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The altitude of the Borough varies from a few feet below high
water mark on the Marsh Area to 249 feet above sea level on the
Shooters Hill Road in the Charlton and Kidbrook area. It is
unfortunate that the more densely populated part is situated in the
lower portion of the Borough ; on the other hand we are fortunate
in having land available for building purposes in the higher and
more healthy area of Charlton and Kidbrooke, and it is in this
district that the future development of the Borough lies.
It may here be interesting to briefly record the changes that
have taken place during the last quarter of a century. Greenwich
at the beginning of the present century was a shipbuilding and
engineering centre giving employment to thousands of men. Competition
and inabihty to pay heavy rates and taxes has in many
cases been the cause of firms closing down or migrating. Included
in the former category were Messrs. Humphreys & Tennant. Deptford
Dry Docks, Thames Iron Works (John Penn's), Castle's Shipbreaking
Co., etc., whilst Messrs. Yarrows of world wide repute
removed their works to Scotland. Since the War the Foreign
Animals Wharf, commonly known as the Deptford Cattle Market,
has also ceased to function, being acquired by the Government for a
Supply Reserve Depot.
With the advance of time many of the old buildings and houses
in the Borough have been demolished and improvements effected.
Another feature which is making itself felt generally in the SouthEastern
district of London is the steady increase in factories and
commercial undertakings ; very often these premises have been
converted from dwelling houses with the consequent movement of
the population to districts further out.
The breaking up of large estates comprising houses and grounds
in the Westcombe Park area and the subsequent conversion into
flats and the utilisation of the spacious grounds for the erection of
houses of the villa type has been another feature.
Up to quite recently the Kidbrooke District has been regarded
as a rural area, but a gradual change is now taking place. The
Royal Air Force Depot and Wireless Station occupies a considerable
area, land formerly used for grazing purposes is now being utilised
for sports activities or is being built upon.