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12
The widening of Sydenham Bridge was commenced about
November last. The London, Brighton, and South Coast Railway
undertook to carry out the work of widening the bridge, according
to the drawings prepared by me, and sanctioned by the Metropolitan
Board of Works, and to take all risk of accident, for the sum
of 5 per cent. upon the actual cost of the work. The bridge has
to be constructed in three portions, to allow of the traffic of the
road being carried on. The gas and water mains have also to be
temporarily, and then permanently diverted. This being the case,
a great deal of time has unavoidably been taken in the construction
of the new bridge. Had it been possible to have stopped the
traffic of the road, I have no hesitation in saying the work would
have been done in a third the time it will take to construct the
bridge in the piecemeal manner I have described. Practical men
can easily understand this. I expect the bridge will be completed
in about six weeks from the time I write this report, July.
The New Stables and Cart Sheds were commenced upon the
3rd July, and I moved the horses, &c., from Grove Placc upon the
23rd December, 187G. The accommodation provided consists of
twenty stalls for horses, three loose boxes, harness room, store
room, corn store, hay loft, room for cutting chaff and mixing, cart
sheds, small shed for traps, urinal, W.C., and a four-room cottage
for horse-keeper. The contract was let to Messrs. Rider and Son,
of Union Street, Southwark, for the sum of £2428.
A Wall was built round the Stone Yard, Forest Hill, and a
public Urinal. The work was done by Mr. Amer, of Perry Hill.
The Board during the year leased the field at Catford, used to
burn gravel for tar pavement, for 15½ years from Lady-day, 1876,
and an Iron Shed for the ambulance and disinfecting apparatus
was erected there, by Messrs. Croggan. I find the field very useful,
in fact it is the only storage place I have between Blackheath
and Forest Hill Railway Station.
I prepared the plan and sketches of a proposed Swimming
Bath, near the Church Meadow, Lewisham. The Ravensbourne
was to be deepened and enlarged to serve as a bath, but there
is a difficulty in obtaining the site of the bath, which I am afraid
cannot be overcome.