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28 Parish of St. George the Martyr, Southwark.
of No. 50. Wray Crescent, Tollington Park, N., calling attention to the alleged
neglect to supply adequate water-closet accommodation in London for women and
children.
I am, Dear Sir,
Yours faithfully
SHIRLEY F. MURPHY.
Medical Officer of Health
Dr. F. Waldo,
Vestry Hall,
81, Borough Road, S.E.
[Copy.]
50, Wray Crescent,
Tollinoton Park, N.,
10th June, 1898.
Sir,—
I venture to suggest that the attention of the different Vestries of London should
he drawn to the danger to public health and morality owing to the neglect to supply
in certain crowded districts proper public accommodation for women and children
(partly free). Amongst such districts might be named the Elephant and Castle,
the Britannia, Hampstead Road, St. Paul's Churchyard, the Angel, Islington, Ac.
London being such an immense forest of houses, these places must be situated
centrally to be of any use to strangers to a locality, and surely it is to the interest of
Londoners to encourage tourists to visit the metropolis, though this is viewing it
from the lowest point of view.
I would further suggest that it is desirable that all conveniences for women
should be labelled "for women and children."
I am, Sir,
Your obedient servant,
(Signed) GERALD C. PARSONS.
In reference to this important matter, I may perhaps bo permitted to state for
the information of new members of the Vestry, that your attention was called to the
further need of the provision of accommodation for women in my Annual Reports for
1895 and 1896. In these reports I suggested "as a first step in the right direction a
women's lavatory might be added to the one existing near the "Elephant and Castle."
Again, referring to the same subject in my annual report for 1817, I said that
"During the year under report much attention has been displayed to the
important subject of public lavatory accommodation.
"Two old-fashioned structures above ground were demolished at the time of the
Jubilee. Under the powers conferred by the public Health (London) Act, 1891, your
Authority constructed an underground convenience for men only near the 'Elephant
and Castle' in the year 1893.
"Plans have been approved by the Vestry and await the result of Government
inquiry, for the construction of two additional underground conveniences, namely,
one (for men only) at the Obelisk, St. George's Circus, and the other (for both sexes)
at the junction of the Old and New Kent Roads.