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3
SECTION A
SOCIAL CONDITIONS OF THE BOROUGH AND
STATISTICS
Hammersmith, the most westerly of the Metropolitan Boroughs,
although largely industrial in character can still boast of quiet spots
by the riverside; the waterfront between Chiswick Mall and Hammersmith
Bridge is an attraction at any time of the year. There
are the period places such as Kent House and Kelmscott House
that contrast strongly with the twentieth century dwellings. It is
a very far cry from the old coaching road to the Great West Road
as we know it today; with the Fly-over constructed by the most upto-date
methods now nearing completion. There are still hold-ups
on the Great West Road, but they are no longer the work of highwaymen,
but, of course, traffic congestion.
All those activities that are a part of modern urban life can
be found in Hammersmith, from the processing of raw materials
in factories to the retailing of the finished article in the very fine
shops in the Borough.
There is a variation of approximately 120 ft. in the elevation of
the Borough from the southern boundary at the River Thames to the
northern boundary. The highest point is at the junction of Scrubs
Lane and Harrow Road (133 ft. above Mean Sea Level at Newlyn,
Cornwall), and the lowest at points in the Lower and Upper Malls
(13 ft. above Mean Sea Level at Newlyn).
The sub-soil of the northern part of the Borough, i.e. north of
Uxbridge Road, mainly consists of clay, whilst in the south there
is a layer of some 20 ft. of gravel above blue clay, particularly in
the east, much of which was excavated for brick-making purposes
in the distant past.
The Borough has an estimated population for 1960 of 108,290
and an area of 2,282.5 acres, of which 286 acres are given over
to parks and open spaces. There are approximately 70 miles of
roads, most of which carry the very heavy traffic that is such a
feature of life today.
Apart from the residents, many people come to Hammersmith
for relaxation. The Boat Race was run for the 106th time in 1960
(Oxford won); athletics are to be found at the White City Stadium;
exhibitions of all kinds are held at Olympia. Excellent transport
services facilitate these events. The new B.B.C. Television Centre
in Wood Lane provides entertainment for millions.