View report page

46
Section 32 (2) of the Housing of the Working Classes Act (Part II)
in order to obtain a closing order. The late Dr. Glaister therefore
re-represented the houses and obtained a closing order on
October 3rd, 1899.
This resolution was further considered by the Vestry on 25th
January, 1900, after the usual notices had been served upon all
interested persons, when the Vestry ordered the demolition of the
said premises.
After the expiration of the necessary time provided by the Act
the Vestry directed tenders to be obtained for carrying out the
order. A tender was accepted on the 14th April, 1900, and the
work of demolition was rapidly completed. No new buildings were
erected upon the site.
In December, 1887, a Special Committee of the Vestry of
Clerkenwell reported on the courts and blind alleys in Clerkenwell,
and made a number of recommendations and suggestions, some of
which were adopted.
In 1890 the Medical Officer of Clerkenwell certified several
properties as insanitary, and they were closed by order of the
Vestry or the defects remedied.
Daring 1891 Dr. Yarrow reported upon sixteen sets of houses in
the Parish of St. Luke, resulting in repairs or closures.
Dr. Yarrow made a representation of Lines Buildings, Richard's
Place, Old Street, in June, 1899, and these premises were closed
under Pait 2 of the Housing of the Working Classes Act, 1890. The
buildings had only been erected about ten years, but were of faulty
construction. They consisted of two separate blocks situated at the
end of a cul de sac, and about six feet apart and connected on the
first floor by a bridge. They had no back windows or means of
through ventilation, and by reason of the height and close proximity
of the two buildings the lower rooms were quite dark. They were
originally intended to accommodate five families, but soon became
overcrowded and were registered as tenement houses under the
Public Health (London) Act, 1891, but the occupants could not be
induced to obey the Bve-laws and the premises soon became dirty