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SECTION A.—STATISTICS AND SOCIAL
CONDITIONS OF THE BOROUGH.
Area.
Owing to housing developments on the southern
boundary adjoining the Chislehurst and Sidcup Urban
District and on the northern boundary adjoining the Erith
Urban District, and consequent administrative difficulties
with relation to sewage, scavenging, refuse collection,
etc., and following an Inquiry held by the Kent
County Council, these boundaries were adjusted as from
the 1st April, 1937, resulting in a net gain of 8.3 acres,
bunging the area of the Borough to 4,867.3 acres.
Population. Houses
erected.
Registrar General's Estimate (30.6.37) 74,380 1,373
Mid vear.
1911 (Census)
1921 „
1931 „
1932 (R.G.'s Estimate)
1933
1934
1935
1936
16,000
21,510
33,150
37,610
44,860
52,030
59,970
69,247 (includes added
area)
1,082
1,165
2,514
3,832
2,412
2,034
Number of inhabited houses (end of 1937 according
to Rate Books) 21,572,
Rateable Value, £535,776.
Sum represented by a penny rate, £2,100.
Social Conditions.
The district is almost entirely residential in character,
and it can no longer be said that market gardening
is the chief industry in the district. The chief internal
industry is probably building, although there is evidence
that the peak in erection of new dwelling houses has
passed. Apart from the numbers employed in building,
market gardening, at portable building works, the local
brewery, a crisp potato manufactory, and a few smaller
workshops, practically the whole of the population is
engaged in the Metropolitan or other adjacent areas.
Many of the latter are employed in the Woolwich
Arsenal and other engineering works.
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