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 1958
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Penge]
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| Area (Acres) | 770 |
| Population (Census 1931) | 27,771 |
| Population (Census 1951) | 25,012 |
| Home Population, Mid-year 1958 (estimated by Registrar General) | 25,620 |
| Rateable Value, 1st April, 1958 | £336,596 |
| Sum represented by Id. rate | £1,345 |
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 100 men and 15 women in the Penge area registered
as unemployed at the end of the year.
VITAL STATISTICS
| Live Births | 528 |
| Live birthrate per 1,000 population | 20.6 |
| Stillbirths | 14 |
| Stillbirth rate per 1,000 live and stillbirths | 25.8 |
| Total live and and still births | 542 |
| Infant deaths | 8 |
| Infant mortality rate per 1,000 live births | 15.15 |
| Infant mortality rate per 1,000 legitimate live births | 14.2 |
| Infant mortality rate per 1,000 illegitimate live births | 29.4 |
| Neo-Natal mortality rate per 1,000 live births | 15.15 |
| Illegitimate live births per cent of the total live births | 6.4% |
| Maternal deaths (including abortion) | Nil |
| Maternal mortality rate per 1,000 live and stillbirths | Nil |
Births
The live births registered during the year numbered 528 compared with
541 in 1957. This gives a crude live birth rate of 20.6 per 1,000 Home
Population compared with 21.1 for 1957.
The area comparability factor calculated by the Registrar General for the
purpose of securing comparability between local births is 0.90. This makes the
Adjusted Birth Rate 18.5 compared with 19.0 for 1957.