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13
he could give no definite time when such alteration
would take place; the Vestry consequently
made an order that the repairs specified in the
Surveyor's report be carried out, which was duly
served, and the house was closed.
A letter was received in January, 1888, from
the Mansion House Conncil on the Dwellings of
the People, asking how far the Yestiy has been
enabled to avail itself of the powers contained in
Torrens's and Cross's Acts, and also what difficulties
have been found in the way of successfully
applying the Acts. The Vestry directed the Clerk
to reply, and as his reply contains a resume of the
action of the Vestry since the passing of the Acts,
it may be of interest to record it here.
vestry Hall, Cl fee en well,
May 28th, 1888.
Dear Sir,
Artizans' Dwellings Acts, 1868 & 1875.
Your letter of the 241 h January last, as-kirg to what extent the
Vestry has been able to avail itself of the poweis contained in the
above Acts, and also whether any difficulty has been found in the
way of successfully applying the Acts, has teen duly laid before the
Vestry, who have directed me to reply thereto, and the necessity of
a search of our records for the past twenty years muBt be nay
apology for the delay which has taken place in answering your
letter.
In February, 18G9, our Medical Officer condemned No. 18,
Thomas Street, which was found to be structurally dangerous, and
was handed over to the care of the Police.
In the same year he nlso advised the closing or destruction of
several houses in the Courts of Turnmill Street, which had long been
notorious for their sanitary defects, being too close together, in too
confine' a locality, without proper water supply and privy accommodation.
The course laid down in the Act was followed by the
Vestry in regard to these houses, the owners being summoned by the
Vestry, and the proper notices served. Some of the houses were
accordingly pulled down and rebuilt, while others were improved as
regards their sanitary defects, but in a few years they were all
removed for the new Clerkenwell Road.
In 1870 a house in Easton Street was condemned, and the evils
were remedied.