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

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Bermondsey 1915

Report on the sanitary condition of the Borough of Bermondsey for the year 1915

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TABLE A—BIRTH-RATES.

Year.Bermondsey.Rotherhithe.St. Olave.Whole Borough.London.
190535·3529·5330·6433·327·1
190632·8328·4831·0831·426·5
190732·7629·0628·4531·425·6
190833·5329·0232·5832·125·2
190933·6528·0232·9931·924·2
191032·7327·2735·5331·323·6
191130·7930·4328·4830·524·8
191230·4830·6527·0830·324·5
191331·1431·1526·1030·824·5
191430·629·928·230·224·3
Average for years 1905-191432·3829·3530·1131·325·1
191529·830·723·629·622·6

From this table it will be seen that there is a decrease in the
birth-rate for the Borough, which is shared by Bermondsey and St.
Olave.
Marriages.
The total number of marriages in the Borough in 1915 was 1,714,
being 478 above the number for 1914, and 577 above the average
for the last 10 years.
This increase in the number of marriages during 1915 is very
remarkable, and is probably due, first, to the greatly increased
prosperity of the working classes owing to the large number of War
Office contracts being done in or within easy reach of the Borough;
second, to the separation allowances in the Army, many young men
who were hesitating about getting married did so on being accepted
in the Army, so that their wives might get their separation allowances;
and, lastly, there may be a certain amount of sentiment
about girls marrying soldiers.
In Table VIII. of the Appendix will be found particulars of
numbers and rates in the three Registration Sub-districts. The
numbers have been supplied by the Superintendent Registrar.