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 townships of Alnwick and Canongate, in the county of Northumberland / by Robert Rawlinson, Superintending Inspector.

Robert Rawlinson

Date:: 1850

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 townships of Alnwick and Canongate, in the county of Northumberland / by Robert Rawlinson, Superintending Inspector. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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$The expense of these operations, including water, would be, for Church-passage ..... \%d. Lloyd's-court ..... 3i The jets used were -J and \ of an inch in diameter ; the wa(er was at first directed upward so as to present a large surface for the absorption of atmospheric impurities. The property of water, as an absorbent, was rendered strikingly ap- parent—a purity and freshness remarkably contrasted to the former close and foul condition immediately prevailing throughout. A test ot this was the change, at different periods, in the relative condition of the atmosphere of the courts and of the contiguous streets. In their ordinary condition, as might have been expected, the atmosphere was purer in the streets than in the courts : it was to be inferred that the cleansing would have more nearly assimilated these conditions. This was not only the case, but it was found to have effected a complete change ; the atmosphere of the courts at the close of the operations being far fresher and purer than the atmosphere of the streets. The effect produced was, in every respect, satisfactory and complete. October 18, 1848. The application of water for cleansing purposes would be much cheaper in Alnwick than in London, as the water and labour would be provided at a less cost. . The Removal of Nuisances Act does not give the power neces- sary to carry out permanent improvements. It is temporary id its requirements, and not unfrequently has been found irksome and oppressive because it required the removal of a particular nuisance from the place where it was found, though probably the whole had not been generated there. This Act, as a preliminary measure, has served a most useful purpose; but the Public Health Act will be found much more efficient and cheap. Remedial Measures and Works proposed. — Sewerage and Drainage.—Back drainage should as much as possible be adopted, as affording the cheapest and easiest means of taking away all liquid refuse. Each house, yard, and alley should have jts appropriate drain properly trapped; the pipes should bej laid at such a depth as will perfectly drain the deepest cellar/] and, by introducing a common tile-drain into the same excava*- Aion, it will lay dry the foundations of the houses. The house and yard drains should be so laid and constructed as to b6 impervious to water ; they should form a continuous system of water-tight drain-tubes. Proper and sufficient means of ventila- tion may be afforded by inserting the down-spouts from the houses, and leaving all such untrapped. The whole sewerage and drainage of the town and district may be accomplished a.t a co^t very much below the usual price paid for the commonest and most imperfect stone or brick sewers. Tile-sewers and tile-pipe drains, the tiles for which may be made$