Page 14 - The Health OF Redditch

spent before the Board of Health was legally established and the Committee directed the
remainder to be spent on extra comfort for the poor afflicted with cholera.

Cholera appeared again in England but not in Redditch

Cholera appeared again from 1848 to 1849 in Britain. The draining of the Big Pool had some
27
effect as Redditch was spared, but nearby Bromsgrove had several cases of cholera. Not
surprisingly, the unfounded rumour that cholera had appeared in Hunt End on the outskirts of
Redditch caused great alarm.

Some worthless character at Redditch has been circulating a report that a female residing at
Hunt-end had been seized with cholera, and died in a few hours. The rumour occasioned great
alarm, but we are glad to hear that it is entirely without foundation. “Lynch-law”•would•be•an
almost excusable proceeding towards an individual who would circulate suchdangerous and untrue
reports. 28

The Registrar-General’s•Quarterly•Return•published•in•November•1849•was•summarised•in
the Worcester Journal. There had been 34 cases of cholera, including 6 deaths, in Worcester,
and 5 deaths from cholera in Upton-on-Severn. It was also noted:

Sanitary measures have been very generally and strictly enforced in Redditch, the most populous
place of the district. In 1832 the cholera was very bad and the cases numerous, and great
proportion fatal, but during the present visitation no case has occurred. 29

In•November•1849•there•was•a•Thanksgiving•Day•in•Redditch•to•mark•the•town’s•absence•of
cholera. All the shops and factories•were•closed•and•churches•and•chapels•were•‘thronged
with•attentive•congregations’.• The•Rev.•Fessey•selected•the•following•text•for•the•service•in
St. Stephen’s Church: ‘Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who ‘crowneth thee with
loving kindness and•tender•mercies’. 30

Cholera appeared in England again in 1853 and in 1866. Redditch appeared to avoid cholera
on both occasions, although Redditch was prepared in 1866.

A special meeting of the Commissioners was held at the Clerk's office on Monday evening, when
it was determined to make a house-to-house visitation on Friday as a precautionary measure
against the outbreak of cholera. In reply to Mr. Boulton it was stated that in case of an outbreak
of cholera in the town a general dispensary would be opened. 31

Although the Big Pool had been drained, both the water supply and the sewerage provision were
inadequate, despite changes in legislation, and even in 1891 one newspaper was able to
refer•to•‘insanitary•Redditch’. 32

27
Worcestershire Chronicle 10 October 1849.
28
Worcestershire Chronicle Wednesday 24 October 1849.
29
Worcester Journal 22 November 1849.
30
Worcestershire Chronicle 21 November 1849.
31
Worcestershire Chronicle 15 August 1866.
32
The Arrow 2 February1891.