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66
41 in Brompton. In 1880 it was 73 to an acre, whole parish, 79
in the Town sub-district, and 60 in Brompton. There is an
apparent discrepancy between the Census return and the rate
books as to the number of inhabited houses. In 1871 the Census
return gave the number of inhabited houses as 15,712, the rate
books' total being 15,181; the explanation of the difference being
that only rated properties are recognized in the rate books as
"inhabited dwellings," whereas the registrars properly include
under that description any house containing inhabitants, e.g.,
houses unlet, but occupied by caretakers, &c. In 1881 the Census
return of inhabited houses is only 20,103, whereas the rate books
give the number as 20,679. Thus in 1871, the rate books showed
531 fewer inhabited houses than the Census return, whereas in
1881 they show 576 more, so that comparing the figures of the
two Censuses the rate books appear to have gained on the
registrar's returns by no fewer than 1,107 entries.
I am not sure that I can quite explain this discrepancy. It
appears however, that the registrars count as a house such a
building, e.g., as the model lodging houses in the Mall, Notting Hill,
which are rated as 48 houses; and as seven houses the extensive
buildings in seven blocks, known as "Campden Houses" in Peel
Street, Campden Hill, which are rated as 133 houses. There are
some large houses let out in "flats" in the Brompton district also,
and separately rated. But these buildings and flats account for a
difference of only about 220 in the number of "houses." I am not
able to state how many "empty" houses contained inhabitants as
"caretakers." It is supposed that the balance is to be accounted
for by the alteration in the mode of rating properties, rendered
necessary by the Act for the Quinquennial Valuation of the Metropolis,
many properties, stables and others, that were formerly rated
in combination with houses, etc., being now separately assessed.
The Metropolis Local Management Act, which brought your
Vestry into existence, came into operation on the 1st of January,
1856, or, twenty-five years ago. The subjoined figures, therefore,
showing the growth of the Parish in the quarter-centuxy, may not
be without interest at the present time.