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8
October 3rd, 1883.
To the METROPOLITAN BOARD OF WORKS
"Gentlemen,
"I hereby make an Official Representation to your Honourable Board
"under the provisions of the Artisans and labourers Dwellings Improvement
"Acts, 1875-82 regarding an area in this District.
"The area in question is situated in the Parish of Shad well, and is
"bounded on the north by the houses in Cable Street, on the west by Victoria
"Street, on the south by premises in High Street, Shadwell, and on the east
"by Albert Street, and is shown in the accompanying plan tinted red.
"I am of opinion that the Houses Courts and Alleys within this area
"under the jurisdiction of your Honourable Board arc unlit for human
"habitation, and I have found upon investigation that diseases indicating a
"generally low condition of health amongst the population have been from
"time to time prevalent therein. I hold the opinion that such prevalence may
"reasonably be attributed to the closeness, narrowness bad arrangement and
"bad condition of the streets and houses, and groups of houses, within the area,
"as well as to the want of light, air, ventilation and proper conveniences, and
"I am further of opinion that the evils connected with such houses, courts, or
"alleys and the sanitary defects in the area cannot be effectually remedied
"otherwise than by an improvement scheme for the re-arrangement and
"re-Construction of the streets and houses within the area.
"I have the honour,
"Gentlemen,
"To remain your most obedient Servant,
"G. A. ROGERS,
" Medical Officer of Health for
" the Limehouse District."
"This letter was acknowledged in due course.
"On Saturday, the 19th July last, the area was viewed by certain Members
of the Works Committee of the Metropolitan Board, and on Monday, 21st July,
the following Report was made by them.
"The next area is that of Victoria Street, Limehouse. The Official
"Representation of the Medical Officer, dated 3rd October, 1883, comprises
"an unhealthy area in the Parish of Shadwell, between High Street and
"Cable Street. Your Committee are of opinion it is not a case for the
"application of the Artisans, &c. Dwellings Acts, but that many of the
"Sanitary defects could be remedied under the Nuisances Removal Acts and
"Torrens Acts. The houses in Angel Gardens, in the centre of the area,
"appear to be fairly well lighted and ventilated with sufficient spaces at the
"rear, and your Committee see no necessity for the preparation of a scheme
"for the improvement of the site. They beg to recommend:—
"That the Medical Officer for the Limehouse District and the Secretary
"of State be informed that in the opinion of the Board the area comprised in
"the Official Representation of the Medical Officer, dated 3rd October, 1883,
"is not within the scope of the Artisans, &c. Dwellings Acts, but should be
"dealt with by some other means, and that the attention of the Limehouse
“District Board be called to the defective Sanitary condition of the area."