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41
Annual Report of the Medical Officer of Health—1894.
County Council at the expense of the metropolis, would be appropriate. This would,
I think, strengthen the Vestry's hands in approaching the County Council with a
view to a more beneficial arrangement for our parish."
So far I have received no instructions to assist in the preparation of any plans.
I would venture to suggest, however, that a larger scheme, embracing the following
courts, alleys, and buildings, in order running from west to east, and opening into
the Borough High Street, might comprise:—
(a) The Falcon Court Area, i.e., Maypole Alley and Falcon Court, including in the
latter the obstructive common lodging-house, which is not officially included in the
unhealthy area.
(b) Sundry rod warehouses.
(c) Brent's Court.
(d) Adam's Place.
(e) The Midland Railway Receiving Depot.
(f) Messrs. Smith's Medicated Lozenge Manufactory.
(g) Redcross Court, including a common lodging-house, in which upwards of 100
men and women are housed nightly.
(h) Maypole Alley.
This area is irregularly oblong in shape and borders upon the neighbouring district
of St. Saviour and Christchurch Board of Works. Its two longer sides are bounded
by the Borough High Street on the south, and by Redcross Street on the north, its
shorter sides by Union Street on the east, and by the Marshalsea Road on the west.
If this provisional scheme, after deliberation, were considered too ambitious in
scope, or too costly in outlay, the alternative one of leaving Messrs. Smith's
Manufactory and the Depot intact, so as to divide the area into two portions, might
be adopted.
Abundant dwelling accommodation for displaced persons of the working class from
the Falcon Court or larger area could easily be provided in the vicinity.
At the present time various building plots of ground are lying idle in the limits of
this district. Two of these are in the Borough Road, within a distance of a quarter
of a mile, and between forty and fifty empty tenements in the Queen's Model Buildings,
Borough Road, which would be obtainable at low rentals.
A reconstruction scheme for the larger area would, I believe, be in practice difficult
of execution. Amongst other objections it would entail the purchase of expensive
business houses facing the Borough High Street in order to open up existing
approaches, and also at the same time to satisfy sanitary demands. Moreover,
comparatively few healthy dwellings could be raised on the space that would be
available, and I am doubtful, if hop or other warehouses were contructed, whether
they would let at a remunerative rental.
In conclusion, Gentlemen, my opinion is that the public health, not only of this
small, poor, and heavily-rated Parish, but also that of the whole metropolis, would
be distinctly improved and safe-guarded were the larger area converted into an open
breathing space.
The Parish, be it remembered, is bounded by no less than six important South
London Districts, which are poorly provided with parks and open spaces as compared
with other parts of the metropolis. At present the only open spaces within this
district which are free to all comers are the small disused burial grounds of the