17 Years In A Cellar

An elderly man has been forced to live in the cellar of a house for 17 years, according to a shock expose by journalist Angus Reach. In a series of articles, published by rival newspaper The Morning Chronicle, Mr Reach has revealed the appalling living conditions of many people.

An elderly black man has lived in the cellar of a house for 17 years, according to a shock expose by journalist Angus Reach.

In a series of articles, published by rival newspaper The Morning Chronicle (1849), Mr Reach has revealed the appalling living conditions experienced in one town.

He said in his report: "The streets of Halifax are disgracefully neglected. This applies especially to the courts and cul-de-sacs inhabited by the very poor - including, of course, the Irish.

"I inspected several very closely and found them reeking with stench and the worst sort of abomination.

"The ash-pits were disgustingly choked, ordure and filthy stagnant slops lay freely and deeply scattered around, often at the very thresholds of swarming dwellings; and among all this muck, uncared for children sprawled by the score, and idle slatternly women lounged by the half dozen.

"I talked to several in their cellars. One old woman, who had been more than 30 years in England, talked dolefully of the decline of the hawking trade. "She had frequently in her youth, she said, made 20 shillings out of one house. But the poor people now seldom earned more than a shilling at the very most for a hard day's work.

"Two strapping fellows sat smoking by the smouldering fire. The beds were greasy mattresses, partially covered with foul rags, and rolled up in corners."

Mr Reach goes on to describe another cellar which was almost totally dark, for which its occupant paid nine pence per week. He was a grey-haired black man who had served in the navy. He had lived there for 17 years, hardly bothering to move.

While uncommon, non-white people have lived and worked in Great Britain since Tudor times coming from Africa and Asia, often after trading with British merchants.