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Overcrowding.
The following table has been taken from the Annual Report of the Medical Officer of the
London County Council. It will be seen from it that while both in London and Bermondsey
there has been a decrease in the percentage of the population living in the smaller class of
tenement as well as the percentage of the population living more than two in a room in these
same tenements, that the decrease has been greater in the administrative County of London:-
Sanitary Area,
Tenements with
Percentage of total population
in each group of tenements.
Overcrowding.
Percentage of total population living
more than two in a room in tenements
of less than five rooms.
1891.
1901.
Increas
or Decrease.
1891.
Increase
or Decrease.
1901.
5.11
3.66
Bermondsey
9.2
7.5
- 1.7
— 1.45
1 room
2 rooms
19.0
20.0
+ 1.0
8.63
7.77
— 0.86
19.1
20.4
+ 1.3
5.53
5.78
+ 0.25
3 rooms
4 rooms
20.2
— 2.6
4.03
3.27
— 0.76
22.8
— 2.0
23.30
20.48
— 2.82
Total
70.1
68.1
London, Administrative
County of
9.2
6.7
— 2.5
5.10
3.25
— 1.85
1 room
— 1.1
7.84
6.52
— 1.32
2 rooms
16.4
15.3
4.57
4.13
— 0.44
3 rooms
15.8
16.5
+ 0.7
— 0.12
4 rooms
14.1
15.2
+ 1.1
2.19
2.07
55.5
19.70
15.97
— 3.73
Total
53.7
— 1.8
In Bermondsey there was a decrease in the one-room and four-room tenements, while there
was an increase in the two and three-room tenements from 1891 to 1901. In London the
decrease was confined to the two smallest tenements, while there was an increase in the three
and four-room tenements.
The action taken in this Borough on the matter of overcrowding will be found on page
26 et seq., under the head of Administrative Work.
Births.
The total number of births registered in the Borough for the 52 weeks ending January 2nd,
1904, was 4,200, consisting of 2,153 males and 2,047 females. This is 534 below the average for
the last ten years, and 146 below the figures for 1902.
This total includes 2,801 for Bermondsey, being 54 below that for 1902, and 262 below
the average for the last ten years; 1,116 for Rotherhithe, being 54 below the number for 1902,
and 162 below the average for the last ten years; 283 for St. Olave's, being 38 below the number
for 1902, and 110 below the average for the last ten years.
In Table II. of the Appendix will be seen the particulars of these numbers for the last ten
years in the three registration sub-districts, and in Table I. figures for the whole Borough.
The birth rate for 1903 was 32.4 per thousand persons living, which is 1.0 below the rate for
1902, and 2.8 below the average for the last ten years. Particulars of the birth rate will be found
in annexed Table A. The birth rate for London is included for purpose of comparison:-
Table A. —Birth Rates.
Whole
Borough.
London.
Year.
Bermondsey.
Rotherhithe.
St. Olave's.
37.53
34.68
33.50
36.3
1893
31.0
1894
36.31
33.83
39.77
35.9
30.1
32.43
36.04
35.9
30.5
1895
37.63
36.03
36.2
30.2
1896
37.53
33.41
38.68
35.8
30.0
1897
37.48
31.53
29.5
1898
36.73
32.85
32.97
35.3
1899
36.67
32.38
34.55
35.2
29.4
1900
34.07
30.56
39.67
33.5
28.6
35.42
31.73
32.73
34.1
29.0
1901
30.47
33.92
33.4
28.5
1902
34.70
32.39
35.79
35.2
29.7
Average
for years
1893-1902
36.41
29.10
32.4
28.4
1903
34.12
30.83
4