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" The buildings and property at present for sale comprise a flour mill, offices and
a piece of vacant land-the site of the old Mill Pond. This extends in a narrow strip
from the river Thames, near 14, Rotherhithe Street, on the north, to Paradise Street
on the south. It is bounded on the west by the following houses:(lst) 10 to 14
(even numbers) Rotherhithe Street, (2nd) 22 to 62 (even numbers West Lane, (3rd)
Iphegenia Cottages, and on the east by (1st) Candlish's Warehouse, (2nd) the houses on
both sides of Gilham's Court, and (3rd) 1 to 9 (odd numbers) Paradise Street.
"For convenience of description the various houses and properties can be
divided into certain groups and divisions, which I will take in the above order.
"Taking the west boundary, the first group comprises three large three-storied
houses, Nos. 10 to 14, Rotherhithe Street. No. 10 is occupied below as an office the
remainder being let out. No. 12 is a public-house, and No. 14 is sub-let to the
employees of Messrs. Tidy, Farrand's Wharf, and has a large stable attached in the
occupation of the same firm.
"The brickwork of these houses is good, as is also the general sanitary condition.
Nos. 10 and 14 were redrained within the last 3 years, and during this process the
drains of No. 12, which discharge into the same system, were subjected to examination
and found to be in sound condition.
" Rotherhithe Street here is 22 feet wide, and partly owing to this and the height
of the opposing warehouses, the front rooms of these houses are somewhat dark.
"Between 10, Rotherhithe Street and 62, West Lane are the stables already
mentioned.
" The second group of houses extends from 46 to 62 (even numbers), West Lane.
This consists of seven large three-storied houses. The third story in 48, 50 and 60
is an attic with dormer window. These houses are all very old but the brickwork is
in fairly good condition. In Nos. 48, 50 and 52 the back of the house is weatherboard
and in fair condition, and the fronts of 56 and 58 are plastered; these houses have all
been redrained within the last three years. They are sub-let, most of the occupants
being very poor. The houses are clean for this class of tenant. The ventilation
generally is fairly good. The yards at rear of Nos. 48, 50, 52, 54, 60 and 62 range
from 20 to 22 ft. in depth, those of 46, 56 and 58 being not less than 9 ft. The yard
paving in one or two was defective, and other sanitary faults, such as defective w.c.
flushes, were found. The main defects from a sanitary point of view are : (1) The
roofs are old, and if not at present leaking seem to have been recently in that state;
they are tiled. (2) The staircases are mostly in the centre of the houses and very
dark. (3) The whole of the front rooms are dark, owing to the narrowness of West
Lane (13 ft.) in this portion, and the height of the opposite building, which is a
warehouse.
" The third group of houses comprises the numbers 22 to 44, West Lane. They
are all three-storied houses. In Nos. 28 to 36 the third storey consists of a small attic
with dormer window. They are sub-let like the last. The walls of No. 36 are
weatherboard, front and rear, in good condition. In the remainder the brickwork
though old is in very good repair. They are fairly clean and in good condition
generally, and any nuisances found were of a minor character, such as defective yard
paving and, in one or two cases, defective w.c. flushes. The main defects from a
sanitary point of view are: (1) Old tiled roofs and (2) dark staircases. The ventilation
is good, and the air space ample in front and rear, since though the back yards of
Nos. 22 to 26 are somewhat narrow they abut on the Mill Pond, and West Lane in the
front varies in width from about 20 ft. opposite No. 44 to 38 ft. opposite No. 22, so
that the front is both well lighted and ventilated.
" The fourth group of houses is known as Iphigenia Cottages, and comprises three
houses numbered 1, 2 and 3. They are entered from West Lane by a narrow passage
consisting of two parts, the first being covered, 23 ft. 6 in. long, 2 ft. 11 in. wide, and
about 10 ft. high; and the second open and 22 ft. long by 4 ft. 2 in. wide. These
cottages are two storey. They are old but in fairly good condition sanitarily, since
they were redrained about six years ago. The yards are rather small, but in Nos. 2
and 3 this is compensated for by the backs of the yards abutting on an open space
belonging to the flour mill. No. 1 is rather confined in the front owing to the
proximity of the wall of the back addition of 44, West Lane. Nos. 2 and 3 abut on an
open space in front, and the side wall of No. 3 forms part of the boundary of the Mill
Pond. The roofs here have the same defects as those in West Lane, but otherwise the
sanitary condition is good. No. 3 was flooded three months ago, when the sluice valve
of the Mill Pond was open."
" The fifth group of houses includes 1 to 9 (odd numbers), Paradise Street. The
houses in this group differ considerably from one another as regards their apparent age,
state of repairs and general structure. They are all four-storied houses, the lowest
storey being a basement, and, in Nos. 7 and 9, the top storey an attic with dormer
window.
"1 to 5, Paradise Street have been redrained within the last three years. No. 1 is
a large house in the occupation of a builder and his family, two rooms being sub-let,
and is in good repair and sanitary condition. No. 3 is sub-let. The brickwork of the
back wall is in bad condition and requires pointing. The roof is leaky, but otherwise
the house is in fair condition. The light and ventilation and air space are good. No. 5