Aberffraw.org - 1906 Housing Report

Towards the end of the year I submitted to the Council the following report on a row of houses—Nos. 90 to 100 Glanmor, Aberffraw. Nine of the cottages are single room structures measuring about 12 ft. in length, 15 ft. in breadth and 7 ft. in height at the eaves. Behind the terrace is a garden, the surface of which is on a level with the eaves. This accounts for the damp condition of the premises. The doors are in a bad state of repair and not weather proof. The floors consist of bare ground, very uneven and partially boarded over. The roofs are leaky in some of the houses and have no eaves spouting.

There are two privies for the nine families, both being in a very filthy state and situated within a few yards of the doors. In my opinion the houses are unfit for human habitation, and even if repaired, are so small that there would always be a danger of them becoming overcrowded. At present No. 94 is occupied by a husband, wife and three children, all sleeping in the one bed. I find that two of the inmates of these houses died of Tuberculosis disease this year.

Nos. 90 and 91 are semi-detached, much larger houses, and have been recently repaired; still, I found them very damp owing to the absence of eaves spouting and the elevated ground at the back, reaching half way up to the eaves. The gable of 91 is also not weather proof. Otherwise these two houses are much more satisfactory.

I recommend that orders be obtained to close these nine cottages.

It has been said on good authority that in most agricultural districts, under existing conditions, in the labourer’s cottage decency is impossible and morality a miracle.

J. LEWIS OWEN