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Statistics and Social Conditions of the Area.
West Ham is the eleventh largest of the 121 Great Towns of
England and Wales. It is situated geographically within the
County of Essex, and comprises an area of seven and a half
square miles. In elevation it is almost flat, varying from less
than 5ft. to 45ft. above ordnance datum.
The Charter of Incorporation was granted to West Ham
in 1686. (The jubilee is being celebrated this year, 1936).
It is bounded on the West by the Administrative County of
London, on the East by the County Borough of East Ham, on
the North by the Borough of Leyton, and on the South by the
River Thames. The River Lee forms a natural boundary between
West Ham and the Metropolis.
It is an industrial borough, but like similar boroughs, has
a large number of unemployed inhabitants. The insurable population
of the district is approximately 97,000 of which 12.6 were
unemployed (Men 16.2, Women 5.7, Juveniles 4.7) at the end of
December, 1935. The figure of 12.6 for West Ham is the second
highest for the Metropolitan and extra-Metropolitan districts.
Factories abound on the river frontages, West and South.
In the North there are extensive railway works, which give
employment to a large number of regular hands.
The Borough is only a short distance from the City of
London, and consequently a large proportion of the populace
follow their daily toil in London and district.
This year there has been no outstanding illness or sickness
calculated materially to affect the health of the people.
Summary of General Statistics.
Area (in acres), 4,706.
Population—
Census, 1931 — 294,278.
Estimated population to middle of 1935, 270,700.
Number of inhabited house, 49,588.
Number of families or separate occupiers (1931), 72,994.
Average Rateable Value—
General Rate, £1,503,284.
Sum represented by a Penny Rate—
General District Rate, £6,263.
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