CHARLES HANN'S 1888 REPORT INTO THE PLUMBING AT THE BEAMINSTER UNION WORKHOUSE AT STOKE WATER IN STOKE ABBOTT PARISH
Conditions: - There is a good supply of water, which is believed to be very good, brought by means of piping to well m the men's yard. From thence it is carried by a force pump to a main tank over the staircase in the centre of the building near the Master's quarters, and afterwards connected with the kitchen supply and various tanks or cisterns in different positions in the house. These tanks are generally placed over the water closets, and supply all taps for domestic and drinking purposes, as well as flushing for the closets. They are also open (being without any cover), situated about five feet above the closet seats, and are exposed to contamination from the foul gases and from the soil pipes through to the water supply pipes to the closet-pans. Again, in the Infirmary the soil pipe bends are directly over the open cisterns, the water in which is thus exposed to direct contamination from leakage. This is in itself a most serious source of danger, all the soil pipes are also brought down (with. I believe, one exception) the inside of the outside wall, instead of the exterior
Remedy.- l would recommend first that the water-pan supply be entirely disconnected with the cistern which supply the water-closets ; secondly, that the w.c. soil pipes should in all cases, carried outside the exterior walls and properly ventilated.
Works. - Put a new main cistern to supply w.c.'s at a higher level, say over men's ward. Connect pump with same by a new main rising pipe. Connect cistern with men's w.c. direct ; carry main supply for rest of w.c.'s along wall of boys' bedroom to central staircase near Master's apartments, also to the Board-room, infirmary, and women's ward, by means of the existing old supply pipes, which are to be disconnected with the pipes supplying taps for drinking and domestic purposes in every case. All existing old pipes to be used for closets alone. Construct a small supply tank about six gallons capacity near present supply cistern, and connect pipe of w.c.
Water Supply. - At the main cistern disconnect all present pipes and connect same with taps throughout, viz., one immediately under scullery, infirmary and women's ward with one-inch lead pipes and three-quarter-inch branches.