View report page

90
Batty Gardens.—These houses are approached from Back Church Lane by a
passage about 102 feet long, with an average width of 9 feet. On the south side of
this passage are Nos. 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14; and on the north side is a brick wall
and timber hoarding about 15 feet high. It extends the whole length of the passage.
In front of No. 16 is an open space of 7 feet by 8 feet, bounded by a hoarding about
15 feet high.
Nos. 9 and 11 abut on a narrow footway leading to Berner Street. Between
Nos. 18 and 20 there is a narrow footway 29 feet long and 5 feet wide, which
separates them from a brick wall in front.
At the Berner's Street end the " Gardens " are entered by a courtway 3½ feet
wide and 6½ feet high and 20 feet long, which then opens into a quadrangle where
Nos. 17, 21, 25, 27, 22, 24, and 26 are situated.
The whole of the houses were structurally defective and the walls decayed and
rotten. The brickwork was largely composed of "place" bricks and "bats".—pieces
of bricks. Owing to the porous nature of the bricks and the absence of damp-proof
courses, the walls were always damp.
The brickwork of many of the premises was cracked or bulging, especially that
of Nos. 2, 8, 10, 11, 16, 18, 20, and 24. Some showed evidence of attempts being
made to repair them at various times. There was no ventilation beneath the lower
floors, the boards being in most cases in contact with damp earth.
The stairs were narrow, steep and dangerous.
The doors, window sashes, floors of the rooms and all the internal fittings were
decayed and worn out.
The floors of the basement of nine houses were below the level of the ground
outside.
The windows were fixed and could not be opened in the basement rooms of four
houses.
The flashing apparatus of nine water-closets was defective.
Back Church Lane.—The scheme included premises on the east side of Back
Church Lane, and consisted of 17 dwelling houses, a range of stabling with yard,
and some vacant land.