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10
COW-HOUSES AND SLAUGHTER-HOUSES.
With regard to this subject, I cannot do better than insert my Report,
presented to you prior to Licensing Day:—
The notices of intended applications for Cow-house Licences are 40, and for Slaughterhouses
49. All the premises have been visited by myself (T. S.) and the Sanitary
Inspector. I may say, that most of them are too near dwelling-houses; but having due
regard to vested interests, I shall not (with one exception) advise any opposition to the
renewal of their licences; and as to any sanitary defects, they will be attended to in the
ordinary manner.
The case to which I beg to call your attention is that of a Cow-house attached to a
chandler's shop, situated at the corner of Hinton Street and Somerford Streets, and
formerly licensed to William Tame, who has fallen into misfortune through ill health,
has left his business, and has been succeeded by John Bailey, a neighbouring cow-keeper.
The locality is over crowded, the Cow-house is very small, has a dwelling room above it,
and there is no drain or dung pit. I bring these defects to your notice, knowing that
you will give them your consideration, and determine as to the best course to be pursued.
I also wish to draw your attention to two Slaughter-houses that have been licensed for
many years, and to three new applications. One, licensed to Samuel Downs, is situated
at 4, Essex Street, Three Colt Lane, and is ostensibly used for killing; but of late has
been converted into an extensive piggery, and there are always a number of pigs on the
premises. Upon my last visit (on the 1st inst.) there were nearly forty.
I wish also to mention the Slaughter-house in Essex street, licensed to Mr. John Long,
who resides at Bow, and sub-lets it to Charles Geary, who is now suffering three months'
imprisonment at the suit of the Vestry. It is not now, however, used as a Slaughter-house,
but for a still more objectionable business—that of preparing skins for sausages.
Mr. Charles Stevenson, of 14, Patriot Eow, applies for a licence. He is an old
inhabitant, has been licensed as a cow-keeper for many years, and the premises are large
and some distance from dwelling-houses. I see no objection to granting the licence;
but as Mr. Stevenson persists in keeping pigs, I fear it will be as is the case with Samuel
Downs, and that it will be made a piggery instead of a killing-place only.
Mr. Elves, of Nelson Street, Boundary Street, applies for a licence for premises at the
side of his dwelling house. This is a densely populated locality, inhabitated by the
poorest classes, and the premises sought to be licensed are of small size, 17 ft. long, 7 ft.
wide, and 9 ft. high, and lie between two houses. This is very objectionable.
Mr. John Turner applies for a licence; he obtained one last year without due notice,
He kills in an uncovered yard, has a small supply of water, and the drainage is not fit
for the purpose ; besides which, it is very near dwelling-houses.
Upon the consideration, by the Sanitary Committee, of the foregoing
Report, it was resolved to oppose the applications of Mr. John Bailey for
a renewal of the licence for a Cow-house in Somerford Street, and of