London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Deptford 1938
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Deptford Borough]
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The permanent open spaces are as follows:—
| Situation. | Size. | Maintained by. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Deptford Park | Evelyn Street | 22 acres | L.C.C. |
| 2. Ravensbourne Recreation Ground. | Brookmill Road | 1¼ acres | Borough Council. |
| 3. Telegraph Hill Recreation Ground. | Telegraph Hill | 45½ acres | L.C.C. |
| 4. Railways and adjoining land | 234 acres | ||
| 5. Millwall Football Ground | 5½ acres | ||
| 6. Canals | 8 acres | ||
| 7. St. Paul's Churchyard | 2·2 acres | ||
| 8. Reservoir | 1 acre | ||
| 9. Municipal Playing Fields | Deptford Bridge | 4½ acres | Borough Council. |
| 10. St. Paul's Playground | 0·50 acres | „ | |
| 11. Lewisham High Road Gardens | ·88 acre | „ |
At the end of the year consideration was being given by the Council
to the securing of the tenancy of approximately two acre's of land
adjacent to the Ravensbourne Recreation Ground for the purpose of
an Open Space.
| Area | 1,564 acres |
| Population: Census 1931 | 106,891 |
| Registrar-General's Estimated Resident population, 1938 | 95,460 |
| Number of inhabited houses according to the Rate books (end of 1938) | 18,300 |
| Number of families or separate occupiers (1931) | 29,248 |
| Number of structurally separate dwellings (Housing Survey, 1935) | 18,572 |
| Rateable Value, April 1938 | £667,824 |
| Estimated sum represented by a 1d. Rate (1937/8) | £2,701 |
Social Conditions and Chief Occupations of the Population.
Deptford, although in parts inhabited by persons financially comfortably
situated, is essentially an industrial and working-class borough.
Unemployment and under employment is common and the standard of
life for many is, consequently, far below that which one would like to
see.
The following figures have been kindly supplied to me by the Manager of the Deptford Labour Exchange:—
| Number registered as Unemployed:— | ||
| 17th Oct., 1938 | Males, 2,185 | Females, 816 |