People or property. Well or wealthy.

Introduction

Victorian Bournemouth (64) completes the expanded study of the town’s drain wars which occurred in 1865. Public health provided the context within which the sanitary committee conducted its contest with the Improvement Commission. During the arguments, however, it became clear that the confrontation resulted from far more fundamental issues. The debate highlighted the country’s social tensions, but also showed the Commissioners having to balance their private interest against those of the public.

Victorian Bournemouth (64): drainage system to 1865

Early period

Although scattered buildings on the Bourne Tregonwell estate predated the Marine Village’s launch in 1836, systematic construction marked the latter’s birth. First the Bath Hotel, overlooking the sea, then a line of villas headed north along what would become Westover Road. During the drainage controversy, Christopher Creeke, the town surveyor, reported that Sir Gervis Tapps had provided the original sewage system. As early as 1838 an advertisement for two of the villas mentioned the existence of water-closets. Sporadic mentions of water-closets appeared thereafter in villa advertisements, but by 1864 some commercial properties also had these conveniences. Other advertisements mention residences having ‘most excellent water laid on’ or a ‘plentiful supply of good water’. In some cases, the system’s water may have come from the Bourne stream, assisting with flushing sewage into the sea. In the controversy, however, an outside expert took exception to using the stream for this purpose.

The situation in 1865

Progress with increasing the size of the drain-pipe network appears to have occurred after the Improvement Act. Pursuant of its charter, the Improvement Commission advertised for suppliers of drainage pipes in 1858. Christopher Creeke reported to the public meetings that the town had almost three miles of drainage pipes installed. It seems that a plan had existed whereby imported water would replace use of the Bourne stream for flushing. References to the Commission’s negotiations with a company to build a supply network for water (and gas) appeared in the press. In 1865, the surveyor believed that the supply would soon become active. Proprietors and developers, meanwhile, continued to increase the size of the built environment. In accordance with the Granville recommendation, building followed a scattered design, rather than adopting streets and terraces. By 1865, therefore, almost a third of buildings lay unconnected to the main drainage, cesspools gathering their effluent. 

Victorian Bournemouth (64): scope and cost concern

Scope

Creeke believed that Bournemouth’s centre had a good system even without the imported water soon to arrive. Cannan reported that conditions in Madeira Vale had become ‘offensive’, but the final specification indicates that the settlement needed main drainage extensions much further than this area. The Commissioners sought tenders for three main additions to the existing drainage. First, a drain should run from Holdenhurst Road, down Old Christchurch Road (including Madeira Vale) to join the main sewer at Westover. Second, another drain should run from the Bath Hotel’s hill to the new Christchurch Road. A third drain should cover Exeter Road, west of the Bourne. Furthermore, questions had focused on sewage disposal. The existing system took it down to the sea, a process that caused alarm on aesthetic as well as on health grounds. The rebels envisaged a system for pumping it out northwards, into rural areas.

Cost concern

A project of this nature worried the Commissioners, ever cautious about expenditure. Five figure sums bounced through the debates. People based their budgets on what they knew about costs involved in projects undertaken by other towns. Even the cost of paying for an outside specialist caused some of the Commissioners to baulk. Their caution may have stemmed from ratepayers’ resistance noted at a public meeting held soon after the Improvement Act’s passing. Eagerness for developments had not resulted in enthusiasm for rate increases to pay for them. As if mindful of this attitude, Creeke appears to have developed the drainage system in stages, perhaps as funds became available. The rebels had a different horizon, one that involved improving the existing system, but also the future, since construction showed no signs of abating. They wanted to anticipate, not play catch-up. They saw the big picture, but the Commissioners saw big expenditure. 

Victorian Bournemouth (64): payment

Source of funds

Part of the money could come from Commissioners’ power to force property owners and their tenants to pay for the last step: connecting a building to the main drain. Money to pay for extensions to the main drains, however, would require public funds. Rates would provide this, or a third-party loan, securitised against an asset such as the pier tolls. The Commissioners had used loans in this way before. References to cheques written to an apparent lender occurred in several of the regular meetings held each month. According to Cannan, who had examined the matter in detail, the Commission might borrow up to £5,000 at one time. ‘In other places where experienced sanitary engineers have been called in, money has been borrowed at such interest as to enable the rates to repay the capital within 30 years, and yet not to exceed sixpence in the pound annually on the assessment.’

Cost of funds

At this time manoeuvres had begun which might as much double the town’s rateable base. Nevertheless, irrespective of the net’s size, ratepayers still provided the money. Many of the rebels paid rates, for this legitimised their action. Nevertheless, most belonged to the affluent class, so the odd sixpence or shilling would cause them little concern. Many of the Commissioners, however, had acquired substantial property holdings in Bournemouth. One ventured that together they owned a third of the place. Increase in the public rate, therefore, could have a disproportional impact on their finances. Their private pockets merged into the public purse. Another cost applied. The rebels fought an unrestrained war, perhaps annoyed at not receiving deference from people of lower status. They attacked the reputations of Creeke and his colleagues. Thus, pressure on their personal situations – finances and reputation – perhaps caused the Commissioners to hesitate in acceding to the rebels’ demands.

Takeaway

Victorian Bournemouth (64) completes coverage of the drain war that shook Bournemouth in the mid-1860s. Cracks in the drainage system had exposed flaws within the town’s society. Bournemouth’s old dualism of affluent visitors and working people had shifted from parallel existence to confrontation. As such, the resort presented a microcosm of the tension that wracked the entire country. The controversy also highlighted difficulties in a system where substantial local stake holders who had little experience of public management had to sublimate their position in favour of the public’s.

References

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