Whatever . . .

Not the most exciting of photos, but the subject is quite interesting -  Hutton Spout in Penrith (taken in the rain).

During his talk on Monday, Michael Mullett described how, in the 19th century, there was much work carried out in Penrith to make life better for the growing population. A Board of Health was set up in 1848 and one of the main concerns was the provision of clean water. There were at the time several sources of water, but they were dated and mostly highly polluted. This picture shows one of them - Hutton Spout was fed from a small reservoir in the area above known as The Flatts. The fact that it was sourced from a small open pond above the outlet does make one wonder just how healthy the water supply was. The traditional water supply was the centuries old Thacka Beck, which was diverted from the River Petteril and flowed through the town. (I described this in a previous blip). By the 19th Century this was not sufficient and it too was polluted. 

So a clean water supply was a priority. Of course there was resistance from the wealthier inhabitants because they knew it would mean an increase in the rates. Eventually the spread of cholera and typhus brought matters to a head, work was planned and action was taken for the construction of a whole new system of water supply. 

Interesting how fear of disease can suddenly make investment in the health of a nation important and somehow money is found . . . !! 


"Whatever the NHS needs, whatever it costs".