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12
Physical Features and General Character of the Area.—The
Metropolitan Borough of Chelsea, situated near the centre of the Metropolis,
is bounded on the north by the Royal Borough of Kensington,
on the west by the Borough of Fulham, on the east by the City of Westminster,
and on the south by the River Thames. It is a small compact
borough, less than two miles in length, by about three-quarters of a
mile in width.
Over nearly the whole area the soil consists of gravel and sand, highly
permeable to water. In a small portion of the western side of the Borough
there is a thin loamy deposit of brick earth resting upon the gravel.
There is a narrow strip of alluvial deposit extending along the Embankment
from Battersea Bridge westwards.
The northern portion of the area is largely built over. The central
zone comprises a number of pleasant squares occupied by people in
affluent circumstances. The grounds of the Royal Hospital, with the
River Thames and Battersea Park beyond, render the southern zone
unusually open.
Social Conditions.—The density of population (number of persons
per acre) as shown by the 1931 Census, is 89.4, the corresponding figure
for London, as a whole, being 58.7. The density of population of each of
the five Wards in the Borough is as follows:—Church Ward, 111.0;
Stanley Ward, 123.7; Hans Town Ward, 78.6; Cheyne Ward, 76.4;
Royal Hospital Ward, 49.9.
Analysis of the 1931 Census figures shows that there is a greater proportion
of unoccupied and retired persons in Chelsea than in any other
Metropolitan borough. There is, however, a considerable "working
class" population. Thus, of a total of 19,600 adult males, about 16,750
are occupied. The chief occupations are transport work (2,704), personal
service (2,224), metal work (1,036), and clerical work (1,260). Over
one half of the 30,800 adult females are occupied. Of these, domestic
servants account for 8,746, dressmakers number 1,243, shop assistants
1,090, and clerks 1,471.
There are no dangerous or offensive trades carried on in the Borough.
There is no evidence that any of the occupations of the inhabitants
exerts a deleterious influence on the public health.
VITAL STATISTICS.
In accordance with the requirements of the Ministry of Health, the
following extracts from the Vital Statistics of the year are shown below :—