View report page

86
APPENDIX C.
To the Chairman and Members of the Health Committee.
Re Nos. 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, and 25, Victoria Place.
I beg to report that I visited the above 12 houses on Wednesday, 7th January, 1925.
The cottages are of 2 storeys each and are occupied by 89 persons. There are 2 rows of 5 and
6 cottages respectively, with an isolated detached cottage (No. 25) at the rear.
Nos. 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and No. 25.
Nos. 3 and 5 have 1 room down and 1 room up.
Nos. 7, 9 and 25 have 2 rooms down and 2 rooms up.
No. 11, 4 rooms down and 4 rooms up.
The above 6 cottages are all in a dilapidated worn-out condition and are, indeed, beyond repair.
The brickwork generally is decayed and, in some instances, rotten. This is particularly noticeable
in the back additions and out-houses, such as wash-houses and water closets.
The woodwork generally, that is sashes, frames of windows and doors, floors, floor joists and
treads of staircases, are decayed and perished, except the ground floor of Nos. 3 and 5, which have
solid floors. The staircases are rickety, while the plaster of the walls and ceilings is bulged, badly
cracked and in several places broken away from the lathes.
The walls and ceilings are dirty.
The roofs in 4 instances are of tiles and in 1 instance slates, badly sunk, and in a leaky condition.
The gutters and rain-water pipes are rusted and perished. Grates unusable.
In some instances the floors are below the garden level and in other instances are level with
the ground.
The rooms on the ground floor are cold owing to the dampness of site of premises.
Nos. 13, 15, 17, 19, 21 and 23 consist of a row of 5 roomed houses. They are all damp and the
remarks with reference to No. 3 to 11, etc., apply here also, but in lesser degree.
I submit detailed reports on each property.
In my opinion these houses, namely, Nos. 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23 and 25, Victoria
Place, are in a state so dangerous or injurious to health as to be unfit for human habitation, and I beg
to submit an official representation accordingly.
GEORGE F. BUCHAN.
7th January, 1925. Medical Officer of Health.
APPENDIX D.
To the Chairman and Members of the Health Committee.
KENILWORTH ROAD (14 HOUSES).
I visited., Kenilworth Road in company with Mr. Woods and Mr. Smith, on Tuesday, 10th
February, 1925. This is one of 14 houses all reported in similar condition and in one ownership.
This is a 3-storey house with back addition. It is occupied downstairs by Mrs. G. (4 rooms),
who sublets a furnished back addition room on mezzanine landing to two young ladies. Mrs. G.
pays 22/6 to the landlord, per week and receives from the two young ladies 35/- per week for board
and lodging. The first and second floors are rented by Mrs. D. from the landlord. Mrs. D. sublets her
top floor front room to Mrs. B. Mrs. D. pays the landlord 30/- per week rent and receives from
Mrs. B. 10/- a week rent for the part furnished front room.
Mrs. G.'s family is composed of man, wife and three children. Two young ladies occupy
the back addition room. Mrs. D.'s family consists of man, wife and 1 child, and Mrs. B.'s family
consists of man, wife and 1 child.
Altogether therefore the house is occupied by 13 persons and the total rent receivable by the
landlord is £2 12s. 6d. per week.
The yard, side passage and forecourt are unpaved. The earth at several points is above the
level of the damp-proof course and on a level with the grating for ventilation underneath the floors.
The unpaved condition of the yard, the fact that the earth is above the damp-proof course in some
places and that the surface water is able to enter through the air-brick make the walls of the ground
floor damp in certain parts.