Report to the General Board of Health on a preliminary inquiry into the sewerage, drainage, and supply of water, and the sanitary condition of the inhabitants of the borough of Bedford / by William Lee, Superintending Inspector.

William Lee

Date:: 1855

Credit: Report to the General Board of Health on a preliminary inquiry into the sewerage, drainage, and supply of water, and the sanitary condition of the inhabitants of the borough of Bedford / by William Lee, Superintending Inspector. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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$Opening of Inquiry. Bedford, was resumed, and continued until the 3d day of June, when I had completed a careful inspection of the whole borough;^ and had heard all persons desirous of being heard before me touching the inquiry. At the opening of the inquiry it was proved, by William Sargent, John George, and Mrs. Bailey, that the public notices had been duly affixed upon the doors of all the principal churches, chapels, public buildings, and places where public notices are usually affixedand copies of the Bedford Mercury and Bedford Times were put in, con- taining the same as an advertisement. A duplicate of the notice accompanies this report. There was a large attendance of the inhabitants, and much interest manifested in the proceedings. After explaining the most convenient manner of con- ducting the inquiry, I entered upon my minutes the names of such places as were specially complained of, and the nature of the complaints. It would occupy too much space to set out the whole of the places named, and therefore I refer the Board to my minutes for the particulars. Such complaints of sanitary defects amount to at least 40,— a number larger than I recollect to have been voluntarily made at the opening of any inquiry which I have made under the Public Health Act. The borough of Bedford comprising five parishes, I requested that I might be accompanied during my inspection by a few of the inhabitants of each parish. This was gladly acceded to, and I derived much assistance from the following:— St. Peter's.—The Rev. Gustavus Burnaby; James Wyatt, Esq.; Mr. Charles Read, Mr. John Usher. St. PauVs.—The Rev. Richard Fitzpatrick; Dr. H. Barker; Henry Verey, Esq.; Mr. Joseph Allen. St. Mary's.—T\iQ Rev. Charles Brereton ; Dr. G. F. D. Evans ; Mr. Samuel Lovell, Mr. Charles Berrill. St. John's.—The Rev. Henry Pearse; Isaac Elger, Esq. J. P. St. Cuthhert's.—The Rev. Charles Trollope ; Mr. James WoodrotFe, Mr. John Wilson. I was accompanied throughout the inspection by Mr. Richard Stennett, chief constable of the borough, and inspector of nuisances.$