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8
Physical Features.
The Metropolitan Borough of Deptford, as constituted by the
London Government Act, 1899, is situated to the south of the Thames,
being bordered, roughly, on the north by Bermondsey, on the south by
Lewisham, while Camberwell and Greenwich lie to the west and east
respectively. A small portion, roughly half a mile long, fronts the
river. Roughly rectangular in shape, its greatest length is approximately
two-and-a-half miles, and width one-and-half miles. The
altitude presents considerable variation, much of that portion of the
Borough to the north of New Cross Road and Queen's Road being, on
an average, only 15 feet above mean sea level, while the rest of the
Borough shows an altitude varying from 80 feet to 160 feet at
Telegraph Hill. The soil varies, parts showing London clay formation,
other parts being of a more alluvial character. The area of the Borough
is given as 1,564 acres, but this for effective purposes is considerably
encroached upon by reason of the Surrey canal and various railway
lines which traverse the district.