View report page

I. STATISTICS AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS
OF THE AREA
General Information.
The Metropolitan Borough of Stepney is bounded on the west side by
the City of London, on the east by the Borough of Poplar, on the north
by the Boroughs of Shoreditch and Bethnal Green 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
varying from 1 to 1½ miles, and contains approximately 90 miles of streets.
The area of the Borough is 1,902 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 from the surface. Above this level are layers and
patches of gravel and sand, brown and yellow clays being found nearer the
surface. In some parts of the Borough there are layers of "made" ground,
the result of earlier habitation, and, as is to be expected, the flow of
subsoil water is towards the river.
The area is to a large extent industrial in character, factory premises
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 forms the southern boundary.
The chief industry of the Borough is the manufacture of clothing of
all kinds, and it is estimated that one-third of the tailoring industry
of London is carried on in Stepney. Other major industries include brewing,
cigarette making, engineering and the manufacture of furniture. Stepney
is also one of the most important wholesaling districts in London. The
Spitalfields wholesale fruit and vegetable market and the London Fruit
Exchange are situated in the Borough. Other notable landmarks in the
Borough are the Tower of London and the Royal Mint.
Reduction in Wards and Membership of Council.
Following the making by the Secretary of State of The Stepney
(Councillors and Wards) Order, 1958, which came into operation on the day
of the ordinary election of members of the Council this year, membership
of the Council was reduced from 60 to 40 Councillors and from 10 to 6
Aldermen and the Wards and ward boundaries revised so that there are now
14 Wards as against 20 formerly.
Fifty Years Ago.
The Annual Report of the Medical Officer of Health for the year 1909
contains the following information.
The estimated population was 312,525, and the birth-rate was reported
to be30.4, the lowest then on record.
6