Dr. F. St. George Mivart's report to the Local Government Board on the sanitary circumstances and administration of the borough of Christchurch, South Hants / [F. St. George Mivart].

  • Mivart, F. St. George.
Date:
1898 [sic]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Dr. F. St. George Mivart's report to the Local Government Board on the sanitary circumstances and administration of the borough of Christchurch, South Hants / [F. St. George Mivart]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    3/26 (page 3)
    o .I am informed, the idea being that the water would run off instead of soaking' away. On the outskirts of the town there are cottage dwellings practically built of mud and gravel. Some of these have been recently condemned and are now uninhabited. It appeared to me that others should be dealt with in a similar manner. Some of the small houses stand closely together near the main street and have but very little curtilage ; nevertheless, it may be said that on the whole there is a fair amount of garden ground available for cottagers, though unequally and often disadvantageous^ placed. Back yards are roughly and imperfectly paved in many instances, or not paved at all. Owing to ihe extraordinary drought that had prevailed for some months prior to the time of my visit it was difficult to judge accurately in all cases as to dampness, but there can be no doubt that curtilages in this district are frequently in a sodden condition in ordinary seasons. I am informed that overcrowding of persons occurs from time to time and is difficult to deal with, inasmuch as when abatement of it is secured in one house it frequently recurs in another; but, however this may be, no cases of overcrowding of persons in houses came to my knowledge during my inspection, nor did I find cases of overcrowding of dwellings upon area. Water Supply.—I am informed that it is now believed that out of the 900 inhabited houses in the district, 575 are supplied with water from wells, public or private, while* 319 are now connected with the mains of the West Hants Water Company, an undertaking established about four years ago, and hereafter to be again referred to. Six houses are said to be without means of water supply.f It may be mentioned that 182 of these houses have been connected since January, 1897, this being in some 26 instances the result of notice under Section b2 of the Public Health Act of 1875. Public Wells.—Five wells are at present utilised for public water supply Until July last, six were in existence ; but one of them in that section of the main street called “ Bargates ” was closed by order of the Town Council, after having been declared by the Medical Officer of Health to be contaminated with sewage. All these wells are fitted with pumps. Their exact depths I had some difficulty in ascertaining, but I was informed that in none does it exceed 20 feet. Briefly described, they are as follows :— 1. Railway Inn Well and Pump.—This well is said to have been opened and cleaned in June, 1897. It is beneath the roadway of the main thoroughfare about 8 feet from the kerb. It is about 16 feet deep and dry-steined. When opened it was found to have been closed at the top by a tightly-fitting stone, but there were signs of percolation at the sides of the well. 2. High Street Well and Pump.—The depth of this well is uncertain ; probably about 14 feet. It is said to be dry-steined. In a communication to the Board, dated 18th December, 1893, Mr. J. Wallace Peggs speaks of the “ report recently made by Dr. Dupre on the water of the High Street Pump.” This report states that the water is “ very largely polluted by sewage, and is totally unfit for drinking or other domestic purposes.” [This report will be found in Appendix No. I.] I diet not learn that any alterations had been made to the well since the date of the above report. 3. Church Street Well and Pump.—This is beneath the main roadway, and is said to be about 20 feet deep and dry-steined. 4. Pit Well and Pump).—This is situate in the centre of a small unpaved square down to which the ground slopes from the roadway. The well is said to be about 9 feet deep and dry-steined, and is closed by a stone at the top. The square is almost surrounded by cottage dwellings : across the centre of it and close to the well is said to pass a sewer of 9-inch earthenware pipes, cement jointed, and laid in clay. This sewer is supposed to have been laid about 20 years ago. I regard this well as being from its situation exposed to imminent risk of contamination. 5. Tiitton's Well and Pump).—This is situate in the suburban quarter known as Stanpit, and stands in a little open patch of grassland sloping down to the edge of a creek leading from the estuary of the Avon. The well, the mouth of which is situated about 45 feet above high water mark, has somewhat recently been cleaned, and reconstructed of 3 feet concrete cylinders. It is said to be fed by a strong spring. Adjacent to the well is a dipping place surrounded by a raised border of ornamental * Note.—During the course of my inspection I found that already, as a result of my visit, certain property owners had applied to the Water Company to lay on water to a Humber of cottages where a supply was urgently needed. t Note.—I am informed that since my visit this matter has received attention.