Works, BOARD OF.

Works, BOARD OF. In 1806 the management and control of public works and buildings, of which the expenses are defrayed from the crown revenues or parliamentary grants, were entrusted to an officer called the Surveyor of His Majesty's Works and Public Buildings. In 1832 the duties of this officer were transferred to the Commissioners of Woods, Forests, and Land Revenues (see WOODS AND FORESTS); but this arrangement eventually resulted in a complaint that the crown revenue was applied too easily to the execution of public works and improvements, and that parliament was unable to exercise proper control. The department of Public Works was therefore again separated, in 1851, from that of the Woods and Forests, and placed under the management of a new Board, called the Board of Works and Public Buildings, composed of a First Commissioner, who is a political officer, and sometimes has a seat in the cabinet, together with the Secretaries of State, and the President and the Vice-president of the Board of Trade, who are ex-officio commissioners. In addition to the control over public works and buildings possessed by the former united Board, the Board of Works took over the management of certain parks (including Richmond, Greenwich, Bushy, Phoenix, and Holyrood Parks), and public gardens (such as Kew and Hampton Court). The Board has some responsibilities in connection with the national buildings and collections. The Board of Works is under control of the Treasury, to whose sanction all large estimates for public works must be submitted. The Treasury appoint the secretary, clerks, and other officers of the establishment; and with the sanction of the Treasury the Commissioners appoint or employ such architects, surveyors, &c. as may be necessary. The Metropolitan Board of Works was founded in 1855, with very extensive and various powers as to London (sewerage, fire brigades, gas and water supply, Thames Embankment, bridges, ferries, tunnels, subways, street improvements, supervision of buildings, artisans' dwellings, tramways, music halls, &c.); but the London County Council took over in 1889 its innumerable duties, and the Metropolitan Board of Works ceased to exist.