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THE BOROUGH
The Borough of Lewisham covers approximately 13.4 square miles, and is bounded
by the Boroughs of Greenwich, Bromley and Southwark and by the River Thames
on the north. Three rivers run through the area, the Ravensbourne, the Pool and the
Quaggy. The area consists of the low-lying Ravensbourne Valley running north to
south with high ground rising on either side to high points at Crystal Palace and
Sydenham standing at 250' above the Thames with Hilly Fields at 150' on the west
side, and Downham and Blackheath at 150' on the east side. The level of land drops
sharply to a basin of reclaimed marsh along the river at Deptford.
London clay is the prevalent surface soil, which overlays chalk in certain areas
such as St. John's and Blackheath. Below this lies Thanet Sand which overlays the
Woolwich beds of gravel and the Blackheath beds of gravel and sand.
Over one third of all the Borough's industries are concerned with some form of
engineering. Industry is concentrated mainly in Catford, Lewisham, Lee and Deptford.
The Borough is densely populated, but well provided with open spaces.
GENERAL PROVISION OF HEALTH SERVICES IN THE AREA
Hospitals
There are six hospitals within the area of the Borough, but many patients are
referred to others for various reasons. The following is a list of those to which the
majority of Borough patients normally attend:—
Lewisham, Lewisham High Street, S.E.I3 Lewisham Group Hospital Management Committee
Grove Park, Marvels Lane, S.E.12 „
Hither Green, Hither Green Lane, S.E.13 „
St. John's, Morden Hill, S.E.13 „
New Cross General, Avonley Road, S.E.14 Board of Governors of Guy's Hospital
Children's Hospital, Sydenham, S.E.26 Bromley Group Hospital Management Committee
Miller Wing, Greenwich High Road, S.E.10 Greenwich District Hospital,
St. Alfege's Wing, Vanbrugh Hill, S.E.10 Greenwich and Deptford Group Hospital
Management Committee
Brook General, Shooters Hill Road, S.E.18 Woolwich Group Hospital Management Committee
The London Teaching Hospitals
The Pyschiatric hospitals that serve this area are Bexley (Bexley Group Hospital
Management Committee), Cane Hill (Cane Hill Group Hospital Management
Committee) and Darenth Park (Darenth and Stone Group Hospital Management
Committee) which is the main centre for mental subnormality.
General Practitioners
There are 127 general practitioners serving patients in Lewisham. The numbers
serving broad areas of the Borough are:
Bellingham, Catford, Lewisham, Hither Green, 32
Sydenham, Forest Hill, Brockley, 44
Deptford 23
Blackheath, Lee, Grove Park, Downham, 28
Chest Clinics
Deptford Chest Clinic, Harton Street, S.E.8
Lewisham Chest Clinic, 1 Blagdon Road, S.E.13
Venereal Diseases Clinics
King's College Hospital, Denmark Hill, S.E.5
Miller General Wing, Greenwich District Hospital, S.E.10
St. John's Hospital, Morden Hill, S.E.13
Dreadnought Seamen's Hospital, Greenwich, S.E.10
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