Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras, London, Borough of]
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47
Metropolis Local Management Ad, 1855.
Sec. 250 * * * * * *
The word " drain " shall mean and include any drain of and used for the drainage
of one building only, or premises within the same curtilage, and made merely for
the purpose of communicating with a cesspool or other like receptacle for drainage,
or with a sewer into which the drainage of two or more buildings or premises
occupied by different persons is conveyed, and shall also include any drain for
draining anv group or block of houses by a combined operation under the order of
any vestry or district board ; and the word " sewer " shall mean and include sewers
and drains of every description, except drains to which the word " drain " interpreted
ar; aforesaid, applies.
Sec 73.—If any house or building whether built before or after the commencement
of this Act, situate witliiu any such parish or district, be found not to be drained
by a sufficient drain communicating with some sewer, and emptying itself into the
same, to the satisfaction of the vestry or board of such parish or district, and ii a
sewer of sufficient size be within one hundred feet of any part of such house or
building, on a lower level than such house or building, it shall be lawful for the
vestry or board at their discretion, by notice in writing to require the owner of such
house or building forthwith or within such reasonable time as may be appointed by
the vestry or board, to construct and make from such house or building into any
such sewer a covered drain, and such branches thereto, of such materials, of such
size, at such level, and with such fall as shall be adequate for the drainage of such
house or building, and its several floors or storeys, and also of its areas, waterclosets,
privies, and offices (if any), and for conveying the soil, drainage, and wash therefrom
into the said sewer, and to provide fit and proper paved or impermeable sloped
surfaces for conveying surface water thereto, and fit and proper sinks, and fit and
proper syphoned or otherwise trapped inlets and outlets for hindering stench therefrom,
and fit and proper water supply, and water supplying pipes, cisterns, and
apparatus for scouring the same, and for causing the same to convey away the soil,
and fit and proper sand traps, expanding inlets, and other apparatus for hindering
the entry of improper substances therein, and all other such fit and proper works
and arrangements as may appear to the vestry or board, or to their officers, requisite
to secure the safe and proper working of the said drain, and to prevent the same
from obstructing or otherwise injuring or impeding the action of the sewer to which
it leads; and it shall be lawful for the said vestry or board to cause the said works
to be inspected while in progress, and from time to time during their execution to
order such reasonable alterations therein, additions thereto, and abandonment of
part or parts thereof, as may to the vestry or board, or their officers, appear, on the
fuller knowledge afforded by the opening of the ground, requisite to secure the
complete and perfect working of such works; and if the owner of such house or
building neglect or refuse during twenty-eight days after the said notice has been
delivered to such owner or left at such house or building, to begin to construct such
drain and other works aforesaid, or any of them, or thereafter fail to carry them on
and complete them with all reasonable despatch, it shall be lawful for the vestry or
board to cause the same to be constructed and made, and to recover the expenses
to be incurred thereby from such owner in the manner hereinafter provided.
Sec. 74.—If it appear to the vestry or board of any parish or district that a
group or block of contiguous houses, or of adjacent, detached, or semi-detached
houses, may be improved and drained more economically or advantageously in
combination than separately, and a sewer of sufficient size already exist or be about
to be constructed within one hundred feet of any part of such group or block of
houses, whether contiguous, detached, or semi-detached, it shall be lawful for such
board or vestry to order that such group or block of houses be drained and
improved, as hereinbefore provided, by a combined operation.