[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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    fairness state, that although I have passed the premises of Mr. Bur gess on many occasions during the last fortnight, I have not found this process going on; lam told that it is done at night. I have expressed my willingness to parties who complain that their health is injured, to come at any time, night or day, when they find the nuisance in active operation. With ordinary care, with very little skill and contrivance, I feel convinced that the cause for the outcry against these premises might be remedied. There is evidently a strong feeling on the subject. I gathered this from house to house inquiries on the spot. Should fever, diarrhœa, or cholera, break out at this point, spread, and become prevalent, occasion loss of life, then great blame will rest somewhere. I have again inspected the arches of the railway, used as an artificial manure manufactory, by Messrs. Hale & Co. The night soil appears to be thoroughly deodorized. I have here a specimen for the opinion of the Vestry. As regards the fish refuse, l am of opinion, that it cannot be accumulated in quanties without danger to the health of the public, and ought not, under any circumstances, to be permitted during the summer months. There is a sample of the fish manure also for your inspection. I have had my attention directed to Nos. 14 and 15, Mill Street which are in a condition as certain to produce disease, as the application of fire to gunpowder will produce explosion. At No. 15, the privy was within the house, and brim full, running over at the seat. The wife stated that her husband was compelled to resort to the public house for his convenience, and obliged to spend his money in drink. At No. 14, they have lost one child, and one is just returned from the hospital. They complain of sickness, vomiting, and purging, and no wonder. The yards are impure, there are pools of stinking, stagnant green water, and the drainage is altogether inefficient. The people say, that at times they can hardly breathe. My attention has also been drawn to what, unless remedied, will be a growing evil. The houses in Little London Street, which for merly stood partly on piles over the mill stream, have now under them a vacant space, which appears to be a receptacle for every imaginable abomination, rotten fish, flesh, and filth of every description. The space should be cleaned out, filled up with brick-rubbish, and then closed up. Your Inspector directed my attention to the condition of an open ditch at the back of Elizabeth Place, it appears quite stagnant, and requires cleansing, it is in a very filthy and dangerous state. Having ascertained that ague was prevalent in Foxlow Street, I directed your Inspector to find out the state of the inhabitants, and overcrowding to an enormous extent exists; I have had an interview with the Police Commissioners, and am promised their aid should be necessary to ascertain with exactitude (which can only be done at night) the real number who occupy the houses in this street. During the month, the health of the parish has, with slight exceptions, been satisfactory. The mortality for the week ending