London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Woolwich 1929
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Woolwich]
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According to the figures published in successive Annual Reports of the Medical Officer of Health, the burials in this Churchyard each year since 1894 have been as follows :—
| 1894—318 | 1903—115 | 1912—60 | 1921—24 |
| 1895—358 | 1904—123 | 1913—34 | 1922—33 |
| 1896—253 | 1905— 62 | 1914—51 | 1923—23 |
| 1897—177 | 1906— 60 | 1915—46 | 1924—27 |
| 1898—193 | 1907— 40 | 1916—38 | 1925—16 |
| 1899—149 | 1908— 22 | 1917—36 | 1926—15 |
| 1900—164 | 1909— 59 | 1918—32 | 1927— 8 |
| 1901—144 | 1910— 51 | 1919—37 | 1928— 8 |
| 1902—125 | 1911— 47 | 1920—41 | 1929— 9 |
In recent years the churchyard has assumed a very
forlorn appearance and has become a wilderness. Many
graves have sunk below the level of the surface of the land
and others are exposed by holes in the brickwork above the
ground. The graves are overcrowded and there is an entire
absence of order. Generally speaking, the condition is one
of dilapidation and neglect. There have been for some years
many complaints about the condition of the churchyard.
During the year the General Purposes Committee of the
Council asked the Town Clerk to initiate the necessary steps
for closing it. After considerable research and many consultations
and enquiries, the General Purposes Committee
reported as follows :—
" We have for some time had under consideration the
desirability of closing that portion of the above churchyard
which is at present used for burials, with a view to
the Council taking it over as an open space, and have been
in negotiation with the Vicar of Plumstead thereon.