[Report 1857-1858].

  • Bermondsey (London, England). Parish. Vestry.
Date:
1858
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1857-1858]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    in order that we may reflect upon, and profit by them. The dark polluted stream, the Merivale, which the proprietor of the Silk Mills says has of late been most peculiarly offensive, reminded me strongly of our Neckinger, now fortunately for this district, no longer in existence. In this respect we may congratulate ourselves; so also with regard to the improved water supply, progreśive advancement in the abolition of cesspools, and in more perfect drainage. But in one respect we must look upon this outbreak as a timely and distinct warning. I allude to the open tidal ditches in our district; and having since inspected that very offensive one in the Blue Anchor Lane, the stench from which pervades a neighbourhood now rapidly becoming populated, I very strongly urge upon the vestry the necessity for promptly causing this large open sewer to be covered, because it is very evident that the great drainage scheme is far from any reasonable prospect of early completion. I regret to state that fish refuse has again been brought to the arches of the railway so often complained of, in the occupation of Messrs. Hale and Co., and against whom proceedings on a former occasion were taken. I inspected these premises on the 16th instant, and certify them as having an offensive accumulation, calculated to be injurious to the health of the neighbourhood. I have certified also 18 houses in a court at Dockhead, the privies and drainage being in a most offensive and highly dangerous condition, and the houses are most of them in a very filthy state. The spot is most inappropriately named Pleasant Place. The houses in Virginia Row, adjoining, are only one degree better; I have also certified them. I advise notices to be served at once upon the owners of this property. There are also houses in George Row requiring prompt attention, the occupiers of 26 and 27 complain of a scanty supply of water, and Mr. Paulton at Dockhead, complains of the same deficiency. I have reason however for believing that the supply of late has been generally more liberal. There are several houses in Hickman's Folly with foul and offensive privies. Salisbury Lane I speak of with extreme satisfaction, the arrangements are in many cases, excellent, and appear to be valued by the tenants, and to be well cared for. As a substitute for the wooden, dilapidated, and dirty water-butts, there are in some of the yards zinc receptacles, which appear to me worthy of especial notice. The only complaint I have to make in Salisbury Lane, is of an open grating to a sewer, from whence an effluvia escapes at times. An adjourned case against an owner of two houses at Star Corner, was decided on Friday by Mr. Coombe, I allude to it as one of some importance, and your Surveyor was kind enough to attend with a plan and sketch of the premises. The defendant (I believe a lawyer) contended that there was no clause or power in the Nuisance Removal Act, rendering it compulsory upon a landlord to provide pans, traps, and water supply, in lieu of the open privy and cesspool. The worthy Magistrate however, decided that the Act renders these sanitary improvements imperative when called for.