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37
The serious condition of the dwellings known as Nos. 9 to 24, Hoxton Residences,
was brought under my notice in September by the Hon. Secretary of the Christian
Institute, Hoxton Market. For several years past they have been under the observation
of the Health Department, and efforts have been made to secure effectual measures
being taken to abate nuisances, and to keep the dwellings in a clean and wholesome
condition. Although something from time to time was attempted by the owner, yet
nothing to any purpose was done, and the condition of the residences has drifted on
from bad to worse. Latterly there has been litigation in connection with the
property, and it was allowed to get into an extremely insanitary condition. On my
visit I found that the condition of the dwelling-rooms, stairs, sculleries, and sanitary
conveniences of the two blocks containing the 16 suites of rooms had become such as
to be a source of danger both to the inmates and to the people in the neighbourhood.
Their condition was brought under the notice of the Health Committee, who directed
that the necessary steps should be taken to obtain a closing order, and on September
9th a closing order was made by Mr. Cluer, one of the metropolitan magistrates at
Worship Street Police Court, against the owner. Efforts were then made to get the
people to quit the insanitary premises; they were warned as to the unhealthiness of the
dwellings and cautioned as to contravention of the order of the magistrate, but without
effect. A few of the families left, but their places were taken by others. The insanitary
state of the dwellings was subsequently aggravated through the water being cut off in
consequence of the non-payment of the water-rate. The Vestry then decided to
proceed under section 5 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, and to enter the
premises, and do whatever was necessary in execution of the closing order. After
due notice to the inhabitants, on January 4th, 1897, the Vestry officers, with the aid
of the police, evicted the 23 families which were in occupation, the doors and
windows being fastened and secured, and other necessary measures taken to prevent
the dwellings being occupied until such time as they have been made fit for habitation.
The legal difficulties with regard to the property have since been arranged, and the work
required to render the dwellings habitable is now being proceeded with under the
supervision of the Chief Sanitary Inspector.
FOOD CONDEMNED AND DESTROYED.
The street markets have been kept under supervision by the Vestry's Sanitary
Inspectors, and steps taken as far as practicable to prevent vegetable and animal
refuse being deposited in the roads and on the footways.
The quality of the various food stuffs exposed for sale wns generally most
excellent. The unsound articles of food coming under the observation of your officers
which were condemned and destroyed as unfit for human consumption, comprised 10
baskets of cherries, l6 boxes of tomatoes, and 50 bananas; 1 barrel of mackerel and
half a barrel of skate, together with some 6 other pieces of the same fish; 5 carcases
of pigs and 1 pig's head, 15 pieces of bacon and 2 rabbits, 1½ cwt. of roes, 37 stone of
mutton and 1 cwt. of beef.