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30
excess in the wealthier districts of Dulwich and
Camberwell is to be explained by the relatively large
number of servants engaged therein. The next
point relates to the average number of persons per
house. If we look simply to the last column of the
table we might perhaps be disposed to assume
that there is little difference between the houses in
all parts of the parish in respect of the crowding of
their inmates, for in each district the average number
of occupants per house is a little over 6. It
might indeed be assumed, perhaps, that no overcrowding
exists, inasmuch as no house probably in
the parish could be looked upon as being overcrowded
which contained 6 inmates only. But it is obvious that
any such assumption as this would be in the highest
degree erroneous, for, to take the extremes, we know
that in Dulwich there is a preponderance of large
houses and mansions which 15 or 20 inmates, or
more, would not inconveniently or unhealthily fill,
and we know that in St. George's and in some parts
of Peckham there are streets of 5 or 6-roomed
houses, many of which have a family in each room.
The increase which has taken place in the population
of the parish of Camberwell since the beginning
of the century is very remarkable; few, indeed, if