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conversion of many of the larger older houses into conmfortable selfcontained
flats in buildings with wide frontages in well laid out treelined
streets in the greater part of the North of the borough.
There are thirteen Railway Stations within the borough, giving
fast and frequent electric trains to the City and West End termini,
and to intermediate Stations over a wide area of South and South
East London. It is eight miles from the City.
The population has grown from 26,330 in 1901 to 74,834 in the
1951 Census (Estimated population in June 1958 was 75,380)—Male
34,102, Female 40,732. The Registrar General estimated the population
of the West Wickham area in 1955 as 20,600.
The water supply of Beckenham on the Western side of the
boundary comes from the Thames through the Southern area of the
Metropolitan Water Board. The remainder of the district is in the
Kent area. West Wickham obtains most of its water from its own Well
in Addington Road. The rest of Beckenham including Shortlands and
Elmers End, is supplied from the Wells in Valley Road, Shortlands,
which are 250 feet deep.
Beckenham contains two well-defined Industrial Areas—one at
Elmers End, and the other at Lower Sydenham. These factory premises
provide employment for some 7,000 persons.
The main light industries are concerned with the production of
vaccines, and other biological products, precision electrical instruments
(including instruments for remote control, vibration measurement,
transmission of charts and pictures by wire, small electric motors (for
vehicles, heating, ventilation, dairy and dental equipment, compressors,
pumps, refrigerators, machine tools) cellulose lacquers, typewriter
ribbons and carbons, loose-leaf systems, stationery and binding,
enamel goods and signs, elevators and conveyors), glues and adhesives,
telecommunication equipment.
There is a total of approximately 700 shops which are largely
situated along four main roads in the borough.
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