London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Marylebone 1907

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Marylebone, Metropolitan Borough]

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7
POPULATION, NEW BUILDINGS, ETC.
The estimated population of St. Marylebone to mid-year,
1908, is given by the Registrar-General as 126,867. This figure
shows a decrease on the census population of 1901 of 6,434; in
other words, the Registrar-General is of opinion that the population
is decreasing at the rate of nearly 1,000 per annum. I think this
figure should be accepted with some reserve, for although a considerable
number of dwelling houses are being converted into
business premises, thus decreasing the population actually living
in St. Marylebone, one must reckon with the fact that during
recent years a considerable number of small business premises
and small dwelling-houses have been demolished to give place to
large blocks of flats, artizans dwelling and more commodious
ordinary dwelling-houses. Information is being accumulated as
to the character of new buildings which are being erected in the
district, with a view of checking this estimate of population. For
some years, of course, this information will not be sufficiently
complete for deductions to be made from it.
Through the courtesy of the Town Clerk I am able to quote
the figures relating to the number of assessments in St. Marylebone
from 1891 to the present date. I reproduce also the
letter accompanying this statement as it throws light on some
causes of the variations.
Town Hall,
Marylebone Lane, W.
11th March, 1908.
Dear Sir,
I have now had extracted from the Rate Books the number
of assessments in the Borough for each year from 1891 to 1907
inclusive in conformity with the request contained in yours of
the 3rd instant. You will notice that there is an upward
tendency until the year 1901, when a drop occurs of 736 assessments,
this being attributable to the demolition of property
consequent upon the advent in the Borough of the Great Central
Railway. In 1907 the building known as Scott Ellis Gardens
was erected, which accounts for an increase of about 500
assessments.
I append hereto the number of assessments.
Yours faithfully,
J. WILSON,
Town Clerk.