Herefordshire Through Time
Herefordshire Through Time
The following excerpts are taken from An Abstract of the various clauses in the Hereford Improvement Act, 1854 and the several acts incorporated therewith relating to the respective offices of the surveyor, the inspector of nuisances, the inspector of weights and measures, and the police; together with the duties and liabilities of the public in connexion therewith (printed by Joseph Jones, Broad Street, Hereford, 1855. There is a copy in Hereford Library)<
Sections 22 & 23
All Public Sewers, &c., are to belong to the Corporation, and the Surveyor is to define the several Drainage Districts on a Plan of the City.
Section 30
Every Person making a Drain into any Sewer without leave from the Corporation is liable to a penalty of £5.
Section 31
No Building is to be erected over any Sewer, and no Vault Arch or Cellar to be made under any Street.
Section 33
All Sewers and Drains are to be covered with proper Traps for Ventilation.
Sections 35 & 36
The Corporation are empowered to construct Drains in any House within the limits of the Hereford Improvement Act, and charge the Owner with the expense, provided it does not exceed one year's rent; and no House is to be hereafter constructed without Drains.
Sections 38-41
Notice of intention to erect or rebuild any House must be given to the Corporation or Surveyor, and in default the Corporation may order the same to be altered at the expense of the Owner.
Sections 42-55
Owners of Houses are to provide Privies, Ash-pits, &c., and in default the same may be erected at the expense of the Owners; and the Surveyor may inspect any Drain, Privy, Ash-pit, or Cesspool, and cause the ground to be opened and closed for such purpose.
Section 64
The Corporation may cause the Houses in all the Streets to be numbered, and also paint at each end of every Street the name thereof; and any person defacing such Number or Name is liable to a penalty of 40 shillings.
Section 74
Waterspouts are to be affixed by the Occupier of every House, under a penalty of £5.
Section 103
No Corpse is to be buried in any Grave without 30 inches of soil between the ordinary surface and the upper side of the coffin, under a penalty of £5.
Sections 54-56
Every Person using the Water of the Corporation is to provide Cisterns and Stop-cocks, and keep the same in good repair under a penalty of £5. And the Corporation may repair, and charge the party with the expenses.
Section 57
The Surveyor may, between the hours of 9 and 4 daily, enter the house of any person to see if there be any waste of Water; and in the event of any Occupier refusing admittance, the Corporation may cut off the supply of Water.
Section 61
Every Person who shall Bathe in any Stream connected with the Water-works, or cause any Dog to enter, or throw any Rubbish or Filth, or Wash any Clothes, &c., or cause the water of any Sink, Drain, &c., to run into any Stream or Reservoir, shall be liable to a penalty of £5, and 20 shillings for each day such offence shall be continued.
Section 9
The Inspector of Nuisances is to superintend and enforce the due execution of all duties to be performed by the Scavengers, and to report to the corporation any breach of the provisions of the Hereford Improvement Act, or any Act incorporated therewith, and the existence of any Nuisance, - to keep a Book in which he shall enter the name of any Housekeeper making any Complaint, and forthwith inquire into the truth of such Complaint, and report thereon to the Corporation at their next Meeting, - and to summon Persons offending against any of the clauses hereinafter mentioned, under the direction of the Corporation.
Section 88
The Corporation are to cause all the Streets to be swept, and all Dust and Filth to be removed therefrom, and all Privies and Cesspools to be cleansed.
Section 89
Occupiers of Houses are to cause the Pavement to be swept before Eight o'clock A.M. every day, under a penalty of 5 shillings.
Section 98
Any Person conveying offensive matter at improper times, or spilling any offensive matter, is liable to a penalty of 40 shillings.
Section 100
If the Soil of any Stable, &c. be allowed to accumulate for 30 days, or more than 7 days after a quantity exceeding a Ton has been collected, such Soil, unless removed within 48 house after Notice for that purpose, shall become the property of the Corporation, who may remove the same.
Sections 113-115
No Cellar in any House is to be let as a Dwelling-house, except under certain regulations, under a penalty of 20 shillings and 5 shillings per day after conviction.
Section 15
Every person exposing for sale unwholesome Meat or Provisions, or obstructing the Inspector of Provisions, is liable to a penalty of £5.
Section 19
No Person to slaughter Cattle except in Slaughter-houses, under a penalty of £5.
Section 127
Innkeepers are to provide Urinals, and keep the same duly cleansed under a penalty of £20, and also 40 shillings a day during default.
Section 136
Any Person conveying a dead Carcass without a sufficient covering is liable to a penalty of 20 shillings.
A penalty of 40 shillings or 14 days' imprisonment is imposed for each of the following Offences, committed in any Street within the City and Liberties. (This is only a selection of the listed punishable offenses.)
Every Person who suffers any Dog to be at large, knowing such Dog to be in a rabid state.
Every Person who after Public Notice given by any Justice, directing Dogs to be confined on suspicion of Madness, suffers any Dog to be at large during the time specified in such Notice.
Every Common Prostitute or Night-walker, loitering and importuning passengers for the purpose of prostitution.
Every Person who wilfully and indecently exposes his person.
Every Person who flies any Kite, or who makes or uses any slide upon Ice or Snow.
[Original author: Toria Forsyth-Moser, 2004]