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This information could not be given, but I was permitted to obtain, in respect of each dead body
buried by the friends, the name and age of the deceased, the date of death, the date of removal,
the name and address of the undertaker.*
" Armed with the necessary information, I made application to fourteen undertakers concerned
with the burial of 178 of the North Kensington persons, with a view to ascertain whether, in their
opinion, a mortuary chapel 'would supply a public want, and be likely to find favour with the
relatives of deceased poor persons ?' And with a view to ' ascertain the mode of disposal of
bodies between the date of removal from the Infirmary mortuary and their interment,' a list of cases
dealt with by him was given to each undertaker, who was requested to state where the several
bodies had been deposited; and if at a private house, the address thereof, and the date of burial.
The desired information was supplied by six undertakers only, and with respect to about 80 bodies,
of which nearly all had been deposited in private houses in streets inhabited by the poorer classes,
in lodgings or in tenements comprising very limited accommodation. In 12 cases the body had
been removed from the Infirmary mortuary for interment on the same day, but apparently had been
temporarily deposited in the former homes in five instances. In 14 cases the body had been
retained in the place of deposit for one night; in 18 cases for two nights; in 16 cases for three
nights; in 6 cases for four nights; in 3 cases for five nights; in 2 cases for six nights. One
undertaker deposited the five bodies buried by him in his private mortuary; one body was deposited
at the public mortuary; seven bodies had remained in hearses between removal and burial, and
two had been kept in an undertaker's shop.
" The opinions expressed as to the want of a mortuary chapel by the four undertakers who
favoured me with their views, are subjoined.
" Mr. A., who had buried eight bodies, two of which had been deposited in his shop and six
at the homes of surviving relatives, offered no opinion: nor did Mr. B., who buried two bodies
that had been deposited at the homes of surviving relatives.
" Mr. C., who had buried twenty bodies, all of which, between the time of removal from
the Infirmary mortuary and the interment, had been retained in the homes of the surviving
relative, wrote:—
' I do not think a mortuary chapel is required. The one at Kensington, to my mind, is ample.'
" Mr. D., who had buried five bodies, all of which had been deposited at his private mortuary,
wrote as follows :—
' However one may realize the usefulness of a Public Mortuary (in North Kensington) it is
very doubtful whether the class of people for whom it is intended would make use of it. The
poor are very conservative and have a horror of a public mortuary. From a sanitary point of
view it is undoubtedly necessary that something should be done to prevent the present system
of keeping the dead. One often finds the corpse in the same room as some of the family sleep,
and often eat, in. They absolutely refuse to have the lid of the coffin screwed on, the consequence
being that the body is often in a decomposed state by the time of burial. Such an
establishment would supply a public want, but is not likely to find favour with the relatives
of deceased poor persons.'
" Mr. E., who had buried three bodies, expressed the opinion that a mortuary chapel at North
Kensington, 'would be a great convenience.'
" Mr. F., who had buried forty bodies, six of which had been deposited in hearses for
interment on the day of removal from the Infirmary mortuary, wrote as follows :—
' I am of opinion that the proposed mortuary chapel at North Kensington will not be likely to
find favour with the relatives of deceased poor persons In some cases where (the
friends) have no accommodation for the remains to be taken home, those dying in the Infirmary
must be removed somewhere (i.e., after removal from the mortuary) previous to burial, as the
hour arranged for removals, viz., 7 to 8 a m., is much too early to arrange for a funeral, and 60
the body has to go either to the house or the public mortuary to await the hour of burial, causing
extra expense. I consider the Infirmary mortuary should be available at any time for removal
of remains.'
"The obligation to remove bodies at an inconvenient time, arose, I understand, out of the
complaints of residents in Marloes Road, witnesses of the all too frequent sight of the undertaker's
hearse ; the mortuary being unfortunately placed in the forefront of the Infirmary, abutting on the
street.
* It may be mentioned that, as an outcome of the correspondence, the Infirmary Committee gave directions that in all
future cases notice should be given to me of the intended removal of a body for private interment, with the name of the undertaker
and the name and address of the person undertaking the burial—and this has been done.