View report page

11
Twenty-sixth Annual Report
on the
Health of the Metropolitan Borough of Woolwich
Year Ending 31st December, 1926.
Section 1.—Natural and Social
Conditions of the Area.
Social Conditions. Woolwich may be described as one
of the surburban working-class metropolitan boroughs. Much
of it is open space. In the parish of Woolwich the number
of persons per acre is 32; in Plumstead, 22; in Eltham, 8,
and in the Borough 17, compared with a London average of
60. The chief occupations of the inhabitants were set out
in detail on page 17 of my Annual report for the year 1925,
and it is unnecessary to repeat them this year.
Area. The Metropolitan Borough of Woolwich includes
the three Civil Parishes of Woolwich, Plumstead, and
Eltham. The area of the Borough, including land and
enclosed water, is 8,282 statute acres. The area of Woolwich
parish is 1,135 acres, Plumstead parish, 3,387 acres, and
Eltham parish, 3,760 acres. In addition to this, the area
covered by the river Thames amounts to approximately 645
acres.
Population. The civilian population of the Borough is
estimated by the Begistrar General to be 141,900, and the
total population 146,200. On these figures the nett increase
since 1921 amongst the civilian population is 5,593. I think
these figures are under-estimated, for more than one reason.
In the first place the natural increase in the population (i.e.,
the excess of births over deaths) since the time of the Census
to the middle of 1926 was 6,236. In the second place much
building is going on in Eltham and in East Plumstead, and