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11
General Observations
The changes that occurred in the district during 1909 did not
differ in kind from those recorded in past years.
Greater changes, however, took place in Mortlake than in
Barnes; and there is no doubt now that the population of the
former parish exceeds that of the latter by at least 2,000.
The number of houses actually occupied in Mortlake at Midsummer
of 1909 was 3,147; the figures for Barnes were 2,745.
It is true that the average number of persons per house is
probably becoming less in Mortlake than formerly, but, on the
other hand, owing to the "development" of certain estates in the
second half of the year, the figures 3,147 do not represent a true
mean.
The outbreak of maisonnettes and double tenements in the
district has certainly shown signs of subsidence lately, and it is
interesting to note a distinct improvement in the design of the
smaller houses now chiefly in favour.
In my report for 1902 I made some allusion to the wastefulness
and folly of providing two living-rooms in workmen's
cottages. The point is now generally recognized, and, even in
houses of a grade above these, one meets with the combined
kitchen and sitting room of good size in place of a cramped dining
room and totally inadequate kitchen, and there is on the whole
a tendency to increase the size of the bedrooms provided.
On the other hand, the tendency is to occupy smaller houses
than was the custom 20 years ago.
Of course there are several explanations of this change:
One is that with smaller families fewer rooms are required;
another is that more money is spent on "pleasure" and less at
the dictates of "house-pride" than formerly.