James Newlands and the origins of the municipal engineer

Abstract

When James Newlands (1813–1871) arrived in Liverpool in 1847 to take up the newly created position of Borough Engineer, he formed, along with Dr William Henry Duncan (Medical Officer of Health) and Thomas Fresh (Inspector of Nuisances), Britain's first public health team. This was Liverpool's response to national and international perceptions of it as a dangerously unhealthy town. Frequent outbreaks of epidemic diseases and poor living conditions had created an ‘urban penalty’ – the price paid for its rapid uncontrolled expansion. Over the next 23 years, Newlands shaped this new role, defining its territory through Liverpool's ambitious programme of sanitary reform. He designed Britain's first purpose-built sewerage system and his holistic vision of sustainable urban living encompassed municipal baths and wash-houses, road planning, public parks and street lighting. Newlands' collaborations with other civil engineers, with Dr Duncan and Liverpool Town Council provide a fascinating and instructive case study on how expert advice is used in policy development. This paper illustrates how the relative professional status of medicine and engineering shaped the development of the discipline of public health. The challenges Newlands successfully addressed in mid-nineteenth century Liverpool – integrated urban design, adequate funding, multi-disciplinary team working – remain critical to urban health now.