View report page

6
until Enfield is approached. To the north-east, the neighbouring
small district of Stamford Hill is at the same level of 100 feet;
but beyond Stamford Hill there is a rapid fall in altitude, and for
a distance of quite three miles there is no land approaching the
main altitude of this parish.
Beyond the eastern boundary of the parish the land slopes
gradually away to the water-course of the Lea, and the level of land
for many miles is lower than that in Stoke Newington. To the
south there is a more gradual sloping off towards the water-course
of the Thames.
To the west of the parish, the ground, speaking generally,
rises towards Stroud Green, Holloway, and Highbury, where it
averages about 125 feet, and this upward slope is continued to
Ilighgate and Hampstead, where it reaches a mean altitude of a
little over 300 feet.
Healthiness of the district.—With the exception then of the
western boundary of the parish, the whole district occupies a higher
level than the ground for some considerable distance around it—a
distance, in every case, amply sufficient to ensure that it shall
derive the full benefit of sufficient air renewal. We are fully
exposed to the north, north-west, east, and south winds that is,
whereas the adjacent uplands to the west protect us in a measure
from the full force of winds from that direction. We thus share
with the district of Stamford Hill a very full exposure to the
north, north-east, and east winds, which, though they tend to make
the district additionally desirable for summer residence, cause it to
be a little colder than some other districts in and around London
in the winter. When this is considered, in conjunction with the
fact that more than half of the district has a clay surface, itself cold
and damp, and that even the remaining half has a clayey surface,
parishioners will recognise the great desirability of keeping the
body warm and dry in the winter months by the use of sufficient
and suitable clothing, and by the avoidance of undue exposure.