Report to the General Board of Health on a preliminary inquiry into the sewerage, drainage, and supply of water, and the sanitary condition of the inhabitants of the parishes of Nuneaton and Chilvers Coton / by George Thomas Clark, Superintending Inspector.

  • Clark, George Thomas, 1809-1898.
Date:
1849
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report to the General Board of Health on a preliminary inquiry into the sewerage, drainage, and supply of water, and the sanitary condition of the inhabitants of the parishes of Nuneaton and Chilvers Coton / by George Thomas Clark, Superintending Inspector. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    a sough, is usually marked by a gutter-grate of preposterous size, beneath which is a catch-pit from whence arise stinks much complained of by the inhabitants. 35. Chilvers Coton and Attleborough are, if possible, still less provided, and yet both, no less than the greater part of Nuneaton, stand on ground with fair or very good natural falls, and materials for the construction of drains are everywhere cheap and good. 36. The Surface Drainage in Nuneaton is carried on partly by the culverts above mentioned and partly by gutters. It is very imperfectly performed, and, in consequence, the water stands in various parts of the town. The surface drainage both in the town and village and throughout the whole of the lower parts of the two parishes is very bad indeed. All round the town and along the course of the streams the land is wet, abounding in stagnant pools, and occasionally cultivated as cabbage garden, giving out steams of unpleasant odour. This is particularly the case in the allotment grounds north of Abbey- street, in Nuneaton, and by the roadside between Nuneaton and Attleborough, and between Attleborough and its new church. 37. The cost of the sewers is included in the highway-rate. 38. The cesspools are in the hands of the house-owners and occupiers. They are emptied once or twice annually by persons regularly employed by the farmers, who purchase the manure. Its value varies, per load of two tons and a-half, from 4s. to 5s., according to its quality. It is carted off, and usually stored in a heap by the road-side. An ordinary cesspool yields about two loads annually, which probably cost the farmer about 15s. before the manure is finally spread over the land. Its use is confined strictly to arable land. Ac- cording to this calculation, an annual expense of about 260/. is incurred in Nuneaton town alone in the use of this manure, a large part of the best of which is absorbed by the earth during its long stay in the cesspools, and which is also much mixed up with brick-bats and other unproductive rubbish. I may mention that one of the surveyors of highways, a very compe- tent authority, estimates the expenditure on this manure at considerably above double the sum stated. 39. The inhabitants complain that the contents of the Srivies and cesspools are disturbed, and carted off in broad aylight, to the great annoyance of everybody. 40. As usual, there is no such thing as House Drainage. In most cases, the slops of the houses are emptied into the yard and in others into the main street from the door or window. 41. Water Supply.—In neither of the two parishes is there any other permanent supply than that yielded by pumps, the water for which is much too hard for washing. The sample