London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London

Kensington 1927

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington]

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4
In regard to the social status of the population, it may be said that the majority of the
inhabitants in North Kensington belong to the poor class, whilst in South Kensington persons of
that class constitute only a small proportion of the population.
The Borough is peculiar in that there is no one occupation which absorbs a very large proportion
of the male workers as is commonly found in many of the industrial areas.

Table: MARRIAGES.During the year, 1,921 marriages were registered, representing a rate of 21.7 per 1,000 of the population. The place of marriage is set out in the following table:—

MARRIAGES.

During the year, 1,921 marriages were registered, representing a rate of 21.7 per 1,000 of the population. The place of marriage is set out in the following table:—

Church of England876
Roman Catholic Church223
Nonconformist Church37
Jewish Church12
Register Office773
Total1,921

Table: BIRTHS.The number of births registered was 2,657, after correction for inward and outward transfers ; and the birth rate for the Borough was 15.0 per 1,000 population. Distributed according to sex and legitimacy the births were as follow:—

BIRTHS.

The number of births registered was 2,657, after correction for inward and outward transfers ; and the birth rate for the Borough was 15.0 per 1,000 population. Distributed according to sex and legitimacy the births were as follow:—

Male.Female.Total.
Legitimate1,2761,1812,457
Illegitimate10496200
Totals1,3801,2772,657

Table: Table showing the number of births and the birth rates in England and Wales, London Kensington and the various districts in the Borough in 1927, and the rates for the previous five years:—

Table showing the number of births and the birth rates in England and Wales, London Kensington and the various districts in the Borough in 1927, and the rates for the previous five years:—

District.1927.Birth-rates in previous years.
No. of Births.Birth-rate.1926.1925.1924.1923.1922.
England and Wales654,96916.717.818.318.819.720.6
London73,26316.117.118.018.720.221.0
The Borough2,65715.015.115.816.217.517.6
North Kensington1,85119.818.720.621.722.622.9
South Kensington6647.98.98.39.210.19.8
Wards.
St. Charles38215.618.418.820.521.423.6
Golborne62923.721.822.225.226.625.5
Norland50922.921.126.024.824.925.7
Pembridge33116.512.214.514.916.315.5
Holland20010.59.68.810.811.211.0
Earl's Court1256.910.78.29.910.410.6
Queen's Gate795.77.88.56.96.66.9
Redcliffe1638.39.29.29.712.311.0
Brompton977.75.96.37.58.78.4
Ward unknown142..................

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The effects of social status on the birth rate are illustrated by the fact that the rate for South
Kensington is usually less than half the rate for North Kensington, whilst in 1927 the birth rate
in each of the two Wards in which the poorest inhabitants of the Borough reside was more than
four times as great as the rate for the Ward of Queen's Gate in the South.