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

Lewisham 1873

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lewisham]

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SURVEYOR'S REPORT
Of Work executed from Lady-day, 1873, to Lady-day, 1874.
Gentlemen,
I have the pleasure of submitting my fifth Annual Report.

Table: TABLE VII.The number of Births and Deaths which have occurred in the different Registrars' Sub-districts in Lewisham District and the Hamlet of Penge, together comprising “The Lewisham District,” with the Mortality of the several Public Institutions.

TABLE VII.

The number of Births and Deaths which have occurred in the different Registrars' Sub-districts in Lewisham District and the Hamlet of Penge, together comprising “The Lewisham District,” with the Mortality of the several Public Institutions.

Registrar's Sub-districts.Estimated Population. 1873BIRTHS.DEATHS.
Males.Females.Total.Males.Females.Total.
Blackheath, a part of Lewisham Parish in the Sub-district of Lee624270761464 443781
Lewisham, a part of Lewisham Parishforming the Sub-district of LewishamVillage1376925623849411494208
Union Workhouse...101020241539
Sydenham Chapelry19882362343695140142282
Hamlet of Penge145692261984248787174
Do—Watermen's Asylum...............11
Do.—North Surrey) District School............426
Total544629148651779413378791

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The roads at the present time are in good condition. Granite
is being gradually introduced in the Sydenham and Forest Hill
District. Nearly the whole of the road from Forest Hill Station
to Sydenham Railway Station via the High Street is coated with
granite. The centre of the road from Bell Green to near the
"Dolphin" public house, Lower Sydenham, is also coated with
granite, and the greater portion of the road in Loampit Yale is
now laid with hard material, such as Bombay stone. Although
attended with a great cost at the first outset, I firmly believe
that the use of granite will prove economical in the long run.
I often hear the remark that flint roads never wear into holes
like granite, but the fact is flint roads do not last long enough
to wear into holes. In granite roads there is a saving in
material, watering in summer, and slopping in winter. Flint
roads in summer, when hard and dry, are more pleasant to
travel upon, and I believe horses last longer upon them, inasmuch
as the concussion upon the hard granite roads knock horses up
sooner.