at a rapid rate (high birth rate and immigration) 2.The government had not passed housing laws 3.Local governments were weak and did not provide basic facilities such as sewers, drains, water supplies, cleaning services or proper roads

4.Housing near work places was either old or built cheaply. 5.Many people were too poor to afford anything better. 6.Homes and workplaces used coal; the smoke created dirty air and disease 7.Foul waste from workplaces spilled out into streets and water supplies

DISEASE In Glasgow, people did not have access to clean water and they used the same water for drinking, bathing, washing their clothes and dishes. People and factories dumped their rubbish and waste materials into the river and this caused pollution and spread disease.

Water was filthy and caused/spread disease No NHS or medical treatment for those who had picked up diseases People were often not well-fed enough to have the strength to fight disease. Rickets

Housing conditions were atrocious and people lived in crowded conditions. In Glasgow in % of the population lived in just one room. Poor and destitute people packed into lodging houses. North Woodside Model Lodging Housing, Glasgow 1881

DISEASE  DIARRHOEA - is excessive looseness of the bowels and accompanied by severe stomach cramps. It is caused by food poisoning and contaminated water  DIPTHERIA - an infectious disease of the throat causing difficulty in breathing and swallowing. It is caused by filth.  TYPHOID - an infectious fever, it can cause blood poisoning and is caused by food and water that has been contaminated by sewage.

 TB - an infection in the lungs. It is easily spread through spit and drinking contaminated milk.  CHOLERA - an infectious disease causing sever vomiting and diarrhea which causes dehydration. It is caught by drinking dirty water or contact with an infected person.

Improvements in Scottish Housing  Scottish Poor Law Act, 1845 set up local groups to help the very poor.  1898 amendment allowed people living in a place for three years to claim relief (previously five years).  Newly arrived Irish immigrants did not qualify.

MORE IMPROVEMENTS  Water supplies  Drainage systems  Sewage systems