THE IMPERIAL GAS COMPANY'S WORKS AT CHELSEA.—OBSERVATIONS. (Hansard, 11 May 1865)

THE BISHOP OF LONDON

, in calling Attention to the proposed Additions to the Imperial Gas Company's Works in the immediate Neighbourhood of the National Society's Training School at Chelsea, said, he had been intrusted with three petitions on the subject of a private Bill now be- 109 fore their Lordships' House. One of these petitions was from the parishioners of Fulham, another from the Guardians of the Poor of Fulham, and the third from the National Society's Training School at Chelsea, and in two instances the petitioners were desirous of having their case stated in their Lordships' House. It appeared that the Imperial Gas Company intended, by means of a Private Bill now in that House, to obtain powers greatly to increase the works at present in operation in the neighbourhood of the National Society's Training School. The Bill had passed through the other House without any attention being directed to it, purely as he had been given to understand, through some mistake. The parishioners—particularly those who represented the Board of Health of the parish of Fulham—felt that there was a serious grievance in the case. The works had been now for some years in operation to a limited extent; but even so the most serious mischief had arisen both to life and property in the neighbourhood—so much so that legal proceedings were not long since taken to mitigate the evils that had arisen. Mr. Broadbent, a market gardener, took legal proceedings in 1856 in consequence of the injury which his property had sustained, and he proved that his gardens were so much injured that produce which formerly fetched £150 was then disposed of for £20. In the course of the case certain medical authorities stated what, in their opinion, would be the probable effect of the great nuisance complained of. The clergymen and other residents presented a memorial to the Chelsea vestry in 1856, when the mischief was much less than at present, in which they complained of— Most serious injury to health and property. At all times (they continued) we are exposed to the risk of breathing an air impregnated with gas, which is allowed to escape and contaminate the atmosphere. Almost every night the discharge of fœtid matter from the works of the manufactory causes to many of us a painful difficulty of breathing, disturbed sleep, nausea, and headache. When medical authorities were examined in the case it was stated that among the effects produced were— Extreme lassitude and depression of spirits, frightful nightmare, dreams, nausea and sickness in the morning, loss of appetite, inaptitude for business, a filthy stench, as if some indescribable nastiness were being constantly inhaled. In the morning (for it is during the night that the exhalations are most active) the air is often evidently saturated with impurity, and even the cur- 110 tains and hangings in bedchambers are described as being, in some states of the wind, covered with a filthy gaseous slime. Dr. Taylor, the celebrated Professor of Chemistry and Medical Jurisprudence of Guy's Hospital, observed that in the manufacture of gas— Ammoniacal gas, sulphurous acid, sulphuretted hydrogen, or hydro-sulphuric acid gas, coally and tarry matter, soot, and carbon, are evolved. Sulphuretted hydrogen is a most offensive and nauseous gas, and creates a sickening and nauseous smell. It is liable to be evolved in the manufacture of gas, and so affect the health of those living in the vicinity. The result of the law proceedings was that, under the authority of the Courts, the evils were mitigated. Those evils had arisen at a time when the gasworks were not one-tenth of the size to which they were now proposed to be extended, and therefore if the Bill now before the House were passed, the evil would be aggravated tenfold. The petitioners in the case had some little doubt how to proceed, because the Bill was a Private one; but there was no doubt that it carried with it very important public interests. Even if it were private interests only that were affected, their Lordships would be anxious that injustice should not be done. The Bill, however, was fairly described as a Bill for destroying life and property in the parishes of Fulham and Chelsea. Though residing in Fulham himself for a portion of the year, it was not from private considerations that he had come forward. Much as property would be injured in the parish it would not be difficult to sell it and purchase a commodious residence at a distance. But the property he now alluded to really belonged to the Church, and it was a serious matter, as regarded the estate vested in the See of London, if the property should be materially deteriorated. Their Lordships would see that it was not likely that first-class residences would be erected in the neighbourhood if these nuisances wore perpetuated. It was not merely from private reasons, therefore, that he urged their Lordships not to give their assent to a Bill which, among other things would destroy a neighbourhood which had been historical now for 800 years. Mr. Veitch, the well-known florist, whose greenhouses and nurseries closely adjoined the gasworks, had invested upwards of £40,000 in buildings and plants, and was therefore naturally in alarm lest his property should be ruined, which would be the case if the proposed Bill 111 were to pass. Their Lordships had been anxious to prevent the emission of noxious gases, and a couple of years ago, in reference to certain kinds of works, had passed a Bill with that object, the operation of which had been attended with many advantages to the residents in the neighbourhood of such works. It would be a much easier process not to allow this monstrous nuisance to be created than to bring actions against the company when the works were completed. He had been told that one consideration which weighed with Private Bill Committees was this, that when gasworks were once established they felt a delicacy in preventing their extension. But it was the extension of the evil which made the nuisance intolerable. Gasworks which were to cover 150 acres and which were to pour into the Thames, which Parliament was endeavouring to cleanse, those noxious and filthy gases, certainly became a public nuisance, and required to have public attention directed to them. The National Society's Training School for Schoolmasters, which petitioned against the Bill, educated a large number of students. At the present moment there were in the day-schools no less than 611 boys' names on the registers, and more than 500 scholars were in daily attendance. It might be said that as these were only day scholars they were only exposed for a period of the day to these noxious influences. But there were besides 103 students—the future schoolmasters of the country—who were compelled to pass both day and night in this neighbourhood. It was the prayer of the managers of the training school that their Lordships would interpose to prevent what was so deleterious to the health of the public as well as the inmates of the institution. The medical officer to the college had given a certificate, declaring that the inmates of St. Mark's College had for some time suffered from the annoyance and inconvenience of the noxious effluvium arising from the gasworks of the Imperial Company closely adjoining the college. Should this nuisance be continued or increased (the medical officer stated) I am fearful that it will be very detrimental to the health of its inmates. I have seen very lately a case of illness produced by the inhalation of gaseous emanations, causing headache, feverishness, and relaxed throat with general debility. The sum of £46,986 had been expended in purchasing the site and erecting the buildings of the Training Institution. Of 112 that sum the Committee of Council on Education granted £8,925 out of the public funds, but all the rest had been raised by the National Society and its friends. The managers of the Training Institution prayed that their Lordships would not allow this Bill to pass, and if it had passed through Committee they were bold enough to hope that a Motion would be made to throw out the Bill on the third reading, and thus prevent a great public evil from being inflicted on the metropolis.