Town Holdings Committee facts for kids

The Select Committee of Parliament on Town Holdings was a special group of people in the British Parliament. They worked for almost six years, from 1886 to 1892. Their main job was to look into how land was owned and rented in towns across Great Britain and Ireland. The committee was led by Lewis Fry, who was a lawyer and a town councillor from Bristol.

In the early 1800s, many industrial cities and towns grew very quickly. This led to huge areas of crowded and unhealthy living spaces, often called slums. People soon realized that these overcrowded conditions were dangerous for public health. Because of this, the government started several investigations into how towns were planned and built.

This committee was set up to understand the rules about land and property in towns. They looked at how landlords and tenants (people who rent) interacted, and also at how towns managed their money. Their work was important for improving living conditions and planning better towns.

What the Committee Did

The committee was officially started on March 18, 1886. It had many members from Parliament who were chosen to study these important issues. They gathered information and listened to many people to understand the problems with town holdings.

In 1897, the committee released a big report. This report included a survey of housing in 250 large towns in England and Wales. It had details about how properties were leased (rented for a long time) and new buildings being constructed. It also described the number, quality, and different types of houses in these towns. This information helped people understand the housing situation at the time.