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126
there all their lives) declare that its general tone has deteriorated
since the above clearances were effected. Probably many of those
turned out of the courts and alleys on the other side of Great Peter
Street crowded into the nearest houses, for, as a rule, few of those dishoused
find accommodation in the new buildings erected.
The inhabitants of this particular area may be divided into three
classes, the first consisting of shopkeepers in Great Peter Street
and house-farmers who hold one or several houses directly from
the freeholders, generally on a quarterly tenancy. Nearly all
these live in Chadwick Street or near by, and thus ought to
be able to exercise supervision over the occupiers of the houses.
The second group contains the majority of the inhabitants. It
consists of the poorer working class—labourers, general dealers,
costers, carmen, porters, woodchoppers, newsvendois, &c., some being
in regular employment, but for a considerable proportion the
means of obtaining a living must be frequently precarious, and
probably the border line, between this and the third class is
sometimes over-stepped; many of the women, as well as the men,
have to go out to work, consequently the children do not always
receive the care and attention they require. The third class consists of
those who " still bear the brand of sanctuary." Some are regular
residents, women who call themselves charwomen, sempstresses, dressmakers
or laundry workers, but from their appearance it is evident that
they are too intemperate to do any regular work (arrests of these
women for being drunk and disorderly are frequent). Phthisis is a
common cause of death among them. There is in addition to these a
floating population—people without any settled mode of life who stay
for a week or two, or, perhaps, for only a few days. They are enabled
to do this, as a number of the rooms are let " furnished,'' the furniture
generally consisting of a bedstead with some scanty bedding, a chair, a
table, a strip of carpet, a few pots and pans and some odd bits of
crockery, all being more or less dilapidated. Were this class of letting
discontinued, and the common lodging houses (especially one for 71
women on the opposite side of Great Peter Street) near by done away
with the whole tone of these streets would be considerably improved,
for so long as this class of person is allowed to frequent the neighbourhood
it must be difficult to get decent people to take up residence
especially when they have families to bring up. The comparative
lowness of the rents charged doubtless attracts those of the second
class to the neighbourhood, although if their means allowed it some
at least, would prefer to live elsewhere.
The houses themselves have plenty of yard space, and by incessant
visits of the Sanitary Inspectors are kept in fairly good condition, so