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14
TWENTIETH REPORT.
Gentlemen,
If a person who had been absent from Rotherliithe for the last
few years was at present to visit it, he could not fail to be
struck with the improvements which have taken place in its
general aspect by the filling up of some of the many ditches and
open sewers which formerly intersected it in every direction.
There is no doubt that to this and other measures of sanitary
reform are mainly attributable, the amended health of the place,
the almost entire absence of fever, and the diminished severity
of epidemic disease, a statement which is proved by the concurrent
testimony of the medical practitioners, and by the weekly returns
of the Registrar-general. Rotherliithe, however, still contains
three of the foulest ditches in the whole neighbourhood of
London— namely, the Earle Sewer, the Surrey Mills, and the
King's Mills tidal streams. Of the two former, I have spoken
in my previous reports; my business on this occasion is with the
King's Mills stream only. This watercourse, as marked on the
maps, is about three miles in length, but as some of its numerous
windings have been filled up or become dry, a mile and a half
may be about its present extent. It has not been cleansed for
these ten years, and the mud in all parts of it is several feet in
thickness. The tide not being now let in from the river either
so often or so abundantly as formerly, the water in the remote
ramifications of the stream scarcely covers the mud, is hardly
ever properly renewed, stagnates, and putrifies. The worst portion,
however, is from the outlet into the Thames to the first
divisiou into two main branches, a distance of about six hundred
feet. The western embankment at this spot, is formed by the
premises of the Surrey Consumers' Gas Company, and their refuse
water and tar find their way into the bed of the watercourse.
The family of Mr. Latreille, whose house is situated near the
outlet into the Thames, have much suffered in health from the
stenches generated when the pond is emptied. I consider the
King's Mills Stream a nuisance of the worst kind, and as many
complaints have been made to me about it, I thought it advisable
to bring it at once under the notice of this Vestry.
In Wellington-street, Albion-street, there is, after rain, a pool
of stagnant water, from which, during the hot weather, a disagreeable
stench arises.
No. 23, Queen-street is an overcrowded house, its six rooms .
being occupied by five families, in all twenty-two people. For
all these there was a small water-butt, holding about fifty gallons
; and every other thing conducing to comfort or convenience,
cleanliness or health, shamefully deficient.