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 parish of Aldershott, in the county of Southampton / by William Ranger, Superintending Inspector.

  • William Ranger
Date:
1857
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

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 parish of Aldershott, in the county of Southampton / by William Ranger, Superintending Inspector. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    11/17 (page 8)
    Ai.uer- The drainage is at present defective, partly from the state shott, 0f the stream itself, partly from the consequences of works connected with the camp. Mr. Allden, a resident in the parish for the last 56 years, stated,— That about one-third of the land cultivated is undrained. In ease of rapid thaws or heavy falls of rain, the waters do not get sufficient vent, and the land at the side of the ' stream' is on those occasions flooded. From an inspection of the stream itself it is evident, that sufficient attention has not been paid to the removal of the sedges and other obstructions, and hence the evil of which Mr. Allden complained. With regard to the obstructions of the drainage said to be caused by the alterations made in the surface of the ground and roads in forming the camp, Mr. Elsley stated— That evil resulted in his premises, which are situated on the confines of the camp, from the obstruction caused by stopping up the natural watercourse, and the non-substitution of other channels for carrying off the land drainage. The effect has been, to throw back a large quantity of water into his cellar. It is a new cellar used for keeping beer, &c. The house was opened in January 1856 ; it was perfectly dry, until the land drainage was obstructed, but now, when it rains, he is under the necessity of employing men for several hours to bail out the water. Mr. J. Wilson, stated— That since the roads have been raised the water lies on the surface immediately in front of his premises. His house was; built before the alteration was made in the height of the road. He has since then raised the floor of his shop several inches, and also the ground in front. Still, for want of a channel in lieu of the watercourse, which has been stopped up, the water lies on the surface, and he is now deprived of the means of drainage, although there was no difficulty in this respect before the obstruction took place. Sewerage. The populated part of the parish until lately was nothing j more than a small village, and as such unsewered. the j drainage being into watercourses and ponds. Mr. JElstone stated— He has resided in the parish about 30 year.-. Hitherto there I has always been adequate means of drainage. The necessity for sewerage may be dated from the time of establishing the camp.']