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1. STATISTICS AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS OF THE AREA
The borough of Tower Hamlets is bounded on the west side by the City of London,
on the east by the Borough of Newham on the north by the Borough of Hackney and on
the south by the River Thames. The river boundary is some seven miles in length along
which exist numerous wharves engaged in trans-shipping activities. The area of
the borough is 4,876 acres, being approximately four miles long and four miles wide
at the most distant points. Mileage of roads covered is 178.5. Some 266 acres cover
canals and enclosed docks including the East and West India Docks, and the Millwall
Docks
The predominant geological stratum of the Borough is dark blue London clay found
at a depth of between 20 - 30 feet from the surface, above this level are layers and
patches of gravel and sand with brown and yellow clays found nearer the surface. In
some parts of the borough there are layers of 'made' ground, the result of earlier
habitation, and as is to be expected the flow of subsoil water is towards the river.
This area is to a large extent industrial in character, factory premisesbeing
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. Spitalfields who1esa1e fruitand
vegetable market and the London Fruit Exchange a re situated in the borough, and there
are many wholesal e food depots from which goods are distributed throughout the count ry.
Notable landmarks in the borough include the Tower of London and the Royal Mint.
POPULATION
The Registrar General's estimated mid-year populationof the borough was 164,650,
a decrease of 17,610 from last year's figure. The decennial census of the population
was takenon25th April 1971. The census revealed the borough populat ion to be 164,948.
a reduction of 40,734 or 19.8% from the 1961 census. It is apparent that the estimated
population of the borough during the intercensal years is too great, with the result
that birth rates given in Annual Reports for those years were too low and the death
rates too high.
Live births exceeded deaths by 87 so that as the estimated population decrease
was 17,610 the net estimated movement of residents out of the borough would normally
amount to 17,697 persons.
The density of population is 33.77 persons per acre, a reduction of over 8 persons
per acre (19.5%) since 1965 In 1961 the density was 52.06 and 169.0 persons per acre
in 1901.
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