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the damp. In four of the houses the walls showed dampness
above this. The light of these rooms is fairly good, but the air,
which comes from the yard and the damp dirty wash-houses,
can neither be wholesome not sufficient. In the front rooms
first floor the lighting is good and the ventilation is passable,
but as the back rooms are in such bad condition they must
interfere considerably with the purity of the air. The back
rooms first floor are extremely small and have a cubic capacity
of a little over 300 ft.; they are very dark, and dilapidated,
and the damp, which is very bad, affects not only the back
walls but also the ceilings in most of the cases. With one
exception they are all used as bedrooms, and it would be
difficult to conceive a more unsuitable room for the purpose.
The cubic capacity is sufficient for one person only, but in many
cases there were over this number. The staircases are narrow,
winding, and dark, and as the treads themselves are very
narrow they seem to me to be very dangerous. Several of the
rooms are verminous.
The general state of repair is bad, and in some cases the
woodwork might be described as old, dirty, and dilapidated.
In consideration of the general structure, position, and condition
of the back portions of these houses, I consider they are
at present unfit for human habitation, and recommend the
Council to serve notices to that effect under Section 17 of the
above specified Act.
Nos. 1-10, and 15-35. Wood Place, Grange Road (31 Houses).
I beg to make a representation that the above dwelling houses
are in a state so dangerous or injurious to health as to be unfit for
human habitation, and recommend the Council to make Closing
Orders under Section 17 of the above Act.
The following are the reasons:-
The houses, which are two and four roomed cottages, are
situated in a small court approached by a narrow passage from
Grange Road. On the south and east sides this court is
closed in by buildings, 50 and 60 ft. high respectively, which
prevent the proper access of light and air. On the north side
the buildings, which form the boundary are about 35 ft. high
and prevent ventilation to some extent. As regards the dwelling