View report page

80
These old houses have been let out on leases, and it has been
considered most serviceable for many years past to allow the leaseholders
to make sanitary improvements from time to time, but it is
now evident that such a course can no longer be followed, it would be
detrimental to the health of the parish.
ARTIZANS LABORERS DWELLINGS IMPROVEMENT
ACTS.
Some years ago your Medical Officer reported to the Metropolitan
Board of Works, under the Artizans Laborers Dwellings Improvement
Acts (spoken of as Cross' Act) that the dwellings of Ware Street,
Louisa Street, Nancy Street and Watson's Place, were unfit for human
habitation, and should be demolished under an improvement scheme;
the same report included Reform Place, Jane Shore Court, Moira
Place and Plumber's Place. The Metropolitan Board did not order
the houses to be demolished, but when the London County Council
took over the Municipal Government, a communication was sent to
your Vestry referring to these reports, and the Medical Officer was
directed to report on the existing condition of the dwellings.
Consequently I re-visited them and reported their condition, and
also what had been done since the report was primarily forwarded to
the Metropolitan Board.
The houses of Reform Place had been demolished by the Vestry's
decision, the houses on the south side of Jane Shore Court were also
demolished under Vestry's notices; and the houses of Watson's Place
were closed and kept closed until, by sanitary alterations, they were
rendered fit for habitation.
The London County Council subsequently took into consideration
the amended report, but ultimately decided that the area was not of
sufficient Metropolitan importance to be dealt with under Cross' Act,
but they held out a hope that the Council might see their way to deal
with the houses of Ware Street, Watson's Place and Nancy Street,
under the Metropolitan Building Acts, as dilapidated structures.
Those dwellings have back yards, and a fair amount of ventilation
back and front, but they have been constructed of such inferior,
worthless materials, that no repairs or cleansing can make and keep
them tit for human habitation.