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Social Conditions.
The above figures reflect movements of the population
associated with air raids except the first evacuation
of September, 1939. They also shew the amount of
housing accommodation available.
Because of Bexley's position sleeping in public shelters
was fairly extensive in the winter 1939/40 and 1944
/45 (probably 5,000 people nightly at a maximum) but
with almost eveiy house having its own garden, sleeping
in Anderson shelters was more the rule. There is no
evidence that general health suffered. With food shortages
there was a well developed scheme for allotment
holders and there is no doubt that in common with the
rest of the country more fresh vegetables were consumed
in the war years than previously.
The Council sponsored the Holidays-at-Home
Scheme from 1942 and a full use was made of the amenities
especially those provided in the Parks.
Scabies was to be more frequently found from 1940
and whether its increased existence was due to the
greater communal life developed in war time or whether
due to a phase in the cycle of this disease is not clear.
Scabies has shewn no tendency to decrease during the
years under review.
In 1943 overcrowding began, not on the standards
of the Housing Act, but chiefly in two or more families
sharing accommodation often for convenience, because
of absence of husbands in the Forces or a tendency to
move out from Central London.
Bexlev's population is young, there was relatively a
higher proportion of husbands and young women in the
Forces. The increase in the number of tuberculosis
people on the Register is associated with the youth of
the population and a high proportion of the population
who stayed at home working long hours in factories and
offices to and from which a moderately long journey had
to be made daily.
Bexley's social conditions during the war can be
appreciated from the following summing up of its
position and population. It was almost at the termindus
of ' bomb alley,' its population had increased at the
quickest rate from 1931 to 1939 of any population in
England and Wales and comparable with the growth
of Dagenham in the preceding decennial census period.
It has the highest proportion of young married people
in Kent. It is a modern working class dormitory
Borough..
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