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Births.
The total number of births registered in the Borough for the 53 weeks ending January
3rd, 1903, was 4,346, which is 449 below the average for the previous ten years.
This number includes 2,855 for Bermondsey, being 65 below that for 1901 and 240 below
the average for the last ten years; 1,170 for Rotherhithe, being 50 below the number for 1901
and 123 below the average for the last ten years; 321 for St. Olave's, being two higher than
the year 1901 and 86 below the average for the last ten years.
In Table II. of 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 1902 is 33.6 per thousand persons living, which is 1.8 below the average for the
last ten years and .6 below that for 1901. 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.
Year.
Bermondsey.
Rotherhithe.
St. Olave's.
Whole
Borough.
London.
1892
37.43
33.33
37.13
36.2
30.9
1893
37.53
34.68
33.50
36.3
31.0
1894
36.31
33.83
39.77
35.9
30.1
1895
37.63
32.43
36.04
35.9
30.5
1896
37.53
33.41
36.03
36.2
30.2
1897
37.48
31.53
38.68
35.8
30.0
1898
36.73
32.85
32.97
35.3
29.5
1899
36.67
32.38
34.55
35.2
29.4
1900
34.07
30.56
39.67
33.5
28.6
1901
35.46
31.79
32.79
34.2
29.0
Average
for years
1892-1901
36.68
32.68
36.11
35.4
29.9
1902
34.92
30.79
34.19
33.6
29.0
It will be seen from this table that, while the birth rate showed a slight rise in 1901, a
decline in 1902 is again manifest. It is evident from these figures that there is a tendency to a
decline in the birth rate, which is noticeable both in London and in the country generally.
The causes of this decline have been attributed to (1) postponement of marriage to later
age. This would certainly apply to the middle and upper classes. (2) In some countries,
such as France and certain parts of America, where divorce can be most easily obtained, and (3)
desire on the part of the parents to avoid the responsibility of a family. Among the poorer classes
in Bermondsey there is certainly a premium, as far as housing is concerned, on the smallness of
the family. On inquiry into overcrowding one is met with the universal statement that landlords
refuse rooms to those with large families, the number of refusals being in about direct proportion
to the number of children, those who have none at all being most easily accommodated. Landlords,
no doubt, do this in self-protection, since children, unless under strict control, are most
destructive to property. The question of the size of families is intimately bound up with the
housing question.
Marriages.
The marriage rate for the Borough in 1902 was 17.39.
In Table VII. of Appendix will be found the number of marriages in the Borough and
its divisions in 1902 and the previous ten years. I am indebted for these figures to
Superintendent Registrar of St. Olave's Registration District.
Deaths.
The total number of deaths registered in the Borough was 2,323, and when this figure is
corrected by the exclusion of deaths of non-parishioners occurring in the district and the
inclusion of deaths of parishioners occurring outside the district, the number is raised to 2,756.
This is 37 more than the number in 1901, but 217 less than the average for the last ten years.
The annexed table shows the distribution of deaths in quarters. As usual, the largest number
of deaths occurred in the winter quarters.
Table B. —Deaths.
Quarter.
Bermondsey.
Rotherhithe.
St. Olave's.
Whole Borough.
First
488
212
64
764
Second
394
160
44
598
Third
390
156
51
597
Fourth
510
213
74
797
Total Deaths
1782
741
233
2756
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