View report page

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 hewham, 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 and 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 layersof 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 premises being
spread throughout the borougn 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 repairs. Tower Hamlets is also one of the most important wholesale
districts in London. Spitalfields 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 mid-year population of the borough was 159,200, a
decrease of 5,450 from last year's figure. The decennial census of the population taken
on 25th April 1971 revealed the borough population 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 was too great, with the result that birth rates
given in Annual neports for those years were too low and the death rates too high.
Deaths exceeded live births by 230 so that as the estimated population decrease was
5,450 the net estimated movement of residents out of the borough would normally arount
to 5,220 persons.
The density of population is 32.64 persons per acre, a reduction of over 9 persons
per acre (22%) since 1365.
FIFTY YEARS AGO
In 1922 the estimated population of the boroughs of Bethnal Green, Poplar and
Stepney, which now form the borough of Tower Hamlets, was 536,270. There were 13,400
births and 7,683 deaths.
Cases of infectious disease notified in Poplar and Stepney include 56 smallpox,
1,032 scurlet fever, 1,403 diphtheria and 918 pulmonary tuberculosis. There were 124
deaths from measles. 212 from whooping cough 142 from diphtheria and 509 from pulmonary
tuberculosis.
The Medical Officer of Health for Stepney stated that 15% of the population were
aliens and that in one ward of the borough the density of population was 258 persons
to the acre.
"7"