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10
Physical Features and General Characteristics of the Area.—In the physical
configuration of the Borough the outstanding feature is Shooters Hill, which rises
over 400 feet above sea level. At a little lower level on the Woolwich and Plumstead
side there is the well.marked plateau of Woolwich and Plumstead Commons, due
to the erosion of local clay from off the pebble beds. Lower down still is the level
plain of the Thames. Southward, in Eltham and Lee, the land, after sloping
downward from Shooters Hill, rises slightly again in Eltham and then falls away
towards New Eltham and Lee, but rises again as it approaches Chislehurst. In
the main this area is composed of London clay although there is a considerable
amount of sand and gravel in Avery Hill Ward.
Population.—Ever since 1919 it has been the practice to rely on the Registrar
General's mid.year estimate of the population of the Borough for the purpose of
calculating the birth, death and other rates, but this year the Registrar General
has not supplied the estimated figure, presumably because an accurate figure will
be available as soon as the Census figures of 1931 are known. It has been accordingly
suggested that the population figures for 1929 should be used. It should be clearly
understood, however, that this is a purely arbitrary figure and must be treated as
such. It is the basis, however, upon which rates throughout the Metropolis and
Country generally will be calculated for the year, and is the only figure which can
be used safely for comparative purposes.
For many years the statistics of the Borough have been presented for the four
registration districts of Woolwich, West Plumstead, East Plumstead and Eltham,
and they are being continued in this form this year. When the report for 1931
comes to be issued I propose to give the figures in Wards. Accordingly, the
figures used throughout this report for calculating rates are as follows:—
TABLE No. 2.
Estimated Population.
Woolwich 29,440
West Plumstead 38,112
East Plumstead 34,204
Eltham 39,844
Sickness and Invalidity.—It is impossible to give any accurate information on
the amount of sickness in the Borough throughout the year, but so far as can be
ascertained there was no undue amount of sickness or invalidity during 1930.