[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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    the summer just passed, complaints came to our ears of most offensive and sickening odours in this neighbourhood, which were supposed to arise from the sewers or gulleys. From this building, in the nature of things, there must at times arise a sickening deadly vapour. I urge upon the Vestry the necessity for placing the vast heap of poor corrupting human mortality now within this building decently beneath the earth. I have certified Bell Court and Medley's Buildings, Bermondsey Street, as requiring immediate attention. December 21, 1857. Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen, —In pursuance of the order of the Vestry of the 7th instant, I have inspected the vaults under St. James's Church, those under the Roman Catholic Church at Dockhead, and those at the Chapel in Long Lane. I will speak of the latter first, and it is with extreme gratification that I report the improvement which has taken place since my former inspection on the Ist of May, 1856, most of the bodies which were deposited beneath the chapel are now interred, a considerable quantity of fresh earth has been added as a further precaution, and there are also some bricked up in the vaults with lime, from which the external air is excluded, so that any emanation from the remains is thus prevented. I consider the care, attention, and anxiety shown by the authorities of this chapel, to render it free from noxious and injurious influences, worthy of especial mention. In St. James's, the vaults are, as far as ventilation and dryness, in excellent order; I think it most desirable in those instances where the coffins are piled one upon the other, as there is here plenty of space, that they should be placed upon the ground, for otherwise there is risk of the lower ones being burst by the superincumbent weight, independent of other causes. As Officer of Health, I still adhere to my opinion, that burial in the earth is the most effectual plan for the prevention and propagation of disease, by poisonous emanations from the dead. Under the Roman Catholic Church there are but 19 coffins above the earth, and I shall be rejoiced to learn that these are buried. lam unable to report to-day upon the condition of the vaults under St, Mary Magdalen, I hope however, to do so on the next meeting of the Vestry. In relation to Bethesda Chapel, I accompanied your Law Clerk to the Board of Health, Whitehall, when we were referred to the Burial Board Scotland Yard. In consequence of our representations, I have since been in communication with Mr. Grainger, and accompanied that gentleman to the chapel. He is Inspector under the Burial Act. He He agrees with me, as to the urgent and pressing necessity for prompt action in removing a very serious nuisance, one calculated in an eminent degree, to affect the health of the public. I believe that an Order from the Privy Council will forthwith be issued for the removal of the bodies placed beneath this building, and that permission will be given for their interment in the ground of St. James's. I have certified as to the existence of a nuisance complained of by