The REPORT OF THE Medical Officer of Health FOR THE URBAN DISTRICT COUNCIL OF WALTON-LE-DALE, FOR THE YEAR 1894 was compiled by Robert Trimble, M.D. At that time, the publication was a 20 page booklet that was printed in Preston by C. W. Whitehead at Avenham Street Mill. The opening paragraphs read as follows:
MR. CHAIRMAN AND GENTLEMEN,
The year 1894 having passed away, it is again my duty to present you with an Annual Report bearing on the Vital and Mortal Statistics as well as on the Health and Sanitary condition of your Township.
The figures I have used in writing this report are the same as those of last year, and were supplied by the Census Returns of 1891. The population has, no doubt, slightly increased since then, but it is better to accept these figures than use such as might be arrived at by estimating the population. When writing my report for 1890, I averaged the population at so many to each inhabited house in the Township, which gave a population of 10,889, but when the Census Returns came out the following year they shewed very clearly the fallacy of such a calculation, the population in reality being only 10,556, at which rate I have made the returns in this report.
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The Walton-le-Dale Urban District Council (UDC) was the local governing authority established in 1894, replacing the local board formed in 1877. From the wording of Robert Trimble statement, it appears that he had already been reporting to the local board. The 1894 UDC report seems to be the first one that exists.
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Robert Trimble, M.D., 9, Winckley Square, Preston; third son of Dr. Trimble, of Castle Bellingham, Ireland; born at Castle Bellingham, co. Louth, Ireland; educated at the Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland, and University of Glasgow; M.D., F.R.C.S.L, D.P.H. Was for nine years Medical Officer of the Castle Bellingham Dispensary, Ardee Union, co. Louth, Ireland, also Surgeon to the Royal Irish Constabulary and Coastguards; Hon. Medical Officer of the Preston and County of Lancaster Queen Victoria Royal Infirmary; Medical Officer of Health to the Walton-le-Dale Urban District Council. Recreations: shooting and salmon fishing. Married the eldest daughter of the late Thomas Maynard, of Preston, and has issue one daughter.
Marriage: 19 Feb 1879 Christ Church, Preston, Lancashire
Robert Trimble – 31, Doctor of Medicine, Bachelor, Walton le Dale
Elizabeth Dorothea Maynard – 26, Spinster, Fishergate Hill, Preston
Groom’s Father: John Trimble, Doctor of Medicine
Bride’s Father: Thomas Maynard, Gentleman
Witnesses: Elizabeth Maynard; Annie Maynard; Charles Joseph Trimble; Moses Savery Maynard
Married by Licence by J. C. Kershaw, Dean of Walton le Dale
Register: Marriages 1864 – 1886, Page 108, Entry 216
Source: Original register at Lancashire Archives
From the Lancashire Online Parish Clerks website:
https://www.lan-opc.org.uk/Preston/Preston/christchurch/marriages_1864-1886.html
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