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15
greater space than the Building Act demands, are fair
examples of that condition which cannot fail to become a
common experience as the value of land becomes greater.
For extreme examples in illustration of the acute stage of
crowding house upon house within a limited area, we must
look outside the boundaries of our own parish.
In St. Luke's, a block of buildings known as the City
Baths is notorious in this respect. One hundred rooms are
comprised in this pile, fifty of which are almost dark even
upon the brightest day. The little light which they receive
they derive from a central shaft, but the enjoyment of space
yard or area is unknown to the inhabitants.
Before the Royal Commission upon the houses of the
working classes, it was stated in evidence that during a house
to house visitation in Clerkenwell, the fact was revealed that
no back yard had been provided to a very large number of
the houses.
The rooms of certain houses in one instance are described
as being dark, because, where the back area should be found,
that which is termed a cottage "three stories high" had
been built within two yards of the rear windows. Not only
in London, but in Birmingham, Bristol, Doncaster, and
many other provincial towns, we learn from the same source
docs this over-crowding of land exist.
Let us pause here, and consider the effect upon the
physique of the people which has been induced by the
prevalent system of close building, whereby the space
necessary for the healthy indulgence by the young in games
has been sacrificed and the overcrowding which has been
found to exist has been rendered possible.
The unhealthy inlfuence of close building falls especially