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143
covered with concrete and when damp-proof courses were not built in walls of
property of this description, apart from the fact that quite a number of the
houses have brickwork built of soft, absorbent bricks which are very retentive of
atmospheric moisture. In addition, maintenance generally has been poor or
indifferent, and in many instances the fabric has been totally neglected. In
consequence the majority of the houses are in a state of general disrepair, in
addition to being damp, worn out, badly arranged and devoid of any sort of
domestic convenience or comfort as viewed in the light of present-day requirements
for working class property.
Photographs numbered 18, 19 and 20 show some of the types and condition
of the dwellings within this area.
MIDDLESEX WHARF AREA.
A somewhat scattered area, consisting of short terraces and semi-detached
two-storey cottages.
All these dwellings are built on low-lying land which is subject to periodical
flooding from the River Lee close by. The houses are estimated to be approximately
90 to 100 years old, and structurally they show marked effects of age and are
obviously worn out. They possess one great advantage in the free air space and
open surroundings of the neighbourhood.
Some of the houses, however, are single-back type and have no means of
through ventilation, whilst a number are very badly planned, the entrance door
opening direct into the living room, rooms directly intercommunicating, staircases
leading out of the living rooms or. up the centre of the house and lacking
in direct means of natural lighting and ventilation.
Despite the low natural level of the site, in some instances the floor level
is even below the adjoining outside ground level, and as to be expected in view
of the age of the structures, no precautionary measures such as the provision
of concrete over the building site, or damp-proof courses were taken initially
against the possibility of flooding and its consequences, nor against the normal
effect of rising dampness.
As far back as July, 1918, the majority of these houses were in such a
condition that the Borough Council made " Closing Orders " (under Section 17 of
the Housing and Town Planning Act, 1909) in respect of them. These " Closing
Orders," however, were prevented from coming into operation by the Ministry
of Health. The Ministry considered it undesirable for the Borough Council to
take any further steps towards making these " Closing Orders " operative in
view of the acute shortage of alternative housing accommodation available in the
Borough at that time.
NISBET STREET AREA.
This area contains houses in Nisbet Street, Crozier Terrace, and two cottages
named Bones Cottages.
The dwellings are mostly of the same type—typical terrace dwellings of four
rooms, with rear addition wash-house, with the exception of Bones Cottages—to be
described later.
The houses in Nisbet Street mostly have a restricted yard space, and internal
planning defects which prevent satisfactory ventilation. The entrance is into a
short passage leading direct to the back room, with the staircase leading out of this
room, and the room opening directly into a small cramped wash-house, which,
although provided with washing facilities, is so cramped that extreme discomfort