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17
A further influence on local industry was provided early in its
history by the siting close to Greenwich Palace of the Royal
Armoury By the reign of Henry VIII, russet steel suits of armour
from this armoury had already become renowned, and modern
metal products from Greenwich continue this distinction Indeed,
throughout its annals, the country has never demanded armaments
and accoutrements from Greenwich industry in vain Even records
covering the last war will clearly reveal the great contributions
made by these industries with special reference to PLUTO, FIDO
and the famous Mulberry harbour
The majority of the industries and sources of employment in
the Borough are to be found in close proximity to the River Thames
which forms the Borough boundary on the north side Chief among
these are large Cable and Engineering Works, Ship Repairing
Works, Gas Works, Soap and Candle Works, LTE Generating
Station and Carriage Repair Depot, The British Electricity
Authority's Works, Glass Bottle Works, Rope Works, Ship Propelling
Works, Merryweather's Works (Fire Engines), Cement and
Stone Works, Asbestos Works, Cold Meat Storage, Pressed Tool
Works, Constructional Engineering Works, Galvanising and Sheet
Metal Works, Brewery, Flour Mills, Aero Parts, Wireless and
Vehicle Parts and Tin Box Manufacturing Works
The numbers employed at 11 of the larger factories range
between 500 and 5,000 each, whilst 17 smaller works each employ
between 100 and 400
POPULATION
General—The Registrar General has submitted his estimate
of the population of Greenwich, computed at mid-year 1962, upon
which the statistics of this Report have been based The figure
returned is 84,730, indicating a decrease in the population of 510
since last year and a fall of 816 since the 1961 Census However,
the current figure shows an advance of 20,930 over that for 1945
Natural Increase—The natural increase for the year, ie excess
of births over deaths, was 382 compared with 371 for 1961