Vol14; No 19 Hampton's Great Stink Part 1

[Les1949]

HAMPTON, AROUND AND ABOUT

Things you may not know, or didn’t know you knew!

No 19 HAMPTON’S GREAT STINK Part 1

1858, in London, was the time of the ‘Great Stink’, in which the smell of effluent in the River Thames built up to such an extent that MPs in the Houses of Parliament were so revolted that they actually voted to spend money on the sewerage system. Well, Hampton also had its own ‘Great Stink’ which went on for years.

Samuel Ruff had carried out the business of a tallow melter and candle manufacturer in Thames Street for many years. Ruff had been born in Hampton and at the time was 40 years old and was described as a Tallow Chandler (Tallow was a form of rendered beef or mutton suet and was used at the time to make candles). The factory had been used for at least one hundred years and there had always been complaints relating to an ‘insufferable nuisance’.


On this occasion the complainant was Mr Childs, a medical man and surgeon to the City of London Police, who had recently moved to Hampton and lived near the factory. On this occasion, the Guardians had written to Ruff whose initial reply was that the business had been carried out for many years, the smell was not injurious to health, moreover they surely did not want to deprive him of his business…but if they wished to buy his premises and compensate him for loss of trade, he was more than happy to hear from them. The Guardians consulted their own medical officer, Dr Henry Jepson, who stated that after nearly half a century, he had never had to attend to anyone suffering the results of emissions from the candle factory.

However, when a further 31 householders also complained stating that the fumes emitted were injurious to health, supported by three medical practitioners and, quoting the Nuisance Removal Act, 1865, the Guardians were compelled to act. It would appear that Childs having just moved into the area had organised a mass protest by the locals. A summons was issued for Ruff to appear at the Hampton Petty Sessions in October 1859.

The Hon A Thesiger appeared for Childs (and others), whilst Mr A Haynes appeared for the defence. The Magistrates remarked that they had frequently noticed a very offensive smell emanating from the factory. Ruff realising that he was on a losing wicket asked for a stay of execution to give him time to take steps to improve the situation. The judges agreed, stipulating that any costs of the court to be met by Ruff. On the same day that the court was in session, there was a counter demonstration in the village. Two men, presumably employees of the factory, marched around bearing placards bearing the words ‘Bread, Beer and Fat for ever’. The local press reported that there was little response to this and eventually they gave up and went home.

An order having been given for the abatement of the nuisance, Hampton returned to peace and tranquillity, but things did not get any better and eventually the locals were, once again, up in arms.

To be continued……

The Old Historian