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165
PUBLIC BATHS AND WASHHOUSES.
The Baths and Washhouses at the junction of Lancasterroad
and Silchester-road, Notting-hill, opened in April, 1888,
were well supported during the year: the washers in the twelve
months ended 25th March, 1898, were 64,347; an increase of
4,387 over the number in the preceding official year; the bathers,
110,857; an increase of 1,902. But it must be admitted that,
for the great majority of parishioners, the site is not sufficiently
central for baths, and obviously it is too remote for use tor
washing purposes. The same objection would apply, more or
less, to any single site in the parish. Much good might be
effected by the provision of several buildings, on a modest
scale, in convenient localities, to which the poor could resort
for the purpose of washing clothing, &c. The statistics contained
in the successive annual reports of the Commissioners
for the Baths and Washhouses, show a constantly increasing
use to be made of the washhouses, and are of a nature to
encourage the hope that it may be found practicable to
provide, at no distant date, for the wants of the poor in the
Central and Southern districts of the Parish.
PUBLIC SANITARY CONVENIENCES.
There are only 20 public urinals in the parish—a very
inadequate provision, which, however, is supplemented by
about 170 urinals at public-houses, to which the general public
have access—accommodation not of a satisfactory sort, as a
rule, but better than none at all, and improved as the result of
proceedings taken by your Vestry in 1888 and subsequently.
There are three sets of public water-closets, for the male sex
only, situated, respectively, at the rear of the Central Public
Library; at the west end of Westbourne-grove, Notting-hill,
and in the Old Brompton-road, opposite the Bell and Horns
Tavern. Sanitary Authorities have now ample power to
make provision of this sort, section 88 of the Metropolis
Management Act, 1855, enabling them "to provide and maintain
urinals, water-closets, and like conveniences for both sexes,