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thereby arising and in this respect over 3,000 units of accommodation
were so acquired.
Following the war, the respective local authorities immediately
proceeded to plan and organise housing programmes to meet residents'
needs, and, as first priority, arranged for the erection in the
Borough of 1,801 Emergency Factory Made Bungalows (later to
become known as pre-'fabs'). Meanwhile, traditional building began
and continued apace and work on the completion of 2 pre-war
estates was commenced in December, 1945, in accordance with
modernised plans. By the end of 1947, 112 flats and 48 houses had
been erected and occupied at Cherry Orchard and the construction
of a further 24 houses at Marlborough Lane and 24 old people's flats
at East Mascalls was well under way. Other schemes, including the
Coldharbour Estate which was begun in the same year, were advancing
rapidly and Borough residents were reaping the rewards of the
foresight shown by the authorities. Substantial support to these
efforts was forthcoming from the London County Council which was
developing estates in this area. In April, 1965, at the inauguration
of the new Borough, nearly 15,500 dwellings of all types came into
the control of the Council.
Supplies of building land which, until recently, had been fairly
readily available especially in the Woolwich area, became exhausted
and, with the exception of the Plumstead Marshes Scheme (a project
being actively pursued by the Greater London Council for the
accommodation of 60,000 persons over a period of 15 years), new
housing can come only from clearance of sub-standard houses and
redevelopment in areas similar to those at St. Mary's, Glyndon,
Lewisham Road, Maryon Road, etc.
Housing in the Borough is provided not only by the Council,
the G.L.C. and private enterprise but also by a number of other
agencies which serve special classes of citizens, i.e. the aged, widows,
elderly spinsters, and widowers, etc. Organisations such as the Greenwich
Housing Society provide assistance in the housing of elderly
people not likely to qualify for such help from the local authority
and over 200 units of accommodation for aged persons are furnished
by ten groups of almshouses one of which was founded as early as
1558, being the first public charity to be established after the reformation.
Although the future housing problem is monumental there is
no doubt that it will be tackled by the Council in a manner as firm
and resolute as has been demonstrated in previous years.
Providing for the needs of Borough residents there are, at the
present time, more than 2,000 shops, generally of the smaller kind,
many being of the old-fashioned 'shop on the corner' type selling a