Posted with permission of the transcriber, Ann Selchick. Geo SICKNESS & POVERTY IN Nineteenth Century Whitehaven. # 57. CELLAR TENEMENTS. ______ There are about 281 cellar tenements, 89 of which were unoccupied at the time of my visit, 192 being tenanted; 12 of these have their ceilings below the level of the street, in one instance as much as two feet, and there are many level with the street, or only a few inches above it. Few of these places have the means of ventilation other than by one fireplace; that which was a window originally, rarely contains any remains of its glass, but is either stuffed fill of rags or straw, or blocked up with a shutter or boards; if there is a second cellar, there is seldom any opening out of it, either in the form of a fireplace or a window, but it is as true a dungeon as ever has been formed. 715 persons were residing in these places, few having either beds or furniture which can be said to leave a money value; a few broken chairs and stools, a crippled table and bedstead, was all that I found in the best furnished; but very many have no form of furniture, and rotten straw and dirty rags form their only bed. I visited many of these places at night, and the confined atmosphere was most offensive. Some of the inhabitants complain of the state of things, which they say they cannot help; they have no water supply, privies, or convenience for ashes, but they get rid of their refuse as best they can, most frequently immediately in front of their door. Some of these places are most difficult to get into to, they are so confined, steep and low. 152 pigs are kept, some actually in the cellars, but the principal portion in the immediate vicinity so that the refuse runs close past them. ____________________ To be continued.