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149
Complaints were made to the Vestry of nuisances of
other kinds:—
9th April, 1792. Robert Abington Esq having received a Letter
from St. Lawrence Cox from an Inhabitant of Great Peter
Street, Westminster, relative to a Nuisance practised in the
said Street of Dog Fighting, Bear and Badger Baiting, which
being Read
Resolved—That the most effectual means be taken by Presentment
Indictment or otherwise to suppress a House in Great
Peter Street, Westminster where Dog Fighting, Bear and
Badger Baiting are constantly practised to the continual
alarm of the Inhabitants.
Friday, 3rd August, 1792. Application having been made to these
Vestries by Wm Ebberfield against whom a Bill of Indictment
was preferred and found at the Quarter Sessions by Order of
the Joint Vestries of the 9th of April last for keeping a House
in Great Peter Street in which he suffered Dog Fighting,
Badger Baiting, &c. to the great Annoyance and Nuisance of
the Neighbourhood, praying to be forgiven and he was willing
to Pay all Expences that the Parishes have been put to on this
Account but it appearing to the Vestries that he did not attend
the said Quarter Sessions nor traverse the same over to the
next Sessions, and that he had not pleaded to the said Indictment,
nor given any Notice of Tryal but on the Contrary had
continued the said Practices after the Indictmt found.
Resolved—That the application of the said Wm Ebberfield be
Rejected.
Easter Tuesday, March '29th, 1796.—That the Bedels do on the
first Thursday in every Month return to the Workhouse Board
an account in Writing of those Streets that are not properly
cleansed by the Parish Scavenger, also of Hogs being in the
Church or Chapel Yards, or of any other Nuisances.
In addition to the Act of 51 Hen. III., 1257, against the
sale of unwholesome food, already noticed in part I., a
statute of Charles II. (1660) imposed heavy penalties for
the adulteration of wine, the punishment being increased
to imprisonment by an enactment of William III. The
public health was also protected by stringent laws in
relation to the admixture of alum with bread.
Protection
from fire.
No provision of appliances for extinguishing
tires appears to have been made in Westminster
until 1657, when an order was passed by the Vestry for