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52
fortunately, social, conventionalities cause much of the light
that a window would admit to be excluded, but this only makes
it more important to have large windows, for the object of
blinds and curtains is not primarily to exclude the light, but to
obtain privacy and for appearance sake. The lighting of staircases—especially
where two and more families inhabit one
house—is only secondary in importance to the lighting of
living rooms.
Much attention has been given to remedying nuisances of
this nature. Windows were either provided or enlarged in 65
houses, 53 being in Woolwich Parish. In several cases the
dark room was in the basement; in some the darkness was
due to the nearness of an adjoining wall. In one case a new
building had been erected in the garden of an existing house
within two feet of the kitchen window. After proceedings at
the Police Court this was remedied by enlarging the window.
It is, unfortunately, quite possible—indeed, of frequent occurrence—to
erect a new house that will shut off the light of an
existing one, and be itself very dark, and yet comply with all
the requirements of the Building Act.
Borne houses in North Kent Grove, where two cases of
Phthisis had occurred, were found to be very dark, being overshadowed
by the Bed Barracks and the trees in the Barrack
Grounds. On the attention of the Acting Commandant of the
Garrison and the Officer Commanding the Royal Engineers
being called to the injury to health caused by the trees, an
undertaking was given to cut down all those specially causing
the nuisance.
21. Condition of the River. No complaint was made as to
nuisance arising from the state of the Thames, but this is
probably due as much to the fact that there was a minimum of
hot weather, as to the absence of sewage from the river.