View report page

24
Parish of St. George the Martyr, Southwark.
Pontypool Place is a passage from 4 to 10 feet across. It has a single side channel
in bad repair. No houses are left in this street, as they have all been closed under
the Housing of the Working Classes Act.
Its general condition as to cleanliness is fairly good.
PART II.
General remarks made by Mr. Edwards.
The general statements made by Mr. Edwards are so vague and cover so much
ground that it would be simply impossible to attempt to discuss them here at length.
He advocates a system of House to House inspection, evidently ignorant of the fact
that such a plan has been in force in this parish for the past three years. His
suggestion that such an inspection would in some way prevent out-break of fever or
small-pox is, from a sanitary point of view ludicrous. He speaks of the high deathrate
of the parish, but may be reminded that it has fallen steadily from 30 in the decade
1841-50 to 22.9 in 1896.
PART III.
Comments on Paet I. and II.
With regard to the places mentioned by Mr. Edwards I may say:—
(1) During the five years in which I have acted as your Medical Officer of Health
they have all of them been substantially improved in their sanitary condition.
(2) The weakest sanitary point appears to be in the sewers, and there can be
little doubt that the sewer in Silex Street requires inspection and possibly relaying.
(3) The uncleanly state of the Artizan Blocks in Gun Street is in part due to
deficient superintendance, but mainly to the habits of the tenants.
(4) The state of the streets as to rubbish is due to the manners of the inhabitants
and partly to want of daily systematic scavenging.
(5) The want of tidiness both in streets and houses is not greater than one would
expect in a poor neighbourhood densely populated by costermongers and other working
folks.
(6) Mr. Edwards appears to be somewhat behind the times not only as to House
to House inspection but also in other matters. He complains, for instance, of
Pontypool Place, which has been demolished for more than a year. Kell Street, again,
so far from being a ''terrible hot bed of disease" for two years at least, has been
reduced to a clean and quiet side street, containing only eight houses.
(7) As to the urinal near the Obelisk it was done away with before the end of
June last. Its condition has from time to time engaged the attention of the Vestry.
Suggestions.
In conclusion the facts of this report suggest to my mind the following recommendations:—
(1) That asphalte paving be laid in Silex Street, and King James Street should be
either macadamised afresh or asphalted.
(2) That daily scavenging be instituted in all the streets named.
(3) Inspection and report upon state of sewers in the streets named with alteration
or relaying where needed.