According to Alan Crosby, in 1862 this yard (near Preston town centre) contained 21 houses, in which 93 people lived and shared just 3 privies. It is debatable which is preferable - sleeping under a hedge like the orphans or here. Preston's population grew from 12,000 to 68,000 from 1800 to 1850 as people came in search of work. Houses were thrown up willy-nilly and this was the result. Censuses show examples of 8 people sharing a one-up, one-down with six-feet-square rooms. Unbelievable? Perhaps they had a 3-shift system similar to the way they share the pavements in Calcutta.