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16
Marriages
When supplying these figures Mr. Stevens, the Croydon
Superintendent Registrar, kindly analysed recent trends and
commented "Of the total number of persons giving me notice of
intention to marry at either Church or Register Office in the
year 1954, 13.8% were under the age of 21 years rising in 1958
to 18.3%. The number of persons marrying in the 16 to 19 age
groups has increased in the period by about 50%, at 20 years by
18% and there appears to me to be no significant change after
that age".
The number of marriages solemnised was 1,827, compared with
1,962 in 1957, 1,947 in 1956, 2,076 in 1955, 1,882 in 1954,
1,987 in 1953, 1,993 in 1952, 1,960 in 1951, 2,051 in 1950 and
2,066 in 1949. 867 were solemnised in Established Churches, 383
in other places of worship, 2 Jewish Ritual and 575 in the
Register Office.
Births
The live births registered were 3,659 legitimate and 193
illegitimate. The birth-rate consequently was 15.4 per 1,000
population. For England and Wales the rate was 16.4.
The illegitimate births in Croydon were 5 per cent of the
total as compared with 5.5 in 1957, 4.3 in 1956, 4.8 in 1955,
5.5 in 1954 and 1953 and 5.3 in 1952.
The Uve male births numbered 1,933, the female 1,919, being
a proportion of 1,007 males to 1,000 females.
Notification of Births

Accoraoodation for Confinements
The following table shows where babies vsere born in Croydon
during 1958. 154 more babies were born at home and 174 more
were born in hospital than in 1957. 47 more Croydon residents
had babies outside Croydon and 46 fewer non-residents were confined
in Croydon than in 1957. One private nursing home gave up
maternity work