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the latter gentleman on the 11th of July. The mud of the pond
was bare and dry, and had evidently not been covered with water
for some days. A slight stench was perceptible, which according to
Mr. Miskin's statement is smelt with certain winds as far as the
Deptford Lower Road. A notice was served on the Surrey Canal
Dock Company, since which the nuisance has been much abated, by
allowing the water of the Thames to enter freely, and cover the bed
of the stream.
On the 19th of July, I went to a ditch at the back of Clare Hall
Cottages. This ditch receives the drainage of the greater part of
Clare Hall Place, and of Clare Hall Cottages, as the open mouths of
numerous drain pipes in its course attest. It is in a filthy condition,
and appears not to have been flushed for some time, and in its present
state is undoubtedly injurious to the health of the inhabitants
of the neighbouring dwellings. I would venture to suggest that the
ditch be first cleansed, and afterwards that a supply of water be obtained
if possible to flush it regularly until some other mode of
drainage be practicable.
I must also recommend to your notice the ditch on the Rotherhithe,
or east side of Manor Road, and generally known as Hunt's
Ditch. It seems from its present unclean state to want more frequent
flushing than it receives. The water in it at my visit being exceedingly
foul and putrescent. There are, however, but few
dwellings in the vicinity of I hint's Ditch.
On the same day, 19th July, I inspected a block of houses on the
north side of the Plough Bridge, called Lion's Place. No. 1, a
beershop, is the only house with water supply. The inmates of the
other tenements having to fetch all water used by them from the
Surrey canal. Every house has drainage except No. 9. The
cesspools of all are dirty and dilapidated. The drains are all untrapped,
and there are no ashpits. I must remark here that the
humbler classes fully appreciate the advantage of an abundant
water supply to their dwellings, and I often hear grateful mention
of this Vestry for the benefit conferred.
Complaint having been made to me by Messrs. J. and J. Weeks,
linen drapers, of a fetid smell arising at times from the shore of the
river opposite their establishment in Rotherhithe Street, I examined
the place on the 9th of July, and on many other occasions to investigate
the cause of it. The facts of the case are as follows:- About
forty feet eastward from the platform, and about fifty feet westward
from Rotherhithe Stairs, and at about fifteen or eighteen inches from
the shore, in the planking or woodwork forming the inner lining of
the embankment of the Thames at this spot, there is a small square
opening, the outlet of the drainage of three houses in Love Lane,
37, 38, 39, and of two or more houses in Rotherhithe Street, Nos.
388, 389, and 390, adjacent to Messrs. Weeks.
It happens occasionally the tide in the river being down, and the
shore uncovered, that the water supply from the Company