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rear, which serves the purpose of a scullery or wash-house, in addition to which
a brick copper is built in the opposite corner of the yard, roughly protected
from the elements by a lean-to roof shelter only. The planning of these dwellings,
though considerably better than those just mentioned, possesses bad features.
Their present structural condition is extremely poor, as it appears they were largely
built of soft bricks, and much of the brickwork appears to be settled as well
as very retentive of atmospheric moisture. The dwellings occupy a cramped and
"shut-in" site; with one exception, no sinks are provided, and the water supply
is from a draw-off tap in the open yard. The floors are below street level, and
much dampness shows itself in the brickwork.
The dwellings have undoubtedly served their effective life, and are in a
worn-out condition.
Photograph Ko. 14 shows the " single-back " cottages in this area.
EAST STREET AREA.
The dwellings comprising this area are all badly designed, and are of the
back-to-back type, built on a cramped site.
Two of these cottages contain three rooms on three floors, the basement room
being wholly below ground level; none of the rooms has through ventilation, and
the arrangement of the staircase out of the ground floor room direct into the upper
room without a landing generally reduces the already small floor spaces; the
basement rooms are low and dark; the staircases are dark and unventilated,
receiving only indirect light via the rooms. There is no yard, and not sink is
provided, and although in one case a water-tap provides an internal water supply
over the wash-copper in the basement, both these cottages are provided with a
water-tap in the front area where access to the water-closet is gained. The waterclosets
are situate in the cellar under the public footpath for want of any other
position. The wash-coppers in the basement appear to be disused, which fact is
not to be wondered at, for their use must give rise to a large amount of discomfort
and dampness throughout the house as a result of condensation.
The cottages are damp, becoming structurally weak, and their type has long
been prohibited by legislation.
The remaining dwelling house in this small area is a very neglected, old
corner property of two floors and basement, containing actually two rooms
(adapted for use as four); one of the four is unused, and scarcely useable, together
with the basement. It is of! the back-to-back type, has no yard, but its
position on a corner leaves two of the main walls as external walls, and permits ox
better internal ventilation than would otherwise be possible. Internal planning is
extremely bad, the staircase connecting the ground floor and first floor rises from
a dark corner on the ground floor, and is itself narrow, cramped, dark and
dangerous, and that connecting the ground floor and basement is merely access
through an opening in the corner of the ground floor.
Natural lighting is poor, even at the uppermost floor level, due to overshadowing.
The dwelling possesses no sort of convenience, no sink is provided,
and in the absence of a yard or open space, the water-closet is built under the
public footpath in a dark position, incapable of proper ventilation, being
approached through the basement and across an area, which also contains the
water-tap.
The dwelling is badly situated, badly planned and arranged, is ineffectively
lighted and ventilated, damp, neglected and worn out.
Photograph No. 15 is of the houses in this area.