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in Lambeth, it will become year by year more difficult to obtain so
large a site as is required for Baths and Washhouses. The
Commissioners strongly urge upon the Vestry the importance of
securing the present site containing as it does an area of upwards
of an acre and an erected Swimming Bath in working order
needing little structural repair or alteration. The site is almost in
the centre of the Parish where it is broadest and in a situation
which will serve the important Wards of Brixton and Stockwell and
at least the northern part of Norwood Ward. On this subject it is
important to call attention to the fact that while the population in
the aggregate Wards of North and South Marsh, Bishop's and
Prince's was, in 1871, 99,573, it has only increased in 1881 to
103,997, whereas the population of the united Wards of Brixton
and Stockwell which was, in 1871, 53,538 had increased in 1881 to
81,487, and the population in the Norwood Ward had increased
between 1871 to 1881 from 15,369 to 24,145, so that the aggregate
population of the three Wards of Brixton, Stockwell and Norwood
'had increased in the ten years from 68,907 to 105,632, a number
slightly in excess of the four Inner Wards. The population of
these three Wards will, no doubt, have further increased when the
details of the Census of 1891 are published. Every year the houses
in the Outer Wards become more and more crowded and occupied
by two or more families, rendering Washhouses more needed, as
families occupying rooms, or only parts of a house, can have little
accommodation for washing. Houses let to more than one family
arc daily becoming the rule and not the exception in the
Outer Wards of the Parish.
By the agreement entered into with the owners of the Ferndale
Road site, the Commissioners have to complete, or pay interest on
the purchase money from the expiration of one week from the
approval of the Agreement by the Vestry, and the Commissioners
have had great difficulty in inducing the vendors to keep the
matter open so long.
The Commissioners ask the Vestry—
1. To approve the Agreement.