London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
London County Council 1894
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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had the effect of causing emigration from Bethnal.green into the adjoining districts, though some have
no doubt taken up their abode in other parts of the parish. As bearing upon this I would refer to Dr.
Bate's report for 1898, in which he states that the north sub.district, in which the Boundary.street area
is situated, had during this year lost 3,665 inhabitants, whereas in the south sub.district, in which
during the previous ten years the population had been diminishing, there had been an increase of 1,800
residents. I extract from this report the following figures as to the estimated population of each sub.
district, together with the population at the date of the last census.
North
South
East...
1891.
Census population.
J 892.
Estimated population,
1893.
Estimated population.
51,520
33,489
44,123
129,132
51,250
31,175
44,615
127,040
47,585
32,975
42,440
123,000
The density of the population in Bethnal.green, as shown by the average number of persons per acre, and the average number of persons to each inhabited house at different census periods, is as follows—
| Number of persons per acre. | Number of persons per inhabited house. | |
|---|---|---|
| 1861 | 139 | 7.1 |
| 1871 | 159 | 7.5 |
| 1881 | 168 | 7.6 |
| 1891 | 171 | 7.8 |
In registration London in 1891 there was an average of 56 persons to each acre, and 7.7 persons
to each inhabited house.
The character of the population residing in Bethnal.green will be seen from the following
statements showing—(1) the age distribution of the population, (2) the condition of the population as
to poverty, (3) the condition of the population as to habitations.
(1) The proportion of persons at various age groups, and of each sex compared with the conditions which obtain in London generally. This is obtained from the figures contained in the census report for 1891.
| All ages. | 0. | 5. | 10. | 15. | 20. | 25. | 35. | 45. | 55. | 65. | 75 and upwards. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bethnal.green— Males | 49 03 | 6.79 | 6.23 | 5.81 | 5.12 | 4.43 | 7.52 | 5.60 | 3.89 | 2.16 | 1.14 | .34 |
| Females | 50.97 | 7.15 | 6.27 | 5.62 | 5.22 | 4.73 | 7.39 | 5.78 | 406 | 2.56 | 1.56 | .63 |
| London— Males | 47.27 | 5.92 | 5.36 | 4.90 | 4.69 | 4.61 | 7.92 | 5.85 | 4 11 | 2.35 | 1.20 | .37 |
| Females | 52.73 | 5.99 | 5.42 | 4.99 | 5.21 | 5.56 | 911 | 6.49 | 4.64 | 2.92 | 1.72 | .69 |
According to these figures the population of Bethnal.green contains a relatively greater number
of males, as well as a larger proportion of young persons than that of London generally; the former
difference is probably in a large measure accounted for by the fact that the chief industry which now
prevails in the district of Bethnal.green, namely, furniture and cabinet.making, is one which gives
occupation largely to young adult males, while the high birth rate (which is referred to later) doubtless
explains to some extent the relative excess of persons in the earlier years of life, as compared with
London generally.
(2) The classification of the inhabitants into groups according to means, and position of heads of families. For this purpose I have taken the following figures from Mr. C. Booth's work on the " Life and Labour of the People in London " published in 1889—
| Very poor. | Poor. | Comfortable. | Well.to.do. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest class. | Casual earnings. | Irregular earnings. | Regular minimum. | Ordinary standard earnings. | Highly paid work. | Lower middle class. | Upper middle class. | |
| Bethnal.green | 1.17 per cent. | 15.99 per cent. | 12.57 per cent. | 14.87 per cent. | 39.86 per cent. | 11.32 per cent. | 2.96 per cent. | 1.26 per cent. |
| East London and Hackney | 1.23 per cent. | 11.22 per cent. | 8.33 per cent. | 14.46 per cent. | 42.28 per cent. | 13.60 per cent. | 3.86 per cent. | 5.02 per cent. |