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19
{1911
in the two former districts, because each returned an increased population: in
Tufnell of 1,531 persons, and in Upper Holloway of 3,138. In Highbury,
however, the case is different, for here there was a decrease of 1,805 persons in
the population. One is not surprised, therefore, to learn that in Tufnell there
was an increase of 884 families or separate occupiers, and in Upper Holloway
of 822; but to find that there was in Highbury an increase of 328 families or
separate occupiers is remarkable; and can only indicate that many of the
large houses have been turned into flats or boarding houses. Indeed, this is
the explanation. 1 his practice, too, is likely to extend; and as it extends it
will bring more business to that part of the borough, and in all probability
reinstate the fallen fortunes of Upper Street, which depends so much on the
prosperity of this sub-district.
Area.— Islington contains 3,092 acres, of which 292 are parks, open
spaces, water, railways, or maikets, so that only 2,800 acres are available
for houses and roads and streets. Water, such as the Regent's Canal, and the
New River, takes up 17.2 acres, railways 196.9 acres, markets 14.9 acres, and
parks and open spaces 62.8 acres, so that altogether 291.8 acres are unavailable
for housing the people. This is not a great area, although distributed as it is
over the borough it affords very satisfactory lungs for it.
Table VIII. shows how this space is distributed:—

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