View report page

by 28 since last year, according to the Registrar-General's estimate.
By the method we have now used for some long period, and
which has as its basis the number of assessments per head of the
population as enumerated at the census of 1911, the number is
264,121, which is 46 less than last year. This last method of
calculation is obviously open to criticism because assessments do not
necessarily mean inhabited premises, and an excess of advertising
zeal may give us false impressions of an increase in population.
Nevertheless, when submitted to actual test, as it is in the census
year, this method has shown itself to be the more reliable. However,
if both these estimates be only approximately correct,
there must have been a great increase in the migration from the
Borough, for the records show an increase of births over deaths of
about 3,000.
Below is set out the population for the Borough and also for the
different registration sub-districts.
Population of Camberwell and Sub-Districts.
South
Camberwell.
North
Camberwell.
South
Peckham.
North
Peckham.
]
Borough.
St.
George's.
Dulwich.
As enumerated at
census 1896
253,076
7,519
90,286
88,242
67,029
As enumerated at
census 1901
259,339
10,247
90,465
93,038
65,589
As enumerated at
census 1911
261,328
14,974
45,036
64,379
43,221
47,753
45,965
As estimated to
middle of 1912
263,636
15,174
45,647
65,813
43,248
47,779
45,973
As estimated to
middle of 1913
264,167
15,456
45,772
65,794
43,303
47,886
45,956
As estimated to
middle of 1914
264,121
15,713
46,054
65,292
43,262
47,867
45,933
There are higher figures in both Dulwich and South Camberwell,
due no doubt to the fact that in those districts building has been
going on, and what was open land is now fast becoming a thickly
covered neighbourhood. Another factor, but which exerts a less
influence, is the conversion of the large houses, especially in the
neighbourhood of Denmark Hill, into boarding houses, and those
which are perhaps too small to be so treated are altered into flats.
In the other districts there is not so much scope for building; any
further increase in the population, apart from the greater number of
inmates to the houses, will probably result from the pulling down
of the houses with large gardens and the building of rows of
small houses in their stead.
Owing, however, to the difficulty of labour and prices of
materials, the change to any appreciable extent is not yet likely to
occur.