London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Kensington 1889
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington]
This page requires JavaScript
The following Table, brought up to date, exhibits the growth of the Parish since the Metropolis Local Management Act came into operation in 1856 :—
| 1856. | 1889. | Gross Increase in 33 years. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estimated number of Inhabited Houses (as per rate books) | 7,600 | 21,700 | 14,100 |
| Population | 57,000 | 178,000 | 121,000 |
| Rateable Value of Property | £308,000 | £1,902,163 | £1,584,163 |
The increase in all respects within the last eighteen years, the period over which my official experience extends, is not inconsiderable, as the subjoined figures shew:—
| 1871. | 1889. | Increase in 18 years. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estimated number of Inhabited Houses (as per rate books) | 15,395 | 21,700 | 6,305 |
| Population | 121,000 | 178,000 | 57,000 |
| Rateable Value | £935,720 | £1,902,163 | £966,443 |
The above figures may well be said to speak for themselves :
nevertheless, attention may be called to the fact that in 33 years
the rateable value of property increased nearly seven-fold, and
that in the last 18 years the mere increase was treble the total in
1856. The population more than trebled, and the number of
inhabited houses increased nearly threefold, in 33 years. The
rateable value of the Parish is exceeded by that of the Cities
of London, Liverpool, Manchester and Bristol only. The population
of Kensington is to that of London about 1 to 24.4 and the
rateable value 1 to 16.4.