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24
Baths and Wash-Houses.
The Commissioners for Public Baths and Wash-houses in their first Annual
Report published in October 1879, reported that upon obtaining possession of the site
in the Deptford Lower-road, at the corner of the Gomm-road, they invited several
well-known Architects to send in designs for the buildings, and they ultimately, in
July 1879, selected the plans bearing the motto "Natator," which proved to be those
of Messrs. George Elkington & Son, of 95 Cannon-street, E.C., whose estimate for the
buildings amounted to £14,300, exclusive of boilers, engine, shafting and moveable
machinery. The several designs were subsequently open for inspection at the Vestry
Offices. Application was thereupon made to the Vestry to sanction the Commissioners
borrowing a further sum of £18,500 on security of the poor rates of this Parish, but
upon taking the tenders for the building works the Commissioners found that owing to
the rise in materials since the receipt of the Architects estimate that sum would be insufficient,
and they accordingly applied for and obtained the sanction of the Vestry to
increase the amount to be borrowed to £24,500, they also applied for the approval of
the Local Government Board thereto, and to the Metropolitan Board of Works to lend
them the money upon the same terms as before. That the Commissioners subject to
such approval being obtained, accepted the tender of Mr. William Shepherd, of 101,
Bermondsey New Road, S.E., for the erection of the buildings for the sum of £19,735.
The Commissioners subsequently reported that with the consent of the Local
Government Board, given after public enquiry held by Samuel Joseph Smith, Esq.,
C.E., one of the Inspectors of the Board, they borrowed from the Metropolitan Board
of Works the sum of £24,500 on security of a Mortgage of the Poor Rates of this
Parish, such sum to bear interest at the rate of £3 15s. per cent. per annum, and to be
repaid by equal annual instalments extending over a period of 30 years, the first of such
instalments to be paid on the 1st day of December, 1880. That thereupon they entered
into Contracts with Mr. William Shepherd for the Building Works at the sum of
£19,735, and with Messrs. J. and F. May for the Engineering and Machinery Works
at the sum of £3,260, and appointed a Clerk of the Works at a salary of £3 3s. per
week, possession of the ground being given to the builder on the 4th December, 1879.
On the 4th November, 1879, Messrs. Daniel Serle and Thomas William Clarke
(the two Commissioners for Public Baths and Wash-houses) who retired by rotation,
were re-elected to act in conjunction with Messrs. Francis John Bisley, John Bulmer,
Edward James Talbot, Edward John Cox, and Lawrence Stevens, the continuing
Commissioners.
Miscellaneous.
Application having been made to the Metropolitan Board of Works by Mr.
Matthew Batten for their approval of a proposed new Road in continuation of the
Goodson Road and communicating with Corbett's Lane, that Board in the usual way
communicated such application to the Vestry in order that they might offer any suggestions