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1. STATISTICS & SOCIAL CONDI HONS
OF THE AREA.
General Information.
The Metropolitan Borough of Stepney is bounded on the
west side by the City of London, on the north by the
boroughs of Shoreditch and Bethnal Green, on the east by the
Borough of Poplar, and on the south by the River Thames, the
river front being some 2.39 miles in length. It is roughly
rectangular in shape, the length being 2.3 miles and the
breadth vaiying from 1 to 1-g- miles, and possesses approximately
90 miles of streets. The area of the Borough is 1902
acres, and of this the river accounts for 136 acres and the
inland water, consisting of docks and canals, 75 acres.
Dark blue London clay is found under the whole Borough
at a depth of between 20 and 30 feet frcm the surface.
Above this level are layers and patches of gravel and sand,
brown and yellow clays being found nearer the surface. In
sane parts of the borough are layers of "made" ground, the
result of earlier habitation, and, as is to be expected, the
flow of sub-soil watei? is towards the river.
The area is to a large extent industrial in character,
factory pranises being spread throughout the borough but.
tending to be concentrated towards the western end, with
docks and wharves stretching along the whole of the river
front, which foims the southern boundary.
The chief industry of the Borough is the manufacture of
clothing of all kinds, it being estimated that a third of
the tailoring industiy of London is carried on in Stepney.
Other major industries include brewing, cigarette making,
engineering and the manufacture of furniture.
Among the interesting industries situated in the
Borough are the Manufacture of coinage at the Royal Mint
and at Rothschild's Hint, and a bell foundry in White chap,al
established in 1570, where were cast many famous bells,
including Big Ben.
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