Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Some notes on the housing question in Finsbury...
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modification) confirmed, did not include the whole of the area represented.
Indeed, only about four-fifths of an acre were dealt with,
the property being that situated in the northern portion of Clerkenwell
Close, in Cromwell Place, Yates Rents, and Pear Tree Court.
By the execution of the provisions of the scheme 410 persons were
to be dispossessed, and 454 were required to be re-accommodated.
Two new streets, each 30 ft. wide, were to be formed, one from
Clerkenwell Close to Roberts' Court, and the other from Clerkenwell
Close in a south-westerly direction towards Coppice Row, and the
North-west end of Clerkenwell Close was to be widened to 67 ft.
Modifications OF Scheme.- The scheme was modified by
provisional orders, dated 17th April, 1880, 6th June, 1882, and
11th April and 27th November, 1883, the number of persons
required to be re-housed being reduced to 410.* Further, a 20 ft.
extension of Pear Tree Court was substituted for the proposed newstreet
from Clerkenwell Close to Coppice Row.
Acquisition of Property.—Under this scheme only one
leasehold and five freehold claims were settled by agreement. Sir
Henry Hunt was then appointed arbitrator, and he issued his final
award on 17th July, 1879. The amount of this award was £6,911,
and the total cost of property, including legal and other expenses,
was £24,070.
The whole of the interests in the property having been acquired,
a sale of the materials of the old houses was held on 15th October,
1880. This realised a sum of £386 13s. The area was then
cleared, and this operation was completed by the end of the year.
In connection with this scheme the Board widened and repaved
Pear Tree Court and a part of Clerkenwell Close, and connected the
latter thoroughfare, by means of a flight of stone steps, with
*Dr. Griffith pointed out in his Report for 1877 that the Farringdon Road
Buildings and the Compton Buildings, then newly erected, would be available
in part for housing the displaced persons, but he adds: "There can be no
question that the inhabitants of the courts, &c., have not entered the new
buildings, but have taken refuge in some of the remaining courts, such as
Bishop's Court, &c."