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
Merton and Morden 1938
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Merton & Morden]
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SECTION A.—STATISTICS AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS OF THE AREA.
| Area (in acres) | 3,238 |
| Number of inhabited houses (end of 1938) according to Rate Books | 19,955 |
| Rateable Value at 31st December, 1938 | £595,361 |
| Sum represented by Id. rate | £2,380 |
Lying in the valley of the Thames and naturally drained
by its tributaries the River Wandle and the Pyl and Beverley
Brooks, the district is flat. The surface rises gently from
the northern or Wimbledon boundary towards the southern
limit of the Morden Ward, the whole lying between the 42ft.
and 141ft. ordnance datum levels. The subsoil in the
northern part is a sandy gravel which merges into the London
clay which extends throughout the great part of the district
lying to the south.
The proposal to create a Civic Centre on land in London
Road referred to in my last report was given further consideration.
Until suitable and adequate accommodation for
the Council's staff is provided, local administration must
necessarily suffer from the present inconvenient arrangements
whereby the Departments are housed in three separate buildings,
two of which are designed as domestic dwellings.
Industry. The number of factories registered under the Factories Act at the year end was:—
| Factories with mechanical power:— | |
| Employing more than 40 persons | 24 |
| Employing less than 40 persons | 70 |
| Factories without mechanical power | 28 |
| 122 | |
The number of employees engaged in these premises is
approximately 6,400.
Twelve factories with mechanical power were added to
the register during the year and all use electricity for power
purposes.
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