Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Merton & Morden]
This page requires JavaScript
| Area (in acres) | 3,238 |
| Number of inhabited houses according to Rate Books | 22,454 |
| Rateable Value at 31st December, 1954 | £705,836 |
| Sum represented by Id. rate | £2,830 |
The Urban District of Merton and Morden dates from the
amalgamation of Merton with Morden in 1913. It 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, but outside the Administrative
County. The district is generally flat and sheltered, lying
between the 42ft. and 141ft. ordnance datum levels; it is
drained by the River Wandle, the Beverley and Pyl Brooks,
all tributaries of the Thames.
The area is both residential and industrial, the industrial
area comprising three main factory groups, the largest of
which is the Lombard Road Estate on the north-eastern boundary.
A large part of the residential property in the area is
owner-occupied, but the District Council has a pre-war housing
estate of about 500 houses and has built several large blocks
of flats to meet post-war housing needs. In addition, a considerable
part of Morden is formed of the London County
Council's St. Helier housing estate.
As regards open spaces, the district is indeed very
fortunate in having nearly 370 acres at its disposal.
Climatic Conditions. Rain gauges are installed at the
Joseph Hood Recreation Ground and West Barnes Pumping
Station.
The monthly recordings are as shown below:—
| MONTH | JOSEPH HOOD RECREATION GROUND | WEST BARNES PUMPING STATION | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inches | Days with 0.01 inch, or more | Days with 0.04 inch, or more | Inches | Days with 0.01 inch or more | Days with 0.04 inch, or more | |
| January | 1. 23 | 10 | 10 | 1.45 | 15 | 7 |
| February | 2.03 | 15 | 13 | 2.18 | 18 | 12 |
| March | 3.69 | 16 | 13 | 2.38 | 17 | 13 |
| April | 0.36 | 7 | 3 | 0.35 | 6 | 3 |
| May | 3.25 | 18 | 15 | 3.31 | 22 | 15 |
| June | 2.99 | 14 | 13 | 4.18 | 16 | 12 |
| July | 2.05 | 16 | 11 | 2.82 | 20 | 9 |
| August | 2.70 | 16 | 14 | 3.09 | 18 | 13 |
| September | 2.20 | 19 | 15 | 2.27 | 20 | 17 |
| October | 2.16 | 15 | 10 | 2.50 | 16 | 9 |
| November | 3.62 | 19 | 17 | 4.39 | 25 | 19 |
| December | 1.55 | 14 | 6 | 1.94 | 15 | 5 |
| TOTAL | 27.83 | 179 | 140 | 30.86 | 208 | 134 |