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Sanitary Committee's consideration of the matter," they came to the conclusion that "it was not
desirable that the Vestry should provide their own disinfecting station, but that the disinfecting
and cleansing of clothing, bedding, etc., should continue to be entrusted to the (then) contractors."
The Committee accordingly recommended " that no variation be made in the arrangements (then)
in force for the execution of the work," and their report was adopted by the Vestry.
The question was reopened in 1901-2, a special committee having been appointed "with
reference to the development and utilization of the Council's land at Wood Lane." Paragraph 2
of the Committee's report reads as follows:—
"With regard to the reference of the Council of the 6th November (1901) directing us to
consider as to the practicability of providing a disinfecting station on the Council's land at
Wood Lane, we beg to report that the land offers a suitable cite for the erection of a disinfecting
station, and we have inspected public and private installations of this nature with a view of
ascertaining the description of the building and its equipment, which it may be desirable to
provide on the site. ....
"The Council having already endorsed the opinion expressed by the Public Health Committee
that provision should be made for the Council to carry out their own disinfecting work,
subject to a suitable site being available*, it only remains for us to recommend—
"That the Council do approve of the construction of a disinfecting station on the land
at Wood Lane. ....
The recommendation was adopted by the Council (4th February, 1902).
The work went forward, and in view of the inauguration of the Station (27th July, 1906), by
His Worship the Mayor, an account of the buildings, apparatus, etc., was prepared, from which the
subjoined "particulars" are excerpts.
The drawings and specification for the building were prepared by the late Borough Engineer
(Mr. Wm. Weaver) after several of the most modern disinfecting stations had been visited, the
desire prevailing throughout the whole of the proceedings that the station should be as complete
and perfect as science could make it, so that the disinfection of articles might be absolutely
effectual, and also that no danger might arise from the operations which are to be conducted
therein.
A tender for the erection of the building, excluding the apparatus and machinery, by Messrs.
Alfred Hudson & Co., Caxton House, Westminster, was accepted at £4,727. The foundations
of the building had been laid by the Council's own workmen.
Description of the Building.—The exterior of the building is constructed to a height of four
feet with blue Staffordshire bricks, and the upper part with selected salt-glazed bricks with glazed
terra-cotta dressings. The interior is built to a height of four feet with glazed bricks, the walls
above being lined with glass tiles. The whole of the structure is impervious to water so that it
may be washed down both inside and outside.
The following accommodation is provided in the building:—
An "Infected Room," 30 feet by 15 feet, for the reception of infected articles which will
thence be placed in the disinfectors.
A "Disinfected Room," 80 feet by 20 feet, in which disinfected goods are received from the
apparatus.
A Laundry consisting of a washing room 26 feet by 20 feet, and an ironing and packing
room 28 feet by 20 feet.
An air-tight chamber for the disinfection of cabs or other vehicles which may have become
infected.
Three Van Sheds.
*The Special Committee had been appointed on the 9th November. 1901, to "consider the several matters dealt with in
the report of the Borough Engineer (23rd September, 1901) on the development and utilization of the Council's land in Wood
Lane." The Public Health Committee having had before them "the question of the advisability of the provision by the
Council of their own disinfecting station and apparatus," and "having obtained particulars from certain other Local
Authorities, metropolitan and provincial, with regard to the various methods employed by them in carrying out their
own disinfecting work," expressed the opinion that "subject to a suitable site being available, preferably at one or other of
the existing depÔts of the Council, it is desirable that the Council should make such provision," and they recommended that
"the question of the practicability of providing a disinfecting station . . . on the Council's land at Wood Lane might with
advantage form the subject of an additional reference to the Special Committee." The recommendation was adopted by the
Council, 13th November, 1901.