Description: Showing a cellar dwelling in Vassal Street, off Southwell Road. Vassal Street was meant to be Vassall Street, is probably named after the daughter of a Jamaica planter, Elizabeth Vassall. Her marriage was dissolved in 1797 on account of her adultery with Lord Holland, who then immediately married her. Lord Holland was a public celebrity at the time and several streets in the area have been named after him - Holland Street, Holland Court and the Lord Holland Public House. In 1909, the Town Planning Act made it illegal for back-to-back houses to be built anywhere in the country. With the weight of the new law behind him, Philip Boobbyer, the Nottingham Medical Officer of Health, prepared a report early in 1912 for the consideration of the Housing Committee. This photograph was taken by the Nottingham City Council Health Department, and was probably included in his report.