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STATISTICS AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS
OF THE AREA
Area (in acres) 3,048
Population, Census, 1931 26,249
Registrar-General's estimate of resident population for 1948 32,800
Number of inhabited houses, 1931 7,092
Number of inhabited houses, 1948 9,626
Rateable Value, December, 1948 £400,045
Sum represented by penny rate, December, 1948 £1,630
The Urban District of Beddington and Wallington was constituted
in 1915 by an Order of the Surrey County Council, the area up to that
time being part of the Croydon Rural District.
By an Order in Council, dated 20th August, 1937, H.M. King George
VI granted a charter to Beddington and Wallington, which was presented
on the 15th September, 1937, by the Lord Lieutenant of the County of
Surrey.
The Borough is bounded on the east by the County Borough of
Croydon, to the north by the Borough of Mitcham, to the west by the
Carshalton Urban District and to the south by the Urban District of
Coulsdon and Purley.
Some of the Corporation's rehousing schemes reached fruition during
the year, and the number of inhabited houses increased during the year
from 9,036 to 9,626 (590). The average number of persons per house
was 3.4, and while overcrowding in many properties continues, the
Corporation has found it possible to abate the worst examples of overcrowding
which were noted in the report for the previous year.
It is gratifying to note that the average number of persons per house
shows a decrease of 0.2, being 3.4 for the year under review as compared
with 3.6 for 1947.
While the character of the Borough as a whole remains for the most
part residential and a dormitory, expansion of industry, which is concentrated
in the Northern area of the district, continues.
During the year it was found possible to improve many of the parks
and open spaces, which had shown signs of inevitable deterioration during
the war years. With this restoration, and the continued care and
cultivation of such areas, the inhabitants of the Borough show much
appreciation of these health-giving amenities.
The demand for open spaces for recreation by school children, youth
organisations and industrial recreational clubs is very great, and continues
to grow. The Borough is fortunate in being well provided to meet this
demand.
The Public Health Department continued to administer, as in previous
years, the swimming facilities provided by the Corporation, through the
courtesy of the London County Council, at the Beddington Orphanage
bath. Owing to the inclemency of the weather, the season was not so
successful in some ways as in 1947. However, the financial responsibility
incurred by the Corporation was well repaid in the expressions of appreciation
which came from all sections of the community, who had an
opportunity of availing themselves of this recreation.
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