London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Woolwich 1901

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Woolwich]

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2. There is an excess of 5000 males over females in the
Borough; the excess is mainly in Woolwich parish, and
doubtless represents roughly the number of unmarried soldiers
in the garrison. Eltham has an excess of nearly 900 females,
which doubtless represents largely domestic servants.
3. The largest ward is St. Nicholas with over 19000 persons,
the other wards averaging roughly 9000 (River ward 14,000).
4. The number of persons per house is 6.47 in the Borough,
7.65 in Woolwich parish, 6.05 in Plumstead and 5.34 in Eltham.
The number of persons per house in Plumstead was slightly
higher in 1896, viz, 6'14, and in 1891, 6.07.
5. From a table in the Registrar General's report on the
census it appears that the excess of males in the population is
almost confined to the age period between 15 and 45 years.
This being a period of life which has naturally a low mortality,
the excess is favourable to a low death rate. This is only the
case in regard to Woolwich parish, for which, the M.O.H. of
the London County Council, in order to get a corrected death
rate, was in the habit of multiplying the ordinary nett death
rate by 1.12713, as compared with London 1.06626, and England
and Wales 1.00000. Taking the Borough as a whole,
however, compared with London the excess of young males is
more than balanced by the fewness of domestic servants.
The population of Plumstead is, as regards age distribution,
a normal one, and requires practically no correction.
Further particulars as to the recent census are given in
appendices, see report to Housing of the Working Class Committee
on Overcrowding, and Summary of Census returns.
The population estimated to the middle of 1901, is
Woolwich Parish 41621
Plumstead Parish 68829
Eltham Parish 7902