View report page

NATURAL AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS OF THE AREA.
The Borough of Camberwell comprises the Parliamentary
Divisions of North-West Camberwell, North Camberwell, Peckham
and Dulwich, and has a total area of 4,480 acres. Its
greatest length is 4¾ miles, the greatest breadth 2½ miles, and
the highest point is 365 feet above the Ordnance datum—Crystal
Palace Parade. The total length of the roads in the Borough,
comprising public, private and boundary roads, is 139 miles.
The physical characteristics of the Borough may be marked
out by a line drawn from. Kennington Gate to New Cross Gate.
On the north side of this line the area is low-lying, whilst on the
south side the ground rises gradually until the hilly ground at
the Crystal Palace, the southernmost point in the Borough, is
reached.
London clay forms for the most part the sub-soil of the
Borough. It is of an uniform mineral structure, bluish grey in
colour, except near the surface, where it is brown. In the lowlying
parts of the Borough, however, it is hidden by gravel, and
can only be seen by excavation.
A bed of pure white sand is to be found in various parts of
Peckham and Camberwell.
Occupations of the Inhabitants.
The following particulars as to the chief occupations of the
residents of Camberwell are taken from the Census Returns for
1921:—
Males. Females.
Metalworkers 7,183 -
Electrical Apparatus Makers and Fitters 1 252 —
Workers in Skins and Leather 963 -
Textile Goods and Articles of Dress 1,611 5,703
Foods, Drinks, Tobacco 1,745 1,108
Workers in Wood and Furniture 3,869 —
Makers of and Workers in Paper, Printers,
Bookbinders, etc 4,296 2,383
Builders and Bricklayers, Stone and Slate
Workers 3,321 —
Painters and Decorators 2,482 —
Persons employed in Transport and Communications
14,442 —
Commercial ami Finance and Insurance (excluding
Clerks 9,946 5,515
Public Administration and Defence (excluding
Professional Men and Typists) 3,561 1,039
Professional Occupations (excluding Clerical
Staff) 2,112 2,334
Persons in Personal Service (including Clubs
and Institutions) 3,159 11,467
Clerks and Draughtsmen (not Civil Service or
Local Authority Typists) 7,853 6,457
"Warehousemen, Storekeepers and Packers 3,318 1,680
Other and Undefined Workers 6,540 —
Retired, not gainfully occupied 12,748 71,434