During the first three months of 1870 there was a severe frost and a lot of snow, which meant that work outdoors was almost impossible. Many people were out of work due to the severe weather and so the council set up a fund to raise money for the distribution of bread and oatmeal to the poorer members of society.

There was a great storm on the night of Sunday the 15th October, 1877, during which a large number of trees and chimneys were blown down.

The Smallpox Epidemic

A smallpox epidemic broke out in Wolverhampton in the autumn of 1871. Many people suffered from the disease, particularly the poorer people living in slum properties. There were many fatalities including the sister of Mr. Edwards, a butcher with a shop on Penn Road. The disease greatly alarmed the local population, to such an extent that Mr. Edwards’ sister was buried within 48 hours of her death. Vaccinations were offered free of charge and many surgeons were employed as public vaccinators. Posters were put-up, all across the town, advising people to get vaccinated.

Dr. Manby was appointed Medical Officer of Health and the General Hospital soon filled with smallpox patients. The old, empty police station in Garrick Street (later the Free Library) became a temporary hospital. To prevent the spread of the disease, smallpox inspectors were appointed to visit places were many cases occurred and to ensure that anyone affected would be transferred to the temporary hospital. They also disinfected houses and courtyards and had them cleaned and whitewashed.

By December, 109 people had died. 57 of them had not been vaccinated and 39 had only been vaccinated once. The vaccinations were successful and the disease eventually disappeared in July, 1872. During the epidemic, 483 people died from the disease, which had cost the Borough over £2,000.

During the epidemic, the Local Government Board’s Medical Officer, Dr. Ballard, was sent to Wolverhampton to investigate the cause of the epidemic. He reported that the sanitary conditions in the town were most unsatisfactory. Water from wells used for drinking and cooking was often contaminated with sewage and dangerous to life. The town was badly drained with inadequate sewers, which should receive the immediate attention of the Town Council.

Dr. Manby retired from his post as Medical Officer of Health and was replaced by Dr. Love, who took control of a staff of medical inspectors. The Council also appointed Mr. E. W. T. Jones as Borough Analyst, whose job it was to test drinking water and check the quality of food.

An advert from 1877.

Another Epidemic

In 1873 there was an outbreak of typhoid, which first appeared in Darlington Street. The first victims included the wife and daughter of the Rev. T. G. Horton of Queen Street Congregational Church, the two daughters of the Rev. G. Everard of St. Mark’s Church, and the wife of Mr. Smallwood, a draper. They all died within a few days and the disease rapidly spread to other parts of the town. Up to 38 people in a 1,000 died. Dr. Love, the Medical Officer, reported that the fever had been caused by water polluted with sewage. The outbreak began when a milkman who supplied houses in Darlington Street had been diluting his milk with a little water from the Black Brook, which was an open sewer. 69 of his customers, from Snow Hill to the bottom of Darlington Street had typhoid, thirteen of them died from the disease.

At the next council meeting it was decided that any well containing water that was found to be polluted, should immediately be closed. The fever gradually disappeared and Dr. Ballard, the Special Commissioner from London, who visited the town in December 1873, reported that open piles of refuse and animal waste and wet ash pits should be done away with. He also reported that the narrow, crooked streets, the poorly ventilated courtyards, and the old dilapidated slum dwellings were a constant source of danger. Although Dr. Ballard’s report was considered by the Sanitary Committee, nothing was done for several years.

An advert from 1877.

In the 1870s there was a bad recession in the iron industry, which led to a large number of people loosing their jobs, both in ironworks and coal mining. Casualties included the Shrubbery Iron Works, which began to make a loss due to the recession, and the higher wages that were demanded by the unions. After several years of loss-making, the company closed in December 1877, the closure being blamed on the higher wages that were paid to the workforce. The management wanted to reduce the wages bill to cut costs, to help the company survive during the recession. Unfortunately the workers would not agree to it. Other businesses that suffered included the Parkfield Colliery Company and Chillington Ironworks, which ran at a loss for several years.

Things got worse on the 12th January, 1880 with a heavy fall of snow and a severe frost, which continued until the end of March. People who worked outdoors, such as workers in the building trade, could no longer work and many families were on the brink of starvation. Each day crowds of hungry workers gathered outside the Town Hall and the Union Workhouse on Bilston Road, clamouring for work or food.

The Mayor, John Jones, opened a relief fund and asked for subscriptions. He opened centres for the distribution of food and coal and opened soup kitchens in various parts of the town to help women and children. The Guardians of the Poor also helped and collections of clothing were made at the Town Hall to be distributed to the poor and needy. Many men found employment in helping to clear the deep snow that lay all around. During the recession, several thousand pounds worth of food was distributed to those in need, along with over 7,000 articles of clothing.

St. John's Church.

An advert from 1892.