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 1880
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington]
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| 1856. | 1880. | Gross Increase of 25 years. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estimated number of Inhabited Houses | 7,600 | 20,700 | 13,100 |
| Population | 57,000 | 160,000 | 103,000 |
| Rateable Value of Property | £308,000 | £1,455,084 | £1,147,084 |
The increase within the last ten years, in all respects, is not inconsiderable, as the subjoined figures will show:—
| 1871. | 1881. | Increase in 10 years. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estimated Number of Inhabited Houses, July | 15,394 | 20,800 | 5,406 |
| Population July | 121,300 | 164,000 | 42,700 |
| Rateable Value | £935,720 | £1,648,187 | £712,467 |
These figures, demonstrating a transcendent growth, speak for
themselves; nevertheless, attention may be called to the fact that
in the quarter-century the rateable value of property became more
than quintupled, and that in the last decade the mere increase was
double the total in 1856.
The population and the number of inhabited houses increased
nearly threefold in 25 years; the increase in the last decade alone
attaining the proportions of a large city.
In the nature of things the material growth of the parish must
cease ere many years shall have passed, and there must be an
arrest to the increase of population, for there will be no further
room for additional buildings. Property, however, will probably
continue to increase in value long after the population shall have
become comparatively stationary, and even now the rateable value
of property has attained such proportions as to be exceeded by
that only of the cities of London, Liverpool, Manchester and
Bristol.
But to resume. Calculating upon the basis of the Census, I
estimate the population of the Town sub-district at the middle of
1880, at 118,180, and that of Brompton at 41,520. In my