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County Borough of West Ham
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH
FOR THE YEAR 1923.
Physical Features and General Character of
the District.
West Ham is situated in latitude 51° 30' to 51° 33' N. and
longitude 0° 1' to 0° 3' E., in the extreme south-west of the
County of Essex and on the eastern side of the administrative
County of London, from which it is separated by the windings
of the River Lee and Bow Creek for 3½ miles.
In shape it is an irregular rhomboid, some 2 miles from
east to west, and 4 miles from north to south, comprising
within its boundaries 4,706 acres. The northern and eastern
sides of the Borough are contiguous to the populated district
of Leyton and the County Borough of East Ham respectively.
The southern boundary is formed by the river Thames for 2 1/8
miles. In elevation it is almost flat, varying from less than 5 feet
to 45 feet above ordnance datum, about half the area being not
more than 10 feet above that level, and consequently protected
only from serious flooding by the river banks.
Chalk may be reached at depths varying from 100 to 150
feet, overlaid by green Thariet sands and Woolwich beds, on
which rests 5 to 50 feet of London clay. In the north-eastern
half of the Borough 16 feet to 20 feet of river drift gravel
overlays the London clay, sloping down towards the river Lee
and river Thames in the marshy clay and alluvium, a large part
of the surface being made ground.
Considerable excavations of the gravel have been removed
m patches in connection with the erection of buildings and
cellars, not approved by the Local Board, constructed which in
times of storm are liable to temporary flooding.