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10
Annual Report 1957
SECTION A:—STATISTICS AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS
OF THE AREA
A (1) Physical Situation and Amenities
Erith occupies a riparian position in north-west Kent,
being bounded on the north-east by the River Thames, to
which it has a frontage of about 4 miles: on the west by
the Metropolitan Borough of Woolwich and the Borough
of Bexley, and on the south by the Borough of Bexley and
the Urban District of Crayford. Shopping facilities are
advantageously situated, and a copious supply of pure water
is provided and maintained by the Metropolitan Water
Board. The chief industries are light engineering, edible oil
refining, manufacture of chemicals, coal shipping and lighterage,
production of stoneware drain pipes and asbestos
components. Manufacture of television and radio equipment,
and toys, are also well established industries.
Industrial expansion has continued throughout the year,
and by autumn, the all-concrete jetty which projects 550
feet into the River Thames was completed.
The construction of the new electricity generating
station has steadily progressed since 1954, and is expected
to be completed by 1961, although it is anticipated that the
plant will be producing 480 mega-watts for the national grid
by 1958.
The new Royal Alfred Seamen's Home at Belvedere is
now in course of erection, and completion is expected by
the end of 1958.
Lower Belvedere Re-development scheme is now visibly
expanding, many new buildings being erected in an area
which was made derelict by enemy action.
The long established method of loading Erith pit sand
for export at the Ballast Wharf by means of horse-drawn