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HEALTH REPORT FOR 1938.
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 Green Belt Scheme, which was inaugurated in 1937, has assisted
in the preservation of the rural portions, approximately one-fifth of
the Urban District being now reserved as permanent open spaces.
No large manufacturing concerns 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 more than
before the last, revision of boundaries in 1933.
The acreage of each Ward is:—
Coulsdon East 2,812
Coulsdon West 1,253
Kenley 1,292
Purley 685
Sanderstead 2,312
Selsdon and Farleigh 1,963
Woodcote 865
Twenty-three 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-1938 the Registrar-General
estimated the population to be 55,070, representing an increase of 1,150
in the last twelve months.
An unique opportunity occurred in September of checking the
reliability of the above estimate, and as eight years had elapsed since
the last Census it was interesting to determine its accuracy. The issue
of gas masks to civilians in the District necessitated a local census being
taken from which it was gathered that the population of the District
at that time was just under 59,000. It is probable therefore that in
mid-1938 the true population was a little more than 58,000.
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