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4
Boundaries.—The parish, in shape somewhat like a hatchet, merges
upon no less than six other Sanitary Districts. It is bounded on the north
by St. Saviour and St. Olave, on the west by Lambeth, on the south by
Newington and CamberwelL and on the east by Bermondsey.
Geological Formation.—The subsoil of Southwark consists of porous
"made" earth, sand, and gravel, of a depth of 15 to 25 feet, overlying
the London clay. Saline springs rise at times to the surface,and in certain
excavated parts of the parish—e.g., Theatre and Music Hall—necessitate
the constant use of pumps.
Elevation.—The district is low-lying and flat, and lies at an average
of half-a-foot below the Trinity high-water mark of the Thames, as against
a mean elevation for London of 47.5 feet above the same mark.
Houses—I am indebted to the Medical Officer of the Administrative
County for a copy of the Superintendent-Registrar's Summary, giving the
number resident in the district on 29th March, 1896. This summary—
given under Table I.—shows also there were 5,512 inhabited and 657
uninhabited houses, which makes an average of 10 9 persons to a house.