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3
CARSHALTON URBAN DISTRICT.
Annual Report of the Medical Officer of
Health for the Year 1920.
(1) Natural and Social Conditions of the District.
Population.—The population at the Census 1911 was 11,634
persons, of whom 713 were patients and 262 were officials at the Queen
Mary's Hospital, and 74 were patients and 29 were officials at the
Beddington Corner Isolation Hospital.
The nett population in 1920, which is exclusive of persons in
Institutions in the District belonging to other Districts, was estimated
by the Registrar-General at 12,901 persons.
Physical Features and General Character of the District.—
The District is situated upon, and at the foot of, the northern slope
of the chalk downs. The whole of the district south of the ponds,
including the greater part of the old village (120ft. above sea level), a
large residential district which has been recently developed to the south,
and Carshalton-on-the-Hill (250ft. above sea level), are on the chalk;
the northern part is situated mainly on a bed of river-gravel and sand
overlying the.Thanet sand, the Woolwich and Reading beds, and the
London clay (100ft. above sea level). The drainage is to the River
Wandle, one head of which rises from the ponds in the middle of the
town.
The District is to a large extent residential, and there are no
special industries. The chief factories are an ironworks, skin mills,
and one for the manufacture of paper goods, etc. At the Census 1911
the number of persons returned as engaged in occupations was 3,055
males and 1,735 females. Among males, 425 were employed in the
building trade and 254 in agriculture, and, among females, 752 were
employed in indoor domestic service.
Births.—The births registered in the District numbered 263; the
births notified were 238, or 91 per cent., and 7 still-births. The nett
births belonging to the district numbered 269, of which 258 were
legitimate and 11 were illegitimate; 138 were males and 131 were
females. .
The birth rate for 1920 was 20.9 per 1,000 of the nett population,
as against an average rate of 19.6 for the preceding ten years. The
rate for England and Wales for 1920 was 25.4.