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30
REMOVAL OF HUMAN REMAINS.
75/79, FARRINGDON STREET (Corner Stonecutter St.).
During the course of excavations for a new building on land facing Farringdon
Street, and extending southwards from Stonecutter Street, a considerable number
of human remains were discovered.
Reference to Ordnance Maps of the City, contained in the Guildhall Library,
would seem to show that the building, which formerly occupied the site, was
erected on a portion of what was once a burial ground attached to St. Bride's
Church and which was given by the then Earl of Dorset and consecrated in 1610.
It included some 750 square yards. One old Ordnance Map shows that in 1600
this area of land was part of a field, and a later map of 1667 shows it as a burial
ground abutting on what appears to be the banks of a stream called the New Canal,
along the course of which the present Farringdon Street is built. A map dated
1741.1745 shows the same burial ground, as abutting on to Fleet Market, a name
which the thoroughfare apparently possessed before it was termed Farringdon
Street.
It was the practice in a large number of London Parishes to arrange for
" poor grounds " where the poor could be buried, and before workhouses were
established, these burial grounds were actually part of the churchyard. It is
possible that this land is one of these pauper burial grounds for St. Bride's Parish.
The bones which were discovered were at such a deep level that in part they
represent burials of a few centuries ago.
It is probable that some persons who died of plague were buried there, but it
was not a recognised plague pit. When the plague was at its height, it seems more
than probable that the ordinary burial grounds were rapidly filled, and that, to
relieve the urgency, pits were introduced.
The remains were all dry and free from any offence and the removals were
carried out under my supervision, in accordance with the terms of the Home
Office license, and no nuisance was created or unseemly conduct observed on the
part of those engaged on the work
MONUMENT SQUARE (Site of St. Margaret's Churchyard).
In the course of excavations, in connection with the laying of electric light
mains under the carriageway of Monument Square, a small number of human
remains, in all about half.a.bushel of bones were unearthed. They bore evidence
of having been previously disturbed, were quite dry, and not in an offensive condition.
Monument Square stands on the site of St. Margaret's Churchyard and presumably
the bones now discovered are some that were overlooked when the graveyard
was cleared. The circumstances were reported to the Police and Coroner,
and the remains later re.interred on the site with the observance of due decency.
SUPERVISION OF FOODS AND DRUGS.
During the year 1924, 972 samples of Food and Drugs were submitted to the
Public Analyst for examination. Of this number, 722 were taken as test samples
without the formalities of the Acts being observed ; of these 19 were found adulterated,
made up as follows :—
3 of Vinegar out of 40 samples taken.
2 of Condensed Skimmed Milk Sweetened out of 38 samples taken.
2 of Milk out of 34 samples taken.
2 of Strong Tincture of Iodine out of 2 samples taken.
1 of Butter out of 72 samples taken.
1 of Condensed Full Cream Milk Sweetened out of 17 samples taken.
1 of Cream out of 11 samples taken.
1 of Gregory's Powder out of 7 samples taken.
1 of Margarine out of 30 samples taken.
1 of Purified Borax out of 8 samples taken.
1 of Ground Rice out of 6 samples taken.
1 of Semolina out of 9 samples taken.
1 of Tapioca out of 2 samples taken.
1 of Malt Vinegar out of 11 samples taken.