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At the present time Clerkenwell consists largely of fairly wide streets, which are well paved, and
which have for the most part houses three storeys in height on either side. There are also in the
district several squares in which the better-class houses are situated. The houses are, generally
speaking, well provided with open space in the rear. The existence of the above-mentioned squares,
together with the occupation of land in the parish by the New River Water Company for the purposes
of iilters and a reservoir, is of advantage in contributing to the air space provided by open spaces available
for the public use in the district. The construction of Rosebery-avenue, which traverses the
district from south-west to north-east, has also been useful in respect of open space by providing a
broad thoroughfare in place of narrow streets. There are still, however, in the district some narrow
streets, and some courts and alleys which are open only at one end, and which in many cases are
approached by an archway from the main street. These mostly contain houses two storeys high, some
of which are old and worn out or show signs of dampness of walls, or are unprovided with back
yards or have no means of through ventilation. Many of these houses contain but two rooms, the one
above the other, the outer door opening directly into the ground floor room, in which the staircase
leading to the upper floor is placed. These conditions chiefly exist in the older part of Clerkenwell,
that is in the neighbourhood of Clerkenwell-green, and in that part of the district adjoining Islington ;
examples of such conditions are to be found in the following—
White Lion-buildings.—This is a narrow alley closed at one end, containing two rows of two-storey
cottages, about a dozen in all. They are old and worn out and some are damp, but are maintained in
good repair. The houses have two rooms, the one above the other, and few have ventilatiou of space
under the ground floor. They have small back yards but no windows at the rear. There is a common
dustbin.
Seabrooke-place.—A narrow street, about 15 feet wide with two-storey cottages on either side. Some
of the houses show signs of dampness of walls, but in most cases the ground floor room walls are matchlined,
and some have no ventilation of the space under the ground floor. There are some 15 cottages.
It is anticipated that upon the expiration of leases of houses in the above courts demolition and
reconstruction will take place.
Chapel-place.—A fairly wide street, closed at the end by cowshed premises, and containing two-storey
houses, old and some showing signs of dampness of walls.
Russell-place.—Contains ten two-storey cottages, arranged in two rows about 15 feet apart and one
cottage at end. They have small unpaved forecourts, and the adjoining wall is in some cases damp.
Each house has also a small back yard. There is no washhouse, but each house has a copper in the back
yard.
Mount Sion and Union-square.—These contain a badly arranged cluster of old two-storey cottages lying
between Chapel-street and Sermon-lane. Mount Sion is, however, cut o£E from Union-square by a wall,
a house and some outbuildings. Mount Sion is a narrow street containing houses and a badly-kept stable
yard on one side and a row of houses on the other; altogether there are about a dozen houses. Unionsquare
is approached from Chapel-street by a narrow way; there are fifteen houses, each two storeys
high, and each has a fair sized front space but no back yard. In each front space is situated a washhouse
building, in one corner of which is a water-closet, which is not separated from the washhouse, but
this is now being altered. The cottages have two rooms each; they have no through ventilation and
several show signs of damp walls. There is a common dustbin in centre of the square, and the surface of
the latter is badly paved.
Eagle-court.—This has archway approaches from Red Lion-street and from St. John's-lane. About
three houses on the portion of the court running north and south have no back yards and no proper through
ventilation. They appear to be partly back to back with houses in Pump-court, which is situated in the
area of the Holborn District Board of Works.
Jerusalem-court.—This is a narrow winding court approached by a covered way from St. John'ssquare
and communicating with St. John's-street. It contains some block dwellings and a few threestorey
houses. These are confined and are inadequately provided with open space, light and ventilation.
Aylesbury-place.—This consists of a collection of old two-storey cottages in a small court situated in
the angle at rear of houses in Aylesbury-street and St. John's-street. Each house has a small backyard
and contains two rooms, one on each floor. The external door leads direct into lower room, the staircase
leads from this room to upper room. There is a common dustbin in the centre of the court, and there
are two common water taps. The water-closets are situated in back yards. There are twenty-nine
cottages, some show signs of dampness, and pointing of the brickwork is defective.
Bishop's-court.—A narrow court about 15 feet wide in its widest part. It has three-storey houses on
either side, and a small cottage which blocks the end; twelve houses in all, all let in tenements.
Berkeley-court and Francis-court.—These are two short streets next to and parallel to each other,
leading off Berkeley-street. They are both closed at end by wall of gardens of houses in Albion-house.
Each court is about 15 feet wide. The houses are old, most of them have small back yards, and are in a
fair state of repair. All let in tenements.
Corporation-row.—Numbers 1 to 33 are old two-storey cottages, arranged partly fronting on the main
thoroughfare and partly in two lateral alleys which are about 10 feet wide and closed at the end. Some
of the houses show signs of dampness, the ground floor rooms are dark, and there is no ventilation of
the space under the ground floor. They have small back yards.
Union-place.—This is approached by an archway from Clerkenwell-close. It is a narrow court closed
at end, and containing seven two-storey houses. The houses are old, in a confined situation, and have
no proper through ventilation. The ground floor rooms' walls are matchlined. There are three common
water-closets at the entrance of the court, a common dustbin, and a common water tap for the use of the
inhabitants. Application for closing orders was made about two years ago, but was refused by the
magistrate.
Caroline-place.—This is a small closed court approached through an archway from Bakers-row, and
containing four houses, two on either side. These houses are two storeys high, without back yards, and
have no through ventilation. There are two water-closets and a common dustbin in the court.
Providence-place.—This consists of two rows of five two-storey cottages with small front yards and a
central footway between, underneath which the water-closets are situated. The houses have no through
ventilation and the four end houses are built against adjoining premises. Each house has two rooms.
There is a common dustbin and a common water cistern.
Ann's-place.—This is a court approached by an archway from Margaret-street. The court is about
18 feet wide and contains nine two-storey cottages, old but well maintained. Some show signs of
dampness, and with one exception none have any ventilation of space beneath ground floor. Each house
has a small back yard.
New Buildings.—Approached by a long narrow archway from Margaret-street. The alley contains
ten two-storey cottages. Each house has two rooms, small back yard and a separate water-closet. They