IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF DWELLING HOUSES, IN COMBINATION WITH THE MEANS EMPLOYED FOR VENTILATING THE SAME
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Mortimer, of Hoxton Hall, High Street,
Hoxton, and of 47, Gresham Street, E.C., both in the County of
Middlesex, Architect and Builder of Improved Separate Dwellings for
all Classes of all Nations, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF DWELLING HOUSES, IN COMBINATION
WITH THE MEANS EMPLOYED FOR VENTILATING THE SAME."
Sealed the 7th January 1864, and dated the 13th July 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Mortimer at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 13th
July 1863.
I, JAMES MORTIMER, of Hoxton Hall, High Street, Hoxton, and of 47,
Gresham Street, E.C., both in the County of Middlesex, Architect and
Builder of Improved Separate Dwellings for all Classes of all Nations, do
hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON-
STRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF DWELLING HOUSES, IN COMBINATION WITH THE
MEANS EMPLOYED FOR VENTILATING THE SAME," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the construction of certain
descriptions of dwelling houses in combination with the means employed for
ventilating the same; and my improvements are particularly applicable to that
class of dwelling houses constructed with a central wall or walls dividing one
tenement (or set of tenements) from another, the ground floor and upper story
being also. composed of separate tenements distinct from one another. For

page_text: this purpose I construct dwelling houses in "blocks," each dwelling being
accessible by an entrance of its own, and having a watercloset, drainage, and
other necessary accessories for the accommodation of the inmates altogether
independent of the adjoining tenements composing the "block."
In constructing dwellings of this character I prefer to construct each
"block" with longitudinal and transverse walls which divide the ground floor
and upper story of each block into four sections, by which means eight distinct
dwellings are obtained in each block, although this arrangement of the several
separate dwellings may be greatly varied in accordance with my improvements.
Now it is well known that great difficulty exists in ventilating dwelling
houses built back to back, not having through ventilation or draught from
back to front (which structural feature in itself is not new), and my Invention
consists in so arranging, constructing, and supporting a ventilating shaft in
combination with dwelling houses built in "blocks," as previously described,
that through ventilation may be obtained to each of the dwellings composing
such blocks."
In carrying out my Invention, having raised the outer and the longitudinal
and transverse walls to form the ground-floor portion of a block of buildings
into four distinct dwellings, I place a foundation plate (by preference of cast
iron) upon each of the four angles formed where the longitudinal and trans-
verse walls cross each other; this plate may either be in one piece to cover the
four angles, or it may be in separate parts to cover each angle separately,
which is the arrangement I prefer. Openings are formed in the plate over
each angle, to which a glazed sash or skylight, by preference of metal,
is hinged to admit light and to circulate or discharge foul air, as required.
Upon the outer edge of each plate, over each angle formed by the walls
below, I lay brickwork (so as to form, by preference) a square shaft,
which passes up through the roof of the structure and there terminates,
remaining at all times open to the atmosphere. In or near the angles of the
central walls on the ground floor I prefer to place the waterclosets for each
dwelling, so that by opening the glazed skylight in the plate before referred to,
which forms part of the ceiling of each closet, through ventilation is obtained
from the outer atmosphere through the central air shaft. The waterclosets of
the 'four 'or other number of separate dwellings on the upper story are, by pre-
ference, placed near to the central air-shaft, openings being formed in the side
walls into the air shaft with glazed sashes, which can be opened or closed at
pleasure, so as to permit the circulation of air to each closet of each dwelling
when required. Gutters on the roofs convey the rain fall into a pipe which
passes down the central air shaft, the water from the roofs being conducted by

page_text: this pipe into a trap common to all the waterclosets, so as to flush it out, in
addition to the ordinary water service supplied thereto from a cistern or
cisterns in the roofs of the buildings. Shoots or inclined passages are formed
in the side walls of each separate dwelling, through which ashes or other
refuse may be discharged into an ash-pit formed in the ground exterior of the
building.
I would remark that the form of the central air shaft and the means of
supporting the same may be greatly varied, together with the mode of
dividing and arranging the several dwellings into apartments to suit different
classes of tenants requiring from one to five or more rooms in each dwelling,
which numbers of apartments required by each tenant can be readily doubled
by connecting one of the upper with one of the lower floors, by forming an
entrance between the two in the lobby at the foot of the stairs.
Dwelling houses constructed and ventilated as herein described may be
built at very moderate cost, with gardens and drying or playing grounds at the
front and back between each "block," giving them the appearance of genteel
villa residences, such dwellings being suitable for all classes of all nations.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said James Mortimer in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
18th January 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
MORTIMER, of Hoxton Hall, High Street, Hoxton, and of 47, Gresham Street,
E.C., both in the County of Middlesex, Architect and Builder of Improved
Separate Dwellings for all Classes of all Nations, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give, and grant unto me, the
said James Mortimer, Her special licence that I, the said James Mortimer,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said James
Mortimer, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON-
STRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT OF DWELLING HOUSES, IN COMBINATION WITH THE

page_text: MEANS EMPLOYED FOR VENTILATING THE SAME," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said James Mortimer, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Mortimer, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement
thereof, that is to say :-
This Invention has for its object improvements in the construction of certain
descriptions of dwelling houses in combination with the means employed for
ventilating the same, and my improvements are particularly applicable to that
class of dwelling houses constructed with a central wall or walls dividing one
tenement (or set of tenements) from another, the ground flcor and upper
story being also composed of separate tenements distinct from one another.
For this purpose I construct dwelling houses in "blocks." Each dwelling is
accessible by an entrance of its own, and has a watercloset, drainage, and other
necessary accessories for the accommodation of the inmates altogether inde-
pendent of the adjoining tenements composing the "block."
And in order that the nature of my improvements may be most fully under-
stood, I have shewn a series of plans in the Drawings hereunto annexed of
"blocks" of dwelling houses divided into separate dwellings for the accommo-
dation of large or small families, or for single persons, constructed and arranged
with means for ventilation according to my Invention, and as the nature and
arrangement of each of the plans is fully explained by the written descriptions
thereon, it will not be necessary for me to re-describe the same here, except so
far as is necessary to point out the particular features which constitute the
novelty of
my Invention.
To meet the requirements of all classes of tenants the buildings are so
constructed as to afford a distinct dwelling to the tenant who may require one,
two, three, four, or five rooms. The style of architecture can either be plain
or ornamental, and each tenant, whether occupying one room or five, is
furnished with the same separate appliances for cleanliness and ventilation.
In constructing dwellings of this character I prefer to construct cach
"block" with longitudinal and transverse walls A, A, and B, B, which divide
the ground floor and upper story of each block inte four sections, by which

page_text: means eight distinct dwellings are obtained in each block (four on the ground
floor and four on the floor above) although this arrangement of the several
separate dwellings may be greatly varied in accordance with my improvements.
Now it is well known that great difficulty exists in ventilating dwelling houses
built back to back, not having through ventilation or draught from back to
front (which structural feature in itself is not new), and my Invention consists
in so arranging, constructing, and supporting a ventilating shaft in combination
with dwelling houses built in "blocks," as previously described and shewn in
the accompanying Drawings, that through ventilation may be obtained to each
of the dwellings composing such "blocks."
In carrying out my Invention, having raised the outer and the longitudinal
and transverse walls A, A, and B, B, to form the ground floor. portion of a
block of buildings into four distinct dwellings, I place a foundation plate C,
shewn separately in Drawing No. 3 (by preference of cast iron), upon each of
the four angles formed where the longitudinal and transverse walls meet or
cross each other at the central part of the building. This plate C, may either
be in one piece to cover the four angles if desired, or it may be in separate
parts to cover each angle separately, as shewn in the Drawing, which is the
arrangement I prefer to employ in carrying out my Invention. Openings C³,
are formed in the plate C, over each angle to which a glazed sash or skylight
C, by preference of metal, is hinged to admit light and to circulate or dis-
charge foul air as required. Upon the outer edge of each plate C, over each
angle formed by the walls below, I lay brickwork so as to form (by preference)
a square shaft D, which passes up through the roof of the structure and there
terminates, remaining at all times open to the atmosphere. The construction
and arrangement of the central air ventilating shaft D is clearly shewn on a
larger scale in Drawing No. 8. In or near the angles of the central walls on
the ground floor I prefer to place the waterclosets W, C, for each dwelling
below, as shewn, so that by opening the glazed skylight C in the plate before
referred to, which forms part of the ceiling of each closet, through ventilation
is obtained from the outer atmosphere through the central air shaft D. The
waterclosets of the four or other number of separate dwellings on the upper
story are by preference placed near to the central air shaft D, openings D'
being formed in the side walls into the air shaft, fitted with glazed sashes, which
can be opened or closed at pleasure, so as to permit the circulation of air to
each closet of each dwelling when required.
Gutters on the roofs over each separate dwelling convey the rain fall into a
pipe E, which passes down the central air shaft, the water from the roofs being
conducted by the pipe E into a trap, common to all the waterclosets, so as to

page_text: flush it out in addition to the ordinary water service supplied thereto from
a cistern or cisterns in the roofs of the buildings. "Shoots" or inclined
passages are formed in the side walls of each separate dwelling, through which
ashes or other refuse may be discharged into an ash-pit formed in the ground
exterior of the building. I would remark that the form of the central air
shaft D, and the means of supporting the same may be greatly varied, together
with the mode of dividing and arranging the several dwellings into apartments
to suit different classes of tenants, requiring from one to five or more rooms
in each dwelling, which numbers of apartments required by each tenant can
be readily doubled by connecting one of the upper with one of the lower
floors by forming an entrance between the two in the lobby at the foot of the
stairs.
Dwelling houses constructed and ventilated as herein described may be
built at very moderate cost, with gardens and drying or playing grounds, as
shewn in Drawing No. 4, at the front and back between each "block," giving
them the appearance of genteel villa residences, such dwellings being suitable
for all classes of all nations.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Mortimer, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twelfth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
Witness,
J. G. TONGUE,
Patent Agent,
JAMES MORTIMER. (L.S.)
34, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane, W.C.