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10
The inhabitants of the place number about 50, of which
39 are females.
It is drained into a proper drain in the Penge Road.
Supplied with water by the Lambeth Company, although
2 pumps exist upon the premises.
The North Surrey District School at Anerley, Penge, is a
well situated, well constructed, and well ventilated building,
and except its Infirmary, which is not so well planned, is admirably
adapted for its purposes.
The building and grounds occupy 50 acres of land.
The grounds slope gradually from the front of the building
toward the South-east.
The land is divided into garden ground, meadow, and
arable land; and 18 cows, besides pigs and poultry, are kept
upon the premises.
The sewage from the whole building runs into deodorizing
tanks from which the land is constantly irrigated, and the
effect is greatly to augment the crops, and no unpleasant odour
is observable from its use.
The water supply is from a deep pump well, from whence
an excellent supply of water is kept up by a steam engine.
The building is lighted by gas made upon the premises.
Upwards of 800 children (from the Parishes and Unions of
Chelsea, Croydon, Kingston, Lewisham, Richmond, St. Pancras,
Wandsworth, and Clapham), are educated and trained
to different occupations and trades.
The boys, at the age of about 10, are employed and instructed,
on alternate days, in reading, writing, and arithmetic, and
as bakers, gardeners, engineers, gas makers, gas fitters, carpenters,
painters, bricklayers, shoemakers, tailors, and a certain
number are instructed in music, and taught to play upon
brass instruments.
The girls, after the age of 9, are instructed on alternate
days in reading, writing, and arithmetic, and in washing,
needlework, dairy-work, and the general duties of domestic
servants.
Ophthalmia, a troublesome contagious disease of the eye,
which has prejudicially affected many of the public institutions
of this country, has also affected the children in this school;
originating in accidental contagion, it rapidly spread amongst
the children, so that 40 or more have been affected at one time.
A large proportion of the children in this establishment are
naturally of weak constitutions, sometimes arising from here-