Early modern town planning William Hosking

title page of hosking s 1848 book regulation of buildings in towns

in 1844 hosking appointed oversee application of new building standards embodied in metropolitan building act. in support of role official referee of metropolitan buildings , hosking published own manual in 1848 (a guide proper regulation of buildings in towns means of promoting , securing health, comfort , safety of inhabitants), reprinted in 1849 under more succinct title healthy homes.

such work led series of appointments on parliamentary inquiries, investigating state of town planning across england, taking evidence local witnesses in company of appointed barrister. work resulted in parliamentary papers, or blue books . term parliamentary paper denotes documentation papers tabling in house of commons or, less frequently, house of lords, or both. blue books in 19th , 20th centuries commonly sported blue paper cover. typical examples of hosking s blue book inquiries include:

sunderland markets, bridge, ferries, etc.

sunderland improvements, markets , bridge. report of commissioners of majesty s woods, forests, land revenues, works , buildings, enclosing report of surveying officers appointed make preliminary inquiries, 1847; evidence enlarging markets , providing new markets, , regulation of markets , fairs within borough of sunderland, , general improvement of said borough; , paving, lighting, sewering, supplying water , improving borough of sunderland, , vesting management thereof , of markets , bridge in mayor, aldermen , burgesses ...

york lendal bridge , approaches

report of commissioners of majesty s woods, forests, land revenues, works , buildings, enclosing report of surveying officers appointed make preliminary inquiries, 1847; evidence relating proposed act building bridge across river ouse, in city of york .. , widening, altering , improving streets or thoroughfares within said city, , other purposes .

cockermouth improvement

report of commissioners of majesty s woods, forests, land revenues, works , buildings, enclosing report of surveying officers appointed make preliminary inquiries, 1847 - evidence relating bill paving, lighting, cleansing, watching , otherwise improving town of cockermouth, in county of cumberland, , removal , prevention of nuisances , annoyances within same .

on 26 january 1847 hosking s father-in-law, eminent printer william clowes died. buried @ west norwood cemetery.