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I. SATISTICS & SOCIAL CONDITION
OF THE AREA.
General Information.
Stepney is situated on the North bank of the Thames,
having a river frontage of 2.39 miles. It is roughly
rectangular in shape, its length being 2.3 miles and breadth
varying from 1 to miles, with 90 miles of streets. The
acreage is 1,902 of which the river accounts for 136 acres
and the inland Water, consisting of docks and canals, 75
acres. The height above sea level varies from 8ft. at the
dockside to 45ft. in the northern part of the Borough.
Under the whole of the Borough is the dark blue London
clay at a depth of between 20 and 30 feet from the surface.
Above this level are layers and patches of gravel and sand,
and nearer the surface brown and yellow clays. In some
parts of the Borough are layers of „made„ ground, the result
of earlier habitation. As is to be expected, the flow of
sub-soil water is towards the river.
The area is to a large extent industrial in character,
factory premises being spread throughout the Borough, but
concentrated somewhat towards the western end, apart from
the docks and wharves on the river frontage. The chief
industries carried on, besides those associated with docks
and wharves, are the manufacture of clothing of all kinds,
brewing, cigarette making, furniture and upholstery manufacture,
and motor vehicle repairs.
Open Spaces.
The first portion of the King George's Picking Fields was
opened during the year by H.R.H.The Duke of Edinburgh. The
part opened comprises 10 acres, and the ultimate area is to
be 65~2 acres, which will more than double the existing acreage
of open spaces in the Borough. A list of open spaces
is given on page 43.
Population.
The Registrar-General's mid-year estimate for 1952 is
99,000, which is 150 more than the mid-year estimate for 1951
ana 419 more than the census figure of that year.
The density of population is now 56.05 persons per acre.
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