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HEALTH REPORT FOR 1937.
The Urban District of Coulsdon and Purley was constituted by an
Order of the Local Government Board, dated the 1st November, 1914,
and came into existence on the 7th April, 1915.
Situated some 12-18 miles from the centre, and to the South of
London, on a portion of the North Downs, it is one of the most beautiful
districts within easy reach of London. Chiefly residential in character,
and with a population that has increased in a remarkable manner since
1921, it still contains large rural areas.
The inauguration of the Green Belt Scheme in October, 1937, by
the Lord Mayor of London was the consummation of years of endeavour
to reserve a large part of these areas, and approximately one-fifth of the
Urban District is now reserved as permanent open spaces.
No large manufacturing concern exist, the chief occupations being
building and the retailing of the necessities of life to the residents.
Unemployment is comparatively low, and in fact a steady influx of
labour from more distressed areas has taken place.
AREA AND POPULATION.
The District has an area of 11,182 acres, this being 2,547 acres
more than before the last revision of boundaries in 1933.
The acreage of each Ward is:—
Coulsdon East 2,812
Coulsdon West 1,253
Selsdon and Farleigh 1,963
Kenley 1,292
Sanderstead 2,312
Purley 685
Woodcote 865
Twenty-two years ago when the Urban District came into existence
the population was estimated to be 17,920, and this had increased to
21,493 by the time of the Census in 1921. By the Census of 1931 this
figure had become 37,666, while in mid-1937 the Registrar-General
estimated the population to be 53,920, this representing an increase
of 2,460 in the last twelve months. Only about 3,000 of this total can
be attributed to the area added in 1933, which is still chieflv rural.
The number of inmates in the Institutions in the District in 1937
was:—