London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Shoreditch 1892

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Shoreditch, Parish of St. Leonard]

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214
the value of £209 7s. Cel., which sum the Vestry had paid, and now sought to
recover. It was alleged on behalf of Mr. Pilbrow that this sum was excessive, and
and that the Vestry should have contracted for the execution of the work.
As to these contentions, he was of opinion that the bill was not excessive, and
that the Vestry was not obliged to contract to get the work done cheaply and,
perhaps, nastily; as to the inspection chambers being constructed that were not
specified, he found that the notices required all necessary works to be done, and it
was a matter of common knowledge that inspection chambers were a necessity of
modern drainage. Mr. Pilbrow had also set up the objection that he was not the
owner, but, if he really were not the owner, nothing would have been more easy of
proof, and no such proof had been adduced; he was therefore of opinion that
Mr. Pilbrow was the owner; it was given in evidence that since the completion of
the works defects had been found, well, probably, no sanitary arrangements could
long be retained in perfect condition in the buildings in question owing to the
habits of the tenants.
Then it was contended that the drains had always been in good order, and
that the works required by the Vestry's notices were unnecessary. If that were a
valid objection, Mr. Pilbrow had his remedy, he could have appealed to the London
County Council under the 211th Section of the Metropolis Local Management Act
against the notice of the Vestry, but that he had not done, he allowed the work
to be finished, and now resisted payment; the Vestry had done the work and paid the
money, and he could not believe that any local authority had any interest in doing
work that was not necessary, and, as he believed Mr. Pilbrow to be the owner, he
therefore gave judgment for the Vestry for the sum claimed, £209 7s. 6d., and
£20 costs.
THE STANDARD AND BRITANNIA THEATRES.
The w.c.'s and urinals of both of these theatres were found in a most offensive
state, aud the dressing rooms very unclean and defectively ventilated.
The proprietor of the Standard on being approached very readily gave
instructions for a thorough rectification of the conditions complained of, including
new drainage, refitting w.c.'s "Shoreditch style," and ventilating them, the
provision of proper urinal accommodation, cleansing and ventilation of dressing
rooms and passages.
The above works having been completed were shown to the proprietor of the
Britannia who also very readily gave orders to have his theatre treated in the
same way.
The whole of the works referred to were carried out under the supervision of
Mr. Inspector Quelch in a satisfactory manner.