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7
The Unhealthy Condition of certain Newly-erected Premises
in Booth Street, Spitalfields.
Mr. Wrack, one of the Sanitary Inspectors of this District,
having directed my attention to certain newly-erected buildings in
Booth Street intended for habitation, I thought it expedient that a
special Report should be made by him to me in writing on the
general condition of the premises; and, in accordance with my
direction, Mr. Wrack has written the subjoined memorandum on the
subject:—
TO THE MEDICAL OEFICEE OF HEALTH.
Blocks of buildings have recently been erected in Booth Street, Spitalfields.
These premises are three storeys high, and contain 230 rooms, which are occupied by
about 700 persons. The space occupied by these buildings, with their appurtenances,
is about 24,795 superficial feet. The water supply, -water-closets, sinks, wash-houses,
and dust shoots from which the house refuse is discharged into bins in the yards,
are placed on each floor for the use and convenience of the tenants. The occupiers
are of the lower order of foreigners, who appear not to know the proper use of the
conveniences which have been erected for their comfort, and they permit all the
closets, sinks, and dust shoots to be constantly stopped up, from which offensive
matter flows into the rooms and passages below, thereby causing not only serious
damage to the property, but render the buildings unfit for human habitation. The
nuisance caused by such carelessness became so serious that I have been compelled
to visit the places almost daily, and to frequently communicate with the owners
upon the subject, and to intimate to them that, unless means were adopted to prevent
the nuisance complained of, legal proceedings would have to be taken to close the
buildings.
On the 8th instant I received a letter from Mr. Gundry, the surveyor of the
property, asking me to meet him there on the following day to inspect the buildings
and to consider what could be done to prevent the nuisance in question. The
surveyor proposed to remove the water supply, water-closets, sinks, wash-houses,
and dust shoots, and place such conveniences in the several yards. With regard to
the water-closets, it is proposed to erect them on the trough system, which plan has
been adopted with success in this District. It consists in placing what may be called,
by way of distinction, " a trough closet," instead of the trap and pan system. It is
fitted with an ordinary seat, placed over an iron or glazed earthenware trough
nearly filled with water. The trough is so fixed as to afford a sufficient incline for
it to be quickly emptied into the drain by the removal of a plug. When the trough
is emptied it is immediately refilled with water. Each trough is provided with a
pipe to prevent any overflow into the closets. The removing of the conveniences in
question from the interior of the buildings and placing them in the yards, is, in my
opinion, the best thing that can be done towards keeping the houses healthy and
free from nuisance.
As the forecourt of the buildings was, at one time, unpaved and undrained, I
gave notice to the owners to pave and drain the same, which has been done.
RICHARD SKIDMORE WRACK.
10th October, 1883.