London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Kensington 1876
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington]
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41
POPULATION.
The population of Kensington estimated to the middle of the
year, was 148,000, the increase of 4,500 being partly due to an
excess of births over deaths (1,604) ; the larger portion, however,
resulting from immigration (2,896). The "Town" sub-district
contained in round numbers 110,000 persons, and Brompton
38,000. The males numbered 60.250; the females, 87,750—excess
of females over males 27,500. The subjoined table shows the
relative numbers of persons of each sex at the census of 1871,
arranged in groups according to age:—
AGES OF MALES AND FEMALES, 1871.
| A11 Ages. | Under 5 | 5 to 15 | 15 to 25 | 25 to 35 | 35 to 45 | 45 to 55 | 55 to 65 | 65 to 75 | 75 to 85 | 85 to 95 | 95 and upwds. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Males, | 4S977 | 7065 | 10198 | 8948 | 8317 | 5963 | 4339 | 2464 | 1270 | 378 | 33 | 2 | |
| Females | 71322 | 7147 | 11527 | 16585 | 14203 | 9030 | 6241 | 3768 | 2000 | 667 | 97 | ||
| Total, | 20299 | 14212 | 21722 | 25533 | 22520 | 15043 | 10580 | 6232 | 3270 | 1045 | 130 | 9 | |
In former reports I have referred to the probable causes of the
excessive preponderance of females in our population, and ascribed
it to (1) the large number of female domestic servants
always met with in a wealthy district; (2) the numerous schools
for girls; (3) the popularity of Kensington as a place of residence,
and (4) the superior longevity of women, The density of the
population was about 67 to an acre, making no allowance for uncovered
ground, the extent of which I am not in a position to
estimate with accuracy ; but independently of the cemeteries, at
Brompton and Kensal Green; and Holland Park, the outskirts of
which are slowly coming into the builders' hands, there are still
many acres available for building purposes. Not very many years
probably will pass, however, ere Kensington will be completely
built, and then, with a population stationary within narrow limits,
vital statistics will be capable of a more definite handling than is
possible now when, year by year, there is a large increase, the
amount of which is to some extent matter of conjecture, although
as I have before observed, I believe the estimate to be not very
wide of the truth. The basis of the estimate of population is the
number of inhabited houses, and the known average number of
persons to a house at the census. In July, 1876, there were
18,944 inhabited dwellings—an increase of 504 upon the number
at the corresponding period in the preceding year. Of this total
a not insignificant proportion would be stables having inhabited
rooms, and situated in mews. (The number of mews is about 150.)