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This area is to a large extent industrial in character, factory premises being spread
throughout the borough with light industry tending to concentrate in the western end and heavy
industry in the east
One of the chief industries of the borough is the manufacture of clothing of all kinds and
it is estimated that one third of the tailoring industry of London is carried on in this area.
Other major industries include-brewing, engineering, the manufacture of furniture and ship
repairing Tower Hamlets is also one of the most important wholesaling districts in London
Spitfclfields wholesale fruit and vegetable market and the London Fruit Exchange are situated
in the borough, and there are many wholesale food depots from which goods are distributed
throughout the country,
Notable landmarks in the borough include the Tower of London and the Royal Mint,
POPULATION
The Registrar-General s estimated m:d-year population of the borough was 188,080 a decrease
of 4,170 from last year's figure, This is a continuation of the downward trend which has occurred
since 1947 While the population of the Greater London area continued to decline, the South
East of England outside the London area increased by 148,000 (1.6%) the population has increased
in this area by over a third in 17 years.
Live births exceeded deaths by 297 so that as the estimated population decrease was 4,170 the
net estimated movement of residents out of the borough amounted to 4,467 persons:
The density of population is 38-57 persons per acre
FIFTY YEARS AGO
In 1919 the estimated population of the Boroughs o f Bethnal Green, Poplar and Stepney, which
now form the Borough of Tower Hamlets, was 502,642- The Medical Officer of Health of Stepney, in
referring to the estimate for his Borough, namely 242,202, stated that, in his opinion, the
figure was nearer 280,000 which he based on the number of ration books issued at the local food
office of which he was the Executive Officer In Poplar the live birth rate was 24.68, death
rate 14.4 and the infant mortality rate 83.05
Of the 7,022 cases of infectious disease notified in Poplar and Stepney, 1,358 were cases
of Scarlet Fever, 1,030 Diphtheria, 53 Enteric Fever, 1,293 Measles and two were of Smallpox.
Among the causes of death in these two Boroughs were 562 from Pulmonary Tuberculosis, 207 from
Summer Diarrhoea (in children under 1 year of age), 12 from Enteric Fever, 39 from Whooping
Cough, 81 from Diphtheria, 21 from Measles» 13 from Scarlet Fever, In Poplar there were 139
deaths from Influenza
It was reported to the Bethnal Green Council that a milk vendor,, charged with selling milk
containing 1616% added water, was sentenced to three months51 imprisonment after having had eight
previous convictions. There were 40 prosecutions for adulterated milk in Poplar and Stepney,
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