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
Penge 1956
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Penge]
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4
STATISTICS AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS OF THE AREA
Area (acres) 770
Population (Census 1931) 27,771
Population (Census 1951) 25,012
Home Population, Mid-year 1956 (estimated by Registrar General) 25,540
Rateable Value, 1st October, 1956 £351,579
Sum represented by Id. rate £1,380
The district, situated on the north-west border of Kent, and immediately
adjoining the Counties of London and Surrey, is on the slope of a hill, the
highest point being 370 feet above sea level, and the lowest 95 feet above
sea level.
The density of population per acre is 33, this being by far the highest in the
County of Kent. This results in there being very few open spaces in the district,
the largest one being the grounds of the old Crystal Palace, the majority of which
are in this area. This density of building has caused a shortage of space for school
playing fields for the schools of the district and pupils mainly have to go outside
the area for games.
The Manager of the Employment Exchange for the area informs me that
there were approximately 103 men and 55 women in the Penge area registered as
unemployed at the end of the year.
VITAL STATISTICS
Crude Live Birth Rate per 1,000 of estimated Home Population 19.38
Adjusted Live Birth Rate per 1,000 of estimated Home Population 17.44
Stillbirth Rate per 1,000 of estimated Home Population 0.39
Stillbirth Rate per 1,000 total (live and still births) 20.2
Crude Death Rate per 1,000 of estimated Home Population 11.6
Adjusted Death Rate per 1,000 of estimated Home Population 11.368
Death Rates of Infants under One Year of Age
All infants per 1,000 live births 18.18
Legitimate infants per 1,000 legitimate live births 16.2
Illegitimate infants per 1,000 illegitimate live births 2.02
Births
The live births registered during the year numbered 495 compared with
520 in 1955. This gives a crude live birth rate of 19.38 per 1,000 Home
Population compared with 20.41 for 1955.
The area comparability factor calculated by the Registrar General for the
purpose of securing comparability between local birth rates is 0.90. This makes
the Adjusted Birth Rate 17.44 compared with 18.37 in 1955.