View report page

During the latter half of the year we kept in touch with the underground bakehouses,
constantly visiting them and advising as to the best methods of carrying out the regulations
when requested to do so., No doubt the owners sometimes felt our recommendations somewhat
harassing since we refused to bind ourselves to regard them as final. If for example, after an
additional window or ventilating pipe had been constructed we found that the light or ventilation
were still deficient we extended our requirements as regarding these. Notwithstanding this
we were received everywhere courteously, and our suggestions were carried out in their
entirety. The following list of defects remedied will give a very good idea of the amount of
work involved in this undertaking :—
Capacity of bakehouse increased ... ... ... ... 3
Walls and staircases of bakehouses rendered in cement ... ... 31
Ceilings ceiled 31
Floors concreted 28
Fixed woodwork painted 33
W.C. accommodation provided 6
Soil pipes and inlets to drains removed from bakehouse or storeroom 8
Waste pipes trapped 2
Catch pit trapped 1
Drain under bakehouse made gas and water tight 1
Areas faced with white glazed bricks 23
Light improved 20
Ventilation improved 32
Castors fixed on troughs 29
Provision made for the proper storage of flour and coal 24
Storeroom lighted and ventilated 12
Walls of storerooms rendered in cement 4
Trap doors abolished 4
Dampness abated 4
W .C. s (2) and stable (1) separated from or removed from proximity
to bakehouse or storeroom 3
Miscellaneous 15
Construction.—(a) the cubic capacity in those cases which required it was invariably
increased by lowering the floor. (b) The ceilings were nearly all ceiled with lath and plaster,
but in a few cases it was done with sheets of zinc.
Light.- In 20 of the bakehouses one or two extra windows were constructed, but in
addition pavement lights were inserted in those which had not them previously, and in those
which had them they were, if possible, enlarged. Prism lights were always recommended
and in the majority of the cases used.
Ventilation. — This was carried out by Tobins tubes, two of which were generally placed
in the back wall near the ceiling, while one or more were placed in front in a similar position,
or under the stall board. Another method of increasing the ventilation was by having the upper
half of each window on hinges, or if the windows consisted of single panes a space of 3 in. was
left open by cutting this amount from the top of the pane. Dough requires a temperature of
about 70° F. when rising, so that there may be such a thing as too much ventilation, and the
difficulty we found was to hit the happy medium ; the bakers themselves, however, do not
require instruction in the matter of preventing an excess of cold air.
General.—In a few cases the storage of flour was provided for in a separate part of the
house, but in the majority of the cases this was done by partitioning off a portion of the bakehouse
by a partition which has a door and the walls of which extend from floor to ceiling, thus
making it as completely separated as possible. Care was, of course, taken that the cubic capacity
was not thereby unduly lowered. In the most cases provision for the storage of coal was made
in the yard outside the bakehouse altogether, or if not there, it was in a recess communicating
more directly with it but separated by a tightly fitting door.
The first few bakehouses which were finished were visited by the Public Health Committee,
but they found that it would be a difficult undertaking to visit them all, and cause a great delay
in issuing the certificates as they were done, so the recommendations were left in mine and the
Chief Inspector's hands. Out of the 35 bakehouses in use at the beginning of the Act, 33
complied with the regulations and were granted certificates. In two cases, viz., 20, Alice Street
and 126, Alscot Road, the landlord did not see his way to assist the tenant with the alterations,
so they were closed.
On the whole the result has been very satisfactory, and the bakers themselves have been
among the first to acknowledge the benefits of the change.
Factories and Workshops—General Summary.
Coming to the matters dealt with vide Table IX.—
Want of Cleanliness.—There were 83 notices, which were all complied with.
Want of Ventilation.—This is a very difficult matter to deal with, especially small
workshops on private premises in which there are no means of ventilation are provided except the
windows, doors and fireplaces. In the larger workshops we have recommended Tobins tubes and
louvre ventilation in the ceilings, but these methods are not always satisfactory. In one large
office where there were a great many clerks we had two large shafts a foot in diameter put into
36