Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Penge]
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The district is situated on the slope of a hill, its highest
point being 370 feet above sea level, and the lowest, 95 feet
above sea level.
The Crystal Palace and greater part of the grounds,
occupying approximately 127 acres, are within the District,
and provide a much needed " lung." About 20 acres of the
grounds are open to the public.
The district is mainly residential, the chief industries
being button-making, laundry work, dyeing and cleaning,
printing and knitted dress making. A large number of the
residents are engaged in business in London and a number are
employed in the building and allied trades.
The density of population per acre is 33-7, this being
the highest in the County of Kent.
The Manager of the Employment Exchange informs me
that there were 935 men and 96 women unemployed in the
Penge Urban District at the end of the year.
The Poor Law Relief given during the year amounted to
£19,984 14s. 7d., of which £7,173 lis. Id. was to able-bodied
unemployed and their families, and the balance to the unemployable
from age or other causes. This compares with an
amount of £16,146 2s. 1 Od., of which £6,431 13s. 8d. was to
able-bodied unemployed and their families, in the year 1934.
VITAL STATISTICS.
Total Male Female
Live Legitimate 365 194 171
Births Illegitimate 24 13 11
Birth Rate, per 1,000, of estimated resident population, 14.9.