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7
REPORT
STATISTICS AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS OF THE
AREA
Area (in acres) 2,932 acres
Population, Census 1921 35,119
„ 1931 56,856
„ „ 1951 (32,384 M.; 34,885 F.) 67,269
Registrar-General's estimate of population mid-year,
1954 66,050
Density of Population, 1951 22.9 persons per acre
Number of inhabited houses, 1921 7,150
„ 1931 13,187
„ 1954 19,521
Rateable Value, 1954 £580,200
Sum represented by a Id. rate £2,371
The Borough of Mitcham is an irregular oval in shape, situated
in North-East Surrey adjoining the south-west border of the London
metropolitan area. It is a fairly flat and low lying area, with some
600 acres of open space including the 440 acres of Mitcham
Common.
The River Wandle, which forms the south-west and western
boundary, separates Mitcham from Beddington and Wallington in
the south and Carshalton in the west, as it runs a northwards course
towards the Thames.
The soil of Mitcham consists of up to four feet of top-soil with
about ten feet of gravel sub-soil, except for one or two parts where
London clay comes to the surface. Below the gravel London clay
extends downwards for 200 to 300 feet.
Mitcham, with over 300 factories, has a great variety of industries,
of which the chief ones are paint and varnish, chemical, engineering,
margarine and dairy products.
The unemployment position was one of continuing improvement,
the best months being as usual the late summer with a subsequent
increase of unemployment following the usual seasonal trend, but
finishing up with the best figures for the last five years.