An Act for repairing the High wayes and Sewers and for paving and keeping clean of the Streets in and about the Cities of London & Westminster and for reforming of Annoyances and Disorders in the Streets of and places adjacent to the said Cities and for the Regulating and Licensing of [Hackney] Coaches and for the enlarging of several strait & inconvenient Streets and Passages.
All Act for Paveing and Cleansing the Streets in the Cityes of London and Westminster and Suburbs and Liberties thereof and Out-Parishes in the County of Midlesex and in the Burrough of Southwarke and other places within the Weekly Bills of Mortality in the County of Surrey and for Regulating the Markets therein mentioned.
To combat an apparent problem with people throwing coal ashes into the street, the act also required every person in London, Westminster, Southwark and surrounding suburbs to sweep the area in front of their house "... every Wednesday and every Saturday in the Weeke". The act also prohibited the hooping of barrels and sawing of stones or rough timber in the streets. Rakers and scavengers were to use "... a Bell Horne Clapper or otherwise [and] shall make distinct and loud noise and give notice to the Inhabitants of theire coming ..." so "... that all persons concerned may bring forth theire respective Ashes Dust Dirt Filth and Soil to the respective Carts or Carriages". These scavengers were to be elected according to existing customs, and within 20 days rubbish collection rates (to be paid quarterly) were to be set by churchwardens and other leaders of the parish.
Under the act, "... from Michaelmas until our Lady day ..." (29 September – 25 March) from dusk to 9 p.m. every householder was required to place a candle or lantern outside "... his house next the street to enlighten the same for Passengers ...". The act also ratified a decision by sewer commissioners on 8 August 1661 to construct two new sewers to drain the area near the Palace of Whitehall.
After the Great Fire of London in 1666, several Acts to promote rebuilding vested the power of paving and sewer maintenance within the city solely in its Corporation.[3] This restricted the Scotland Yard Commissioners to areas outside the city. The act was "to continue & be in force until the end of the First Session of the next p[er]liament",[4] and when this happened in 1679 it was then "allowed to expire".[5]
A 1690 Act of Parliament imposed sanitation requirements on the districts around London similar to those of the 1662 Act, but did not revive the Commissioners. Instead, powers of enforcing compliance were given to the justices of the peace.[6] Sewerage in Westminster was transferred to the existing Westminster and Middlesex Commission of Sewers.
Members and officersedit
As well as the 21 commissioners appointed by the king, the act provided that the Lord Mayor, Recorder, and Aldermen of the City of London; and the Dean, High Steward, Deputy Steward and the two High Burgesses of the City of Westminster should become joint commissioners with the same powers.
The commissioners were empowered to appoint a treasurer and other officers, and had to report annual accounts to the Court of Exchequer during trinity term.
Referencesedit
John Raithby, ed. (1819), "Charles II, 1662 — An Act for repairing the High wayes and Sewers and for paving and keeping clean of the Streets in and about the Cities of London & Westminster and for reforming of Annoyances and Disorders in the Streets of and places adjacent to the said Cities and for the Regulating and Licensing of [Hackey] Coaches and for the enlarging of several strait & inconvenient Streets and Passages.", Statutes of the Realm: Volume 5: 1628–80, pp. 351–357, retrieved 5 July 2013
John Raithby, ed. (1819), "William and Mary, 1690 — All Act for Paveing and Cleansing the Streets in the Cityes of London and Westminster and Suburbs and Liberties thereof and Out-Parishes in the County of Midlesex and in the Burrough of Southwarke and other places within the Weekly Bills of Mortality in the County of Surrey and for Regulating the Markets therein mentioned", Statutes of the Realm: Volume 6: 1685-94, pp. 231–236, retrieved 6 November 2014
Webb, Sidney; Webb, Beatrice (1922). "Ch.4: The Improvement Commissioners". Statutory Authorities for Special Purposes. English Local Government. Vol. 4. London: Longman, Green. pp. 239–241, 323.
Webb, Sidney; Webb, Beatrice (1908). "Ch.4: The City and Borough of Westminster". The Manor and the Borough, Part I. English Local Government. Vol. 2. London: Longman, Green. pp. 213–231.
Cannan, Edward (1896). The history of local rates in England, five lectures. London: Longmans. pp. 124–126. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
^ abEvelyn, John (1901). "14th May, 1662". In William Bray (ed.). Diary. Vol. 1. introduction by Richard Garnett. Walter Dunne. p. 357. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
^Pepys, Samuel; Latham, Robert; Matthews, William (26 January 1983). The Diary of Samuel Pepys. Vol. X: Companion. University of California Press. p. 393. ISBN9780520020979. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
^Ogborn, Miles (1998). Spaces of Modernity: London's Geographies, 1680-1780. Guilford Press. p. 92. ISBN9781572303652. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
^"Highways and Sewers.: Earl of Dorset and others, Commissioners in London and Westminster". National Archives. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
^"Ashburnham, John I (c.1603-71)". History of Parliament Online. 1983. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
^"Cooper, Sir Anthony Ashley, 2nd Bt. (1621-83),". History of Parliament Online. 1983. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
^"Berkeley, Sir Charles I (1599-1668)". History of Parliament Online. 1983. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
^"Denham, John (1615-69),". History of Parliament Online. 1983. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
^"Glascock, William (1617-88)". History of Parliament Online. 1983. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
^"Grahme, Ranald (c.1605-85)". History of Parliament Online. 1983. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
^"Howard, Sir Robert (1626-98),". History of Parliament Online. 1983. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
^"Ingram, Sir Thomas (1614-72)". History of Parliament Online. 1983. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
^"O'Neill (Oneale), Daniel (c.1612-64)". History of Parliament Online. 1983. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
^"Onslow, Sir Richard (1601-64)". History of Parliament Online. 1983. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
^"Waller,Edmund I (1606-87)". History of Parliament Online. 1983. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
External linksedit
October 27, 2023
commissioners, scotland, yard, informal, name, commissioners, streets, wayes, body, improvement, commissioners, established, 1662, manage, regulate, various, areas, relating, streets, traffic, cities, london, westminster, borough, southwark, they, were, appoin. The Commissioners of Scotland Yard was the informal name for the Commissioners for the Streets and Wayes a body of improvement commissioners established in 1662 to manage and regulate various areas relating to streets and traffic in the cities of London and Westminster and the borough of Southwark They were appointed under a 1662 Act of the Parliament of England 14 Cha 2 c 2 which expired in 1679 The commissioners office was attached to that of the Surveyor of the King s Works in Scotland Yard 1 2 Act of ParliamentParliament of EnglandLong titleAn Act for repairing the High wayes and Sewers and for paving and keeping clean of the Streets in and about the Cities of London amp Westminster and for reforming of Annoyances and Disorders in the Streets of and places adjacent to the said Cities and for the Regulating and Licensing of Hackney Coaches and for the enlarging of several strait amp inconvenient Streets and Passages Citation14 Cha 2 c 2 Ruffhead 13 amp 14 Cha 2 c 2 DatesRoyal assent2 May 1662Commencement7 January 1662Expired13 March 1679Repealed30 July 1948Other legislationRepealed byStatute Law Revision Act 1948Relates toLondon Streets etc Act 1690Status RepealedText of statute as originally enactedLondon Streets etc Act 1690Act of ParliamentParliament of EnglandLong titleAll Act for Paveing and Cleansing the Streets in the Cityes of London and Westminster and Suburbs and Liberties thereof and Out Parishes in the County of Midlesex and in the Burrough of Southwarke and other places within the Weekly Bills of Mortality in the County of Surrey and for Regulating the Markets therein mentioned Citation2 Will amp Mar Sess 2 c 8DatesRoyal assent20 December 1690Other legislationRepealed byStatute Law Revision Act 1948Relates to14 Cha 2 c 2Status RepealedText of statute as originally enactedThe 1662 Act empowered the king to appoint up to 21 commissioners who were authorised to Determine encroachments by buildings onto the highway Manage the repair and paving of specific streets including Pall Mall Enlarge various other specific streets including St Martins Lane and to demolish existing buildings where necessary and compensate the owners Levy charges on each householder to fund repair paving and enlargement work License tax and set maximum fares for hackney carriages Charge duty on hay and straw sold in city streetsTo combat an apparent problem with people throwing coal ashes into the street the act also required every person in London Westminster Southwark and surrounding suburbs to sweep the area in front of their house every Wednesday and every Saturday in the Weeke The act also prohibited the hooping of barrels and sawing of stones or rough timber in the streets Rakers and scavengers were to use a Bell Horne Clapper or otherwise and shall make distinct and loud noise and give notice to the Inhabitants of theire coming so that all persons concerned may bring forth theire respective Ashes Dust Dirt Filth and Soil to the respective Carts or Carriages These scavengers were to be elected according to existing customs and within 20 days rubbish collection rates to be paid quarterly were to be set by churchwardens and other leaders of the parish Under the act from Michaelmas until our Lady day 29 September 25 March from dusk to 9 p m every householder was required to place a candle or lantern outside his house next the street to enlighten the same for Passengers The act also ratified a decision by sewer commissioners on 8 August 1661 to construct two new sewers to drain the area near the Palace of Whitehall After the Great Fire of London in 1666 several Acts to promote rebuilding vested the power of paving and sewer maintenance within the city solely in its Corporation 3 This restricted the Scotland Yard Commissioners to areas outside the city The act was to continue amp be in force until the end of the First Session of the next p er liament 4 and when this happened in 1679 it was then allowed to expire 5 A 1690 Act of Parliament imposed sanitation requirements on the districts around London similar to those of the 1662 Act but did not revive the Commissioners Instead powers of enforcing compliance were given to the justices of the peace 6 Sewerage in Westminster was transferred to the existing Westminster and Middlesex Commission of Sewers Members and officers editAs well as the 21 commissioners appointed by the king the act provided that the Lord Mayor Recorder and Aldermen of the City of London and the Dean High Steward Deputy Steward and the two High Burgesses of the City of Westminster should become joint commissioners with the same powers Charles Sackville 6th Earl of Dorset was one of the initial Commissioners 7 as was the diarist John Evelyn who described his fellows as divers gentlemen of quality 1 Some MPs were commissioners including John Ashburnham 8 Anthony Ashley Cooper 9 Charles Berkeley later Viscount Fitzhardinge 10 John Denham 11 William Glascock 12 Ranald Grahme 13 Robert Howard 14 Thomas Ingram 15 Daniel O Neill 16 Richard Onslow 17 and Edmund Waller 18 The commissioners were empowered to appoint a treasurer and other officers and had to report annual accounts to the Court of Exchequer during trinity term References editJohn Raithby ed 1819 Charles II 1662 An Act for repairing the High wayes and Sewers and for paving and keeping clean of the Streets in and about the Cities of London amp Westminster and for reforming of Annoyances and Disorders in the Streets of and places adjacent to the said Cities and for the Regulating and Licensing of Hackey Coaches and for the enlarging of several strait amp inconvenient Streets and Passages Statutes of the Realm Volume 5 1628 80 pp 351 357 retrieved 5 July 2013 John Raithby ed 1819 William and Mary 1690 All Act for Paveing and Cleansing the Streets in the Cityes of London and Westminster and Suburbs and Liberties thereof and Out Parishes in the County of Midlesex and in the Burrough of Southwarke and other places within the Weekly Bills of Mortality in the County of Surrey and for Regulating the Markets therein mentioned Statutes of the Realm Volume 6 1685 94 pp 231 236 retrieved 6 November 2014 Webb Sidney Webb Beatrice 1922 Ch 4 The Improvement Commissioners Statutory Authorities for Special Purposes English Local Government Vol 4 London Longman Green pp 239 241 323 Webb Sidney Webb Beatrice 1908 Ch 4 The City and Borough of Westminster The Manor and the Borough Part I English Local Government Vol 2 London Longman Green pp 213 231 Vestry of the united parishes of St Margaret and St John the Evangelist Westminster June 1889 Special and annual report with notes on local government in Westminster from pre reformation times to the present day Westminster Wightman Retrieved 7 November 2014 Cannan Edward 1896 The history of local rates in England five lectures London Longmans pp 124 126 Retrieved 6 November 2014 a b Evelyn John 1901 14th May 1662 In William Bray ed Diary Vol 1 introduction by Richard Garnett Walter Dunne p 357 Retrieved 6 November 2014 Pepys Samuel Latham Robert Matthews William 26 January 1983 The Diary of Samuel Pepys Vol X Companion University of California Press p 393 ISBN 9780520020979 Retrieved 6 November 2014 18 amp 19 Ch II c 8 section 18 22 amp 23 Ch II c 17 section 2 section 31 Cannan p 126 Ogborn Miles 1998 Spaces of Modernity London s Geographies 1680 1780 Guilford Press p 92 ISBN 9781572303652 Retrieved 6 November 2014 Highways and Sewers Earl of Dorset and others Commissioners in London and Westminster National Archives Retrieved 6 November 2014 Ashburnham John I c 1603 71 History of Parliament Online 1983 Retrieved 6 November 2014 Cooper Sir Anthony Ashley 2nd Bt 1621 83 History of Parliament Online 1983 Retrieved 6 November 2014 Berkeley Sir Charles I 1599 1668 History of Parliament Online 1983 Retrieved 6 November 2014 Denham John 1615 69 History of Parliament Online 1983 Retrieved 6 November 2014 Glascock William 1617 88 History of Parliament Online 1983 Retrieved 6 November 2014 Grahme Ranald c 1605 85 History of Parliament Online 1983 Retrieved 6 November 2014 Howard Sir Robert 1626 98 History of Parliament Online 1983 Retrieved 6 November 2014 Ingram Sir Thomas 1614 72 History of Parliament Online 1983 Retrieved 6 November 2014 O Neill Oneale Daniel c 1612 64 History of Parliament Online 1983 Retrieved 6 November 2014 Onslow Sir Richard 1601 64 History of Parliament Online 1983 Retrieved 6 November 2014 Waller Edmund I 1606 87 History of Parliament Online 1983 Retrieved 6 November 2014 External links edit Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Commissioners of Scotland Yard amp oldid 1168533699, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
