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 1958
[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 313
Estimate midyear,
90,330
| Population—Mid-Year. | New Houses Erected. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1931 (Census) | 33,150 | 1946 | 82 | +64 rebuilt |
| 1935 | 59,970 | 1947 | 19 | +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 | |
| 1956 | 89,300 | 1956 | 423 | |
| 1957 | 90,020 | 1957 | 384 | |
Number of inhabited houses at end of 1958
(according to Rate Books) approximately 28.200
Rateable Value £1,250,804
Sum represented by a penny rate £5,100
Unemployment. Men Women Boys Girls Total
December 31st, 1957 192 68 10 6 276
December 31st, 1958 347 103 9 21 480
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, 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.
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