London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Deptford 1913

Annual report on the health of the Metropolitan Borough of Deptford

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The following table gives the approximate number of inhabited and uninhabited houses in each Ward at the end of the year 1913, also the number of separate occupants of tenements, and the estimated population of each Ward from the Census returns for 1911:—

Ward.Inhabited Houses.Uninhabited Houses.Total Number of Houses.Houses Build-ing.Houses in TenementsNnmber of Separate Occupiers in Tene-ments.Other Premises.Population of Census 1911.Males.Females.
North3,146303,176215564516523,86811,91511,953
South2,098332,13124710912512,1435,2086,935
North-West3,824173,841-8221,67817023,48011,53011,950
South-West2,247192,2661581483616,5007,5688,932
East2,9631083,07128633323721,18510,66310,522
South-East2,360372,397-5514111112,3206,1036,217
16,63824416,88271,2233,054844109,49652,98756,509

With regard to the estimation of populations for post-censal years
it was stated in the Registrar-General's Annual Report for 1911 (page
xii-) that, "it is hoped soon to introduce the use of methods for
estimating the population of the more important areas, calculated to
yield nearer approximations to the truth, than the simple uniform
formula now employed."
Experiment has now been made with a method based upon the
variations of births and deaths as well as population, and in the case of
the Metropolitan Borough of Deptford, this method gives an estimated
population of 115,841 in the middle of 1913, as against 109,280,
estimated by the method in use at present.
In deciding that the latter method is the correct one as far as
Deptford is concerned, I have taken into consideration the fact that
the Borough is practically all Luilt upon with the exception of permanent
open spaces. I have also considered the returns of the rate
books, the demolition of certain old property, the lessening of overcrowding,
and the letting of two-room tenements, instead of one,
especially in the East Ward.
Back-to-Back Houses.
There are very few houses of this class in the district and
practically no houses built in courts.
Site, Sub-Soil and Drainage of Deptford.
The physical features and character of the Borough are better
described by considering the whole of London, but generally speaking
we may say that the town is situated on one side of a long ridge,