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The public were generally most appreciative of the service
rendered by the Council during this emergency.
ELTHAM CREMATORIUM
The new crematorium which was built in 1956 on land adjoining
Eltham Cemetery is administered by the Woolwich, Greenwich and North
West Kent Joint Crematorium Committee, comprising the Boroughs of
Woolwich, Greenwich, Bexley, Dart ford and Erith, and the Urban
Districts of Chislehurst and Sidcup, and Cray ford. Cremations from
other areas are also accepted. During 1958, 2,346 cremations took
place at this crematorium which was the busiest crematorium in the
South London Area. From the 15th August, 1956, when the crematorium
was opened, to the end of December, 1958, a total of 4,755 cremations
had taken place, receptions from each district being as follows:Woolwich
1,243; Greenwich 294; Chislehurst and Sidcup 480; Bexley
864; Dartford 291; Erith 283; Crayford 154; other areas 1,146.
In connection with cremations in this country, it is interesting
to note that of the total deaths in Great Britain the percentage of
persons cremated had risen from 3.5 per cent in 1939 to 30.5 per cent.
in l958.
BURIALS AND CREMATIONS
Arrangements were made by the Health Department during the year
for the burial of six persons who had died or Been found dead in the
Borough, in cases where it appeared that no other suitable arrangements
were being made for their burial. Four of the six persons were
elderly and in respect of whom a Government death grant was not
available. The Council - s expenses in this work during the year
amounted to £76, of which almost £46 was recovered from the estates
of deceased persons.
MORTUARY FACILITIES
The Council's Mortuary in Stanbury Street is old and is expected
to be demolished in the near future as part of the redevelopment
scheme for the St. Mary's Area. Following the concentration of
coroner's cases, the Borough Council made arrangements with the
Boroughs of Deptford and Lewisham for mortuary accommodation for
persons dying in the Borough.
HOUSING
REPAIRS
At the end of the year there were estimated to be 42,448 dwellings
in the Borough. The number of dwellings inspected for detects under
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