Family History - Egerton Lane

[From 'How it was then - Introducing Sheffield History' based in BBC Raodio Sheffield Broadcasts in 1978.]

Overcrowding
The building of back-to-backs had been prohibited by bye-laws in 1864, but the centre of the town had been built up before that. The population of these districts had almost ceased to grow, but was unofficially increased by pigs, cattle and other livestock. Proposals to demolish and replace the crowded area of the Crofts and Scotland Street in 1877 came to nothing.

Lack of Drainage
There was no plan for a main sewerage system until 1884. In the meantime Sheffield remained burdened with the earth closet, or privvy midden, and in fact derived Ł2,500 a year from sale of the night-soil. Even where water closets were provided, they often emptied into the nearest stream via an open ditch.

Egerton Lane 1849 - the area SW of Egerton Street that would be occupied by Court 5 is marked in pink - click for larger image ...

The area to the south of the shaded area was then still gardens and clay pits.

Egerton Lane 1890 - the area of Court 5 is coloured. 'Back 30 Egerton Lane' is probably one of the houses shaded in pink - click for larger image ...

(Click here for version without shading.)