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SECTION A.
STATISTICS AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS OF THE AREA.
Area (in acres) 3,238
Number of inhabited houses according to
Rate Books 22,139
Rateable value at 31st December, 1952 £688,531
Sum represented by 1d. rate £2,805
The Urban District of Merton and Morden lies in the
valley of the Thames and is one of the areas of the so-called
Outer Ring; that is to say part of Greater London within the
Metropolitan police district, outside the Administrative County
of London and the City of London, and the area is drained by
the River Wandle, the Pyl and Beverley Brooks, tributaries of
the Thames. The district is generally flat and sheltered, the
whole lying between the 42-ft. and 141-ft. ordnance datum levels.
With the exception of a belt of sand or alluvium in the NorthEastern
part running through Merton Park, the rest of the
district has a subsoil of clay.
Merton and Morden is an industrial town. This fact has
been emphasised in previous reports as it is felt that its
dormitory reputation might obscure this fact. it is estimated
that 20,000 people are employed in industry in our area, and
this fact is impressed upon one by the huge crowds emerging
from the factory estate every evening holding up vehicular
traffic in the Morden Road.
Climatic Conditions. Rain gauges are installed at the
Joseph Hood Recreation Ground and West Barnes Pumping
Station.