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communication I send herewith) complaining to me of the unhealthiness of an area comprising
the Streets, Courts, and Alleys undermentioned, together with all the intervening
Courts, Yards and Alleys, and which area is within the jurisdiction for which I am Medical
Officer of Health, namely:—Fashion Street, Flower and Dean Street, Keate Street,
Upper Keate Street, Keate Court, Lower Keate Street, Thrawl Street, George Street,
George Court, New Court, Dales Place, Fashion Court, Kosemary Court, Wilson's
Place, Nelson's Court, and Sugar Loaf Court. All the above named Streets, &c., are in
Spitalfields Parish.
George Yard, New Court, George Yard, Wentworth Street, Crown Court, Wentworth
Street, Commercial Court, Tewkesbury Buildings, Inthorn Court, and Queen's
Place. All the last named Streets, &c., arc in the Parish of Whitechapel.
In accordance with the Provisions contained in the above-named Act, I have inspected
the area referred to in such complaint, and I hereby make an official representation to
your Board, that, by reason of the closeness, narrowness, and bad arrangement of the
several Streets, Courts, and Alleys, which form a part of the area complained of, and
from the old and worn-out condition of many of the houses contained therein, and from
the want of proper conveniences to the same, such places and houses therein are unfit for
habitation ; and that the same cannot be effectually remedied otherwise than by an
Improvement Scheme, for the re-arrangement and re-construction of the several Streets,
Courts, and Alleys which are bounded on the east and north by an imaginary line drawn
from the south-east angle of Queen's Place, including Queen's Place, thence crossing
Angel Alley and George Yard, from thence to Wentworth Street, crossing Wentworth
Street on to Flower and Dean Street, including the houses on the south side of Flower
and Dean Street, from that part to the premises abutting upon Commercial Street, and
bounded on the west and south by the rear of the warehouses in Commercial Street,
(except as to the portion described as Keate Court, the whole of which is included in this
description), and by the rear of houses in High Street, Whitechapel, and which area is
more particularly delineated on the plan hereto annexed and coloured red.
This area is about 18,382 square yards, and contains about 190 houses, and has a
population of about 2,277; which gives about 8 square yards on an average to each
person.
The Streets, Courts, and Alleys embraced in this area are as follows:—Tewkesbury
Buildings, Inkhorn Court, George Yard (south end, west-side), Angel Alley (south-end),
Queen's Place, New Court, George Yard, Wentworth Street, George Street, Flower and
Dean Street (south-side, from George Street to Commercial Street), Wilson's Place,
Lower Keate Street, Keate Court, Upper Keate Street, Sugar Loaf Court, Crown Court,
and Commercial Court. Although the whole area described above gives 8 square yards
to each person, yet we find that the density of some of the oourts is much greater.
For instance, in Tewkesbury Buildings the space for each person is only 4 square
yards; in Inkhorn Court it is 4 square yards for each person; in that portion of Angel
Alley comprised in the area, it is also 4 square yards to each person; and in Queen's
Place it is 5 square yards to each person.
From inquiries I have instituted, I find that the mortality in this area is largely in
excess of the average rate of the District of Whitechapel; and I believe that it is not
overstated in the complaint made.
So far as the residue of the area complained of is concerned, I am bound to represent
that it is in many respects most objectionable, and that great benefit, in a sanitary point of