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5
Social Conditions including the Chief Industries
carried on in the Borough.
Camberwell is a district of South-east London and is one of
the largest of the Metropolitan Boroughs. In outline it is pearshaped,
its maximum length and breadth being 4¾ and 2½ miles
respectively and covers an area of 4,480 acres.
The southern part of the Borough is populated mainly by the
professional and clerical sections of the community, while in the
centre and northern districts the inhabitants are of the artisan
class. In these districts the industries of the Borough are concentrated,
viz., gas, engineering, printing, timber and laundry trades.
The principal industry in the area is the South Metropolitan Gas
Co.'s undertaking in Old Kent Road.
The largest open spaces are situated in that part of the Borough
south of Peckham Road, and in the more densely populated districts
in the north and north-west divisions there are comparatively few
small open spaces accessible to the inhabitants of these areas.
In recent years, the Council has been extremely active in
endeavouring to secure further open spaces in those parts of the
Borough where they are most needed, and in developing existing
parks, gardens and open spaces under their control.
Population.
The resident population of the Borough at the middle of 1937
was estimated by the Registrar-General to be 224,800 persons,
26,494 fewer than the number ascertained at the Census in 1931.