View report page

42
Parish, of St. George the Martyr, Southwark.
their joints made gastight with Portland cement. Better still, the pipes may he of
iron, prepared by the Barff process, or lined with Angus Smith's solution; such pipes
should be laid on concrete, and cemented at the joints.
8. Water Supply should come from the rising main. If that cannot be arranged,
owing to the absence of a constant service, separate cisterns must be provided for
drinking and for closet purposes, such cisterns to be of approved modern type.
9. The " Borroived Area."— In cases where the front of the house runs up flush
with the pavement, we suggest that space can be got for an outside area in the
following way :—The front of the shop is to be thrown back some 5 or 6 feet, and an
area sunk in the space borrowed in this way from the main overhanging building.
The outside area is thus gained at the expense of a part of the shop and the basement.
The size of the shop is somewhat lessened by the alteration, but by way of makeweight
the basement is converted into a light and habitable room. Access to the shop is
provided by a bridge crossing the new area from the pavement.
The area we regard as absolutely essential to the construction of a healthy basement
workshop. A proper supply of air and light, to say nothing of the disconnection
of lavatory arrangements, can hardly be obtained in the absence of an outside open
area of fair size. Further, if the whole of the basement is to be used for workmen, we
think that an area should exist on more than one side of the basement. We would
suggest, therefore, that every basement room meant for use as a workshop should have
an outside area along its entire frontage, that the said area be properly drained and
paved, be at least 4 feet in width in all parts, and extend to 6 inches or more below
the floor level. We would also make a second area compulsory in every basement
workshop. The second area, which might be placed at the side of the basement in
some cases, should be of similar construction to the front one, except that it may be
3 feet wide in all parts. In the case of basements having 2 feet or more of their
height above the level of the adjoining surface, the width of the front area might also
be reduced to 3 feet. It need hardly be pointed out that absolute precautions must be
taken to prevent any access to the area of sewage or other contamination. It is equally
clear that open ashpits must not be allowed in the area. All refuse should be kept in
covered galvanised iron bins, which should be systematically emptied and cleansed.
The Public Health Act of 1875 made it illegal for any cellar built or rebuilt since 1848
to be separately occupied as a dwelling, nor any cellar whatever, unless it complies
with the following requirements :—
(a) The height must be in every part at least 7 feet, 3 feet of which must be
above the level of the adjoining street; (b) an open area, at least 2½ feet wide in
every part and 6 inches below the level of the floor, must extend along the whole
frontage. It may be crossed by steps, but not opposite the window; (c) the cellar
must be drained by a drain at least 1 foot below the floor; (d) there must be
proper closet and ash-pit accommodation; (e) there must be a fireplace and
chimney; and (f) a window at least 9 square feet in area, made to open. The
window of a back cellar, let or occupied along with the front cellar, need only be
4 square feet in area.
With certain modifications we have applied the foregoing regulations as to cellar
dwellings to cellar workshops. The chief points of difference are that we ask for
8 feet in room height instead of 7 ; for an open outside front area 4 feet instead of 3 ;
and for an additional area of less width along one of the sides or the back of the
basement. The main practical difficulty in the way of satisfying these requirements
would no doubt be in making an area in town houses. In order to meet this objection
we have devised the scheme of the "borrowed area, "whereby an open area can be
obtained for a house even if situated in the narrowest street of London.
The main conclusion of this paper is, then, that an underground or basement
room can be converted into a healthy workshop by a proper expenditure of money
in structural alterations, whereby the basement may be rendered dry, light and airy.