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have been made by the Operative Bilkers' Association to Secretary
Sir George Grey, viz.:—
" The complaint stated that 'the oven-flues are carried under
men's sleeping apartment; from six to eight men sleep in three
beds. Hot-water plates for making jellies adjoining water-closet,
and in bakehouse between biscuit-board and oven ; the stench
from same frequently intolerable.'
" The bakehouse and premises in question are situated at the
corner of Regent-street and Hanover-street, and receive light and
air from each. That part of the basement of the house which
looks into Hanover-street is occupied by the pastry kitchen and
the men's bedroom. The bakehouse proper consists of one large
space formed by the area of the house on its Regent-street side,
and by the space under the pavement, and of detached vaults
adjoining.
" The hot-water plate for making jellies is in the pastry
kitchen, on that side of the house farthest from Regent-street.
It is not near any water-closet whatever.
" The men's bedroom adjoining contains two beds, in which
three men sleep at present. It is ample in size, and thoroughly
well lighted and ventilated. The floor partly stone, partly boards.
There is no fire-place, but there is a special opening for ventilation
near the ceiling, leading through to the other side of the
house.
" The bakehouse is on the Regent-street side, as aforesaid.
There are two ovens on the east side (i. e. the side furthest from
the house) and one on the north side. The flues from the two on
the east side pass under the floor of the bakehouse, and under
one corner of the men's bedroom, to a shaft at the back of the
house. The flues are said to be at least a foot below the floor of
the bakehouse ; and as the bakehouse floor (to which we descend
by two steps) is at least 18 inches below the floor of the men's
bedroom, it follows that the flues must be 2½ feet below the level
of the latter, and it is very improbable that any heat passes
upwards from them.
'• The bakehouse is a spacious place, lighted and ventilated by
skylights over the Regent-street area, and over the door which
leads in from the Hanover-street area. There are also gratings
opening on to the pavement above. The water-closet is situated
in a recess on the Regent-street side ; it was newly constructed,
under the local authority of St. George, Hanover-square, and the
whole premises properly drained by pipe-drains in February 1859.
It is well supplied with water and in good order, and there is a
special grating for ventilation between it and the bakehouse.
" During the repeated visits which we have paid to this bakehouse,
especially since the Bakehouse Act came into operation, we
have never noticed any offensive smell, nor has any complaint
been made to the local authority.
" In conclusion, the premises appear to us to be clean, dry, and
one of the best of the 96 in the parish."