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 Wolverhampton, and the townships of Bilston, Willenhall, and Wednesfield / by Robert Rawlinson, Superintending Inspector.

  • Rawlinson, Robert, 1810-1898.
Date:
1849
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 borough of Wolverhampton, and the townships of Bilston, Willenhall, and Wednesfield / by Robert Rawlinson, Superintending Inspector. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Suburban and Land Drainage.—Some portion of the land in the neighbourhood to the west has been drained, but not generally; deep drainage may however be accomplished cheaply^ and would add very much to the value of this land, especially if the liquid refuseof the town is carried over it. To the east- ward, in the mining district, there is not much attention paid to agriculture, and drains would not be of much avail, as the whole surface is disturbed by the mining operations carried on; when the coal and iron-stone has been removed, vast areas of the ground sink in, shaking and fracturing houses and buildings of all descriptions. From this cause there is scarcely a vertical engine chimney in the district. Government.—Upon the passing of the Reform Bill, Wol- verhampton was created a Parliamentary borough, comprising the townships of Wolverhampton, Bilston, Willenhall, Wednes- field, and the parish of Sedgley. The borough returns two members to Parliament. In the year 1848 a charter of incorporation was granted to the inhabitants of Wolverhampton, but the district comprised in the municipal borough only extends over the township, and does not in any way comprise or interfere with the adjoining townships and parish. Under the charter of incorporation a mayor, 12 aldermen, and 36 common councillors are elected, in whom is now vested the entire government of the town. George Benjamin Thomey- croft, Esq., is the present mayor ; Mr. T. Walker, solicitor, is town clerk; Mr. John G. Lowe, borough treasurer; and Mr. R. Castle, town surveyor. Under the provisions and powers of the Municipal Act a borough police has been formed, composed of a chief constable, Colonel Hogg, and 22 men.