View report page

67
Local Management Act, sec. CXXXIII.), (Nuisances Removal Act, sees. XII., XIII.,
XIV.), when do doubt an order would be made, and a penalty attached if not attended
to at once.
In consequence of a report that fever was endemic at Blackheath in a passage and
court (Dartmouth Passage and Phoenix Square), I visited the locality, and found some
children suffering from low fever, and that one child had died from severe scarlet fever.
I have so often and urgently brought this place, with others of the same class, before
the notice of the Board, that all the members must be well aware of the state of the
neighbourhood. I, however, think it right to append the result of a house to house
visitation which I have made in Phoenix Square, Dartmouth Passage, Camden Passage,
Camden Row, Garden Cottages, &c., Blackheath, and at the same time to state my conviction
that something must be done to remedy evils of this description, to avert the
occurrence of disease and death. The sewer (quite useless to some of these localities)
lies about 200 feet below Camden Row, and a pipe laid up this distance would well drain
this part.
In Lewisham several nuisances exist dangerous to health, and some have indeed
existed, not only for the last year or two, but are not much improved since visited and
reported upon by a Committee appointed by the Churchwardens in 1853.
The Esplanade houses (Mr. Furnell's) are in a filthy state. Mr. Russell's property,
situated at Loampit Vale, is also in a very bad state. Water is required to be laid on in
Hanover Street, Cross Street, and their heighbourhoods generally. This is necessary
where closets are used, in any soil, but more necessary still in porous strata.
Much inconvenience has been occasioned at the Union Workhouse, Lewisham, by th'e
stoppage of the drain. I have been informed by your Surveyor that this has occurred
from portions of oakum, which had gradually accumulated; and from the pipes not
having been cemented together (as recommended by me in my first report, dated J an ,
1856), the reflux drainage oozed through the joints, and having percolated through the
porous soil, contaminated the water of the well which supplies the inmates. It will be
some time before this evil will be got rid of, although the drain is now put right.
The house occupied by Mr. Downs's library, near the "Workhouse, has the water from
the pump very offensive, it is supposed from the same cause. Illness in the house is
also attributed to this by the Medical attendant.
I must congratulate the Board that part of the ditch (the old water-course) through
Lewisham, is being filled in (a course which I recommended in a report some months
ago, during the construction of the Stanstead Lane sewer). It would be well if this
were continued through the entire Village.
The portion of this ditch opposite the Leathersellers' Almshouses is very dirty, from
the fact that these buildings are not drained, and that the ditch is used for the purpose
of throwing slops and other filth in.
In Sydenham the drains from Verey*8 Cottages run into an offensive ditch by the side
of the road. The state of the land at the back of Dartmouth Row is still filthy, and
with a few feet of pipe might be opened into the sewer, which is here and in some other
parts worse than useless, as in its construction old drains have been blocked up, and the
sewage finds its way back into the houses, clay soil (in one instance it ran into the cellars
of a house), or oozes out over the neighbouring land. The drains in Kirkdale, Wells
Road, and the accumulation of liquid filth here, are still as poisonous and offensive as
usual.
I am, Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
F. E. WILKINSON.
Medical Officer of Health.
Tuesday, 21st April, 1857.
PJumix Square or Court.
Receiver in centre of court for drainage. Drain blocked up.
Two closets to eight houses. Water on for two hours a day. No cisterns. No water
on when examined.
Water is usually on for two hours per day. Kent Water Works.
All houses with four rooms.
F 2