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The condition of paving of roads and public footways with a few exceptions we found
to be satisfactory. From the year 865 to 1881 the Vestry payed an area of 216,560 yards
at a cost of £65,622, the total length of roads in the 1 and being 17 miles.
There are three licensed slaughter-houses in Rotherhithe. Exception might be taken
to the proximity of one of these to the dwelling-house. They were in a cleanly condition,
and complied with the requirements of the bye-laws of the Metropolitan Board of Works.
The cow-sheds, of which there are five, were found to be clean, and to comply with
the requirements of the Metropolitan Board of Works. Milk stores were also inspected
with a similar result.
The bake-houses which were inspected were in certain instances wanting in cleanliness;
in other respects there was no infringement of the provisions of the Factory and
Workshops' Act.
There are five registered common lodging houses in Rotherhithe ; in one, registered
for five beds, the cubic space allotted to each bed amounted only to 216 cubic feet, and there
were no sufficient arrangements for personal cleanliness as required by Clause 7 of the
Regulations of the Metropolitan Police. One un-registered common lodging house was
also inspected; the house contained 21 beds in four rooms. No sufficient arrangements
were found here for personal cleanliness.
During our inspection we visited some excellent public baths and wash-houses, which
have been provided by the local authority, and which ore largely used by the inhabitants.
This building which has been erected at a cost of £29,000 on a site since presented to the
Commissioners of Baths and Wash-houses, in the year ended last March, accommodated
nearly 60,000 swimmers, while nearly 40,00 persons have availed themselves of the
opportunity for private bathing, and nearly 18,000 have made use of the wash-houses.
The average gross receipts are over £2,000 per annum.
For the purposes of the sanitary administration of Rotherhithe, the Vestry have
appointed a Medical Officer of Health who is also engaged in the private practice of his
profession ; one Inspector of Nuisances, and a Superintendent of dust collection, who also
assists the Inspector of Nuisances. The Medical Officer of Health further acts as
Examining Officer under the Canal Boats Act for the Vestry of Rotherhithe, who are a
registration authority; and the inspector is employed in the collection of samples (about a
dozen annually) under the sale of Food and Drugs Act. There are, moreover, in the service
of the Vestry, a Surveyor of Pavements, a Surveyor of Sewers, and a Clerk of the Works
for Sewers.
The Sanitary Committee, which is a committee of the whole Vestry, meets whenever
necessity arises, and the same members meet as a Vestry twice in each month.
The Inspector of Nuisances is not required by the bye-laws of the Vestry to act under
the instructions of the Medical Officer of Health, but is instructed to report to him the
existence of nuisances needing that officer's attention. The inspector is required by the
bye-laws to keep a book in compliance with the provisions of section 133 of the Metropolis
Local Management Act, 1855, for the entry of all complaints made by any inhabitant of
the Parish. I his complaint book has, however, been very imperfectly kept, and there is
evidence that many complaints have not been entered. Further, there is no book kept that
shows the results of action taken by the Vestry's officer, whether the proceedings have been
successful, or whether abortive. In reply to a question, the inspector stated that he
trusted to his memory in such cases. Books containing the notices served in respect of
nuisances with counterfoils, have been provided by the Vestry, but in numerous instances
no record whatever has been made on the counterfoil, or elsewhere, of the nature of the
notice which has been served. In instances in which the counterfoils gave information as
to these notices, there was much evidence of want of exactness, and of knowledge of the
conditions which in Rotherhithe demand the active interference of the Vestry.
Systematic house-to-house inspection has not been made in Rotherhithe, even in
localities occupied by the poorest of the inhabitants. The Inspector stated, however,