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crowding have been noted. These houses are old, and while both internal
and external conditions have generally not called for notice by the
Sanitary Authority, yet they are lacking in amenities as regards water
supply and w.cs. on separate floors, baths and food stores. When vacated
they are seldom re-let as dwellings, but almost always for business
purposes. In view of this tendency, there does not appear to be any
call for action beyond the relief of overcrowding and the necessary repairs
and reconditioning which can be achieved under the Public Health Act.
The only common lodging-house in this district, Bruce House (L.C.C.),
accommodates 716 men, many of whom are employed in Co vent Garden
Market or in connection with the printing and publishing houses.
Two particular features.
One narrow street of 8 small houses calls for remark. It is Goodwin's
Court, running between St. Martin's Lane and Bedfordbury. These are
basement houses with two storeys above, each house containing 3 or 4
rooms. The basements do not comply with legal requirements for sleeping
rooms and are not used as such. There is no overcrowding, but the houses
are fully 150 years old; rooms are very small, the stairways dark and steep
and there is general absence of indoor sanitation and conveniences. This
small area will in time disappear in the course of commercial development.
At present these 18th century dwellings house 8 families (one family in
each house). A few rooms are let furnished. In view of all the circumstances
the houses cannot be regarded as unfit for habitation, but
might properly be the subject of improvement, either on a private basis
or as part of a statutory local improvement.
There are also the peculiarities of the Adelphi area to be noted. This
area lies between the Strand and the river, and was constructed for
the most part under the direction of the brothers Adam in the 18th century.
It includes such streets as Adelphi Terrace, Robert Street, Adam
Street, John Street, &c. The buildings are mainly club and business
premises built over Adelphi arches. Some of them contain basements, and
even sub-basements if the datum line of the adjoining street is taken,
but where these rooms look out on the Embankment it is found that they
are some 20 ft. above ground level. This is due to the steep slope
down from the Strand to the river. Certain of these low-level
rooms are occupied by caretakers and their families, and in 20 instances
are illegally occupied. The buildings are let to their full capacity as
business premises and there is no other accommodation available for
caretakers' quarters. The livelihood of these caretakers depends on
their residing on the premises. If turned out of their rooms they
would only swell the ranks of the unemployed. It is likely that the