Records of the Bath Waterworks Act 1870

Records created or gathered by the Town Clerk during the development of the Bath Waterworks Act 1870 and execution of the scheme of works specified by it.
The Act empowered the Corporation to expand its water supply by taking up springs and constructing reservoirs in the parishes of St. Catherine's, Marshfield and Cold Ashton. The provisions of the Act for expanding the waterworks were similar to those intended by the failed Bath Bill 1866.
These records include: correspondence; public notices; copies of the Bill as submitted to Parliament; plans and books of reference for the intended works; petitions against the Bill from land owners and private waterworks companies; Parliamentary committee papers including, financial statements and accounts, registers of owners and occupiers to be affected by the passing of the Act, extracts from Medical Officer of Health reports, proofs given as evidence from engineers, city officials and inspectors of public health, and the Act as passed; reports on the progress of the Bill, and later implementation of the scheme of works; expenses and accounts; correspondence and petitions to the Treasury Department for power to borrow further sums of money; records relating to attempts to amend and expand the 1870 Act to give the Corporation further powers in relation to expanding its waterworks; papers relating to applications to the Local Government Board for further funding and power; statements and accounts relating to the undertaking of the scheme of works authorised by the Act; copies of Mortgages issued on turnpike tolls to raise funds for the works; a compensation register; correspondence with land owners re. the works and compensation; contract for the undertaking of works; and dispute arbitration papers in relation to Mr Joseph Hall's Batheaston Paper Mill.