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
Bexley 1956
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Bexley]
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SECTION A.—STATISTICS AND SOCIAL
CONDITIONS OF THE BOROUGH.
Area.
4,869 acres.
Population. New Dwellings Erected.
Registrar General's Houses 423
Estimate midyear,
89,300.
| Population—Mid-Year. | New Houses Erected. | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1931 (Census) | 33,150 | 1946 | 82+ 64 rebuilt |
| 1935 | 59,970 | 1947 | 199+ 216 rebuilt |
| 1940 | 77,670 | 1948 | 334+ 286 rebuilt |
| 1945 | 75,040 | 1949 | 138+ 73 rebuilt |
| 1950 | 89,410 | 1950 | 102+ 15 rebuilt |
| 1951 (Census) | 88,420 | 1951 | 319 |
| 1952 | 88,160 | 1952 | 355 |
| 1953 | 87,990 | 1953 | 265 |
| 1954 | 88,180 | 1954 | 503 |
| 1955 | 88,780 | 1955 | 529 |
Number of inhabited houses at end of 1956
(according to Rate Books) approximately 27,469
Rateable Value £1,250,166
Sum represented by a penny rate £5,080
Unemployment. Men Women Boys Girls Total
December 31st, 1955 120 86 13 9 228
December, 31st 1956 172 85 10 7 274
Social Conditions and Amenities.
The Borough of Bexley continues to be a healthy
residential district and is specially favoured in that it has
ample open spaces and recreational facilities for its
inhabitants. Like other districts, however, that suffered
severe bombing during the war, and whose population has
increased considerably, housing shortages, at present, constitute
the main barrier to the health of a relatively large
number of its citizens. The housing programme has been
accelerated as much as possible and it can only be hoped
that the housing position of the Borough will gradually
reach the optimum standards for which the Council are
striving.