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7
PHYSICAL FEATURES OF BOROUGH AND EXTRACTS FROM VITAL
STATISTICS FOR THE YEAR 1959
The Borough of Fulharo lies in a loop of the River Thames which forms the whole of
its southern boundary and gives Fulham a very long riverside frontage. Its other
boundaries are formed by the Boroughs of Hammersmith in the west. Chelsea in the east,
and the Royal Borough of Kensington in the north. It is very flat and low lying
being only 12—13 ft. above sea level. The subsoil is of flood plain gravel overlying
London clay 20 to 40 ft. below. Subsoil water is rarely met within 15 ft. of the
ground surface.
Fulham is principally a dormitory Borough with a fringe of heavy industrial
undertakings on the riverside, and is well served with open spaces and parks which
have been added to by post-war development. The slum clearance and redevelopment
programmes are also having the dual effect of improving the standard of housing and
the appearance of the Borough.
Area of Borough 1706 acres
Separate Dwellings 29,604
Rateable Value £1,946,017
Rate levied - 17s. in the £ - Estimated Yield £1 611.600
A Penny Rate produces approximately £7 900
No. of assessments 33 556
No. of Marriages registered during the year 907
Population (estimated mid-1959) 113,300
The Registrar General' s estimate gives the mid-year population of the
Borough as 113,300 - a decrease compared with 1959 of 1,400. Ten years ago,
in 1949. the estimated population was 124,040 and, at that time, the population
was increasing.
The birth rate is 15.56 compared with 15.39 in 1958. Ten years ago the birth
rate was 21 46.
The infant mortality rate has risen to 21.46 compared with 18.13 in 1958, when
the lowest figure ever recorded in the Borough, i.e. 18.13, was recorded. The figure
for England and Wales in 1959 is 22.0.
The death rate in 1959 shows a slight increase compared with 1958 - being 12.06
as compared with 11.16. Heart disease continues to be the main "killer", with
cancer the next most important. This is dramatically shown in the diagram on
page ll, where it will be seen that heart disease and cancer together account for
nearly half the total number of deaths. With an ageing population, it is likely
that this proportion will increase in future years.