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47
and dilapidated, and there appeared no other way of dealing with
them but to prohibit their use for dwelling purposes. Hence a
closing order was applied for, and in due course executed.
Some concluding words may be added respecting the present
responsibilities devolving upon the Metropolitan Borough Council
of Finsbury with regard to all these properties.
A.—The land in this case was sold to the Peabody Donation
Fund, who erected dwelllings thereon, in 1885 (for 1,300
people). These dwellings come under this Sanitary Authority as
regards regular inspection and supervision, and the buildings must
be maintained as working-class dwellings in perpetuity.
B.—In Mr. C. J. Stewart's admirable report* there is an interesting
statement referring to the costermongers dwellings in Dufferin
Street, which it is perhaps hardly necessary to quote at length. It
has already been stated in the present report that the Metropolitan
Board of Works in 1888 sold to a Committee known as the Watch
Committee of St. Luke's costermongers, a portion of the surplus land
cleared under the Whitocross Street scheme, in order that
dwellings with proper accommodation for costermongers might be
erected thereon. In 1887 the Metropolitan Board decided to sell
the Watch Committee a piece of land in Dufferin and Errol Streets
for £658, for 21 years' purchase at one penny a foot rental. The
value of this land was variously estimated at £3,000 and upwards.
The buildings were erected under supervision of the Board in 1889.
After various complications the London County Council bought
these buildings in December, 1891, for £6,300 (under Part III.
Housing of Working Classes Act, 1890). The dwellings were for
some years kept exclusively for the occupation of costermongers,
but this restriction was recently relaxed by order of the Council.
The dwellings provide accommodation for. 174 persons in 29 oneroom,
23 two-room, and 4 three-room tenements. There are also
12 stables and 12 sheds. The rents charged for the tenements are
at the rate of about 2/2 per room. On the annual accounts of
* The Housing Question in London—L.C.C. Report by C. J. Stewart, Clerk of the
Council, 1900. Page 260.