View report page

13
Street, which is also very narrow, and opens into Wentworth Street. Wentworth
Street is a long, narrow thoronghfare, extending from Osborn Street
to Middlesex Street, and abounds in narrow courts, in all of which the ventilation
is very defective. From the mortality returns of this locality it is
very unhealthy, and it is not to be wondered at, when it is one of the
most densely, if not the most densely populated locality in London.
All these places, viz., Castle Alley, New Castle Street, and Wentworth
Street, should certainly be so widened as not only to make convenient approaches
to this large and important School, but, what is of far more importance,
to improve the sanitary condition of this overcrowded locality. "When
the public are further initiated in sanitary science, and the necessity of a
free current of air and sunlight being admitted into all the courts and alleys
which are occupied by the poorer classes is better understood, then we shall
find that more vigorous efforts will be made towards the opening out of such
places.
If some of those confined courts which are found leading out of most
of the principal thoroughfares in London were exposed to view, by the taking
down of the houses which form archways over the entrances to them, the
hideousness of many of them would be so apparent, that the public would
insist upon the local authorities taking the necessary steps to get them
improved.
It is true that Public Boards might not gain much eclat by such proceedings,
but the ratepayers would soon reap the benefit of them, in the
enjoyment of better health themselves, and by having to pay a less amount
in support of the poor, in consequence of diminished sickness and a lower
rate of mortality.
The members of the School Board appear to be thoroughly alive to the
importance of having an open space adjoining the School. They are convinced
that, while cultivating the mental faculties of the poor children, their
physical development should at the same time be attended to ; knowing full
well that instruction cannot be readily imparted to a child, unless that child
is surrounded by a healthy atmosphere ; and although the School Board cannot
make new and wide thoroughfares, which the Metropolitan Board of
Works only can do, yet, towards the improvement of the health of the
children who will be committed to their charge, they propose to retain, for
the recreation of the children, a piece of ground, of about 9,000 square
feet, at the north end of the building. When this proposition was made
by Lord Lawrence, at the opening of the School, it was received with great
applause by the large audience that was present on that interesting occasion.
If the entire open space which is proposed to be appropriated for a recreation
ground were to be planted with trees, shrubs and flowers, the healthiness of
the locality would be still further promoted.
As there is now a reasonable prospect of re-opening the Baths and
Wash-houses, which are situated in Castle Alley and Goulston Street, and