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The governing body of the City of London, the Corporation of London, was originally constituted
the Sanitary Authority of the Port of London by Section 20 of the Public Health Act,
1872. The cost of administration was met from the Corporation's private funds for close on fifty
years, when it became rate (and grant) aided. By the Public Health (London) Act, 1936, the term
"Port Sanitary" was changed to "Port Health".
The limits of the Port Health District of the Port of London are still as originally defined by a
Treasury Minute dated 1st August, 1883.
They commence at high-water mark in the River Thames at Teddington Lock, in the County of
Surrey, and extend down both sides of the said River Thames to an imaginary straight line drawn
from the pilot mark at the entrance of Havengore Creek in the County of Essex, to the Land's
End at Warden Point, in the Isle of Sheppey, in the County of Kent, such point being the northwestern
limit of the Port of Faversham, and extend up and include both sides of the River Medway
to an imaginary straight line drawn from the south-east point of land westward of Coalmouth
Creek, thence across the said River Medway to the western-most point of the piece of land which
forms the eastern side of Stangate Creek, or, in other words, the north-west point of Fleet Marsh
and from thence in a southerly direction to Iwade Church in the said County of Kent, and thence
in a north easterly direction to Elmley Chapel in the said Isle of Sheppey, a supposed direct line
from Elmley Chapel to Iwade Church, being the western limit of the Port of Faversham, and the
said Port of London includes the Islands of Havengore Creek aforesaid, called Potton and Rushley
Islands, and so much of the said Creek and Watercourses as extends from it to the town of
Rochford, and also includes all other Islands, Rivers, Streams, Creeks, Waters, Watercourses,
Channels, Harbours, Docks and places within the before-mentioned limits contained.
The Port of London Authority with which the Port Health Authority works in close co-operation,
was established as the administrative body of the Port of London including the docks and tideway
of the River Thames, by Act of Parliament in 1909. The limits of its jurisdiction are about
the same as, but not quite so extensive as those of the Port Health Authority.