View report page

SECTION A
PHYSICAL FEATURES AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS
GENERAL:
Area of the Borough (acres) 587
Population 1961 census 32,989
Population Density 56
Rateable Value 31.3.61 £2,918,330
Product of a penny rate (1960/61) £11,595
General rate (1960/1961) 17/-
Finsbury, one of London's 28 Metropolitan Boroughs, is situated
in Central London.
The Borough as a whole is built up and congested and possesses
very few open spaces, all of which are small in size.
A large part of the Borough, particularly in the South East,
is essentially industrial and the day population of the Borough
has been estimated as between 150,000 and 200.000.
The industries accommodated are very varied and include,
besides the clock and watch trade which has been associated with
Clerkenwell for many years, the scientific and optical instrument
making, jewellery, printing and clothing trades.
The residential parts of the Borough are mainly working class
in character.
During the late war Finsbury suffered the loss of many
factories, warehouses and offices, especially in the Eastern
part of the Borough and there still exist many bombed sites.
Residential property also suffered considerable damage.
The rateable value has steadily increased since 1951 when it
was £956,228 consequent on rebuilding of war damaged properties
and devastated areas. A feature of post war development has been
the erection of large blocks of modern flats.
6