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METROPOLITAN BOROUGH OF SOUTHWARK
PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT,
WALWORTH ROAD, S.E.17.
Telephone: RODNEY 5464
To The Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors
of the Metropolitan Borough of Southwark.
YOUR WORSHIP, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
I have the honour to present the Annual Report of the Medical
Officer of Health for the year 1961.
Social Conditions
The Metropolitan Borough of Southwark lies to the south of the
River Thames the mid-stream of which forms its northern boundary.
The Borough forms a boundary with Lambeth to the west, as far south
as Kennington Park, to the south with Camberwell, and to the east
with Bermondsey. The landward part of the Borough extends to 1,131
acres and is divided into ten Wards. The Elephant and Castle forms
a landmark, roughly dividing the borough into two. The portion of
the borough between the Elephant and the river is becoming increasingly
devoted to wharves, warehouses, diverse industry including food
factories, and the printing trade, and offices while the area south
and south-east of the Elephant is mainly residential in character.
The provision of office accommodation in the northern part of the
Borough continues a trend of commercialisation which was commented
upon sixty years ago by the Borough's first Medical Officer of Health
in his first annual report. The momentum of development has however
of late rapidly increased, not only in the north but also in the
southern part of the borough where the improved aesthetic effects
of the new and attractive housing estates which have been built both
by this Council and the London County Council, with their associated
open spaces become ever more apparent. The role of Southwark as a
religious centre is symbolised by the two fine cathedrals which it
contains. The historic and cultural aspects of the borough are well
known and the commercial and industrial importance of this central
London borough have continued to increase. The extensive redevelopment
which is taking place at the Elephant and Castle, the Brandon
Estate and elsewhere are already giving Southwark a new look. A
large modern office block already houses the Ministry of Transport,
and the Ministry of Health will in due course occupy newly constructed
offices at the Elephant and Castle.