[Report 1951] / Medical Officer of Health, Christchurch Borough.

  • Christchurch (Dorset, England). Borough Council.
Date:
1951
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1951] / Medical Officer of Health, Christchurch Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    6/52 (page 2)
    To The MAYOR. ALDERMEN AND COUNCILLORS of the BOROUGH OF CHRISTCHURCH. I submit for your information and consideration my fifth Annual Report on the health and circumstances of your Borough. Appended to this report is that of your Chief Sanitary Inspector in which he deals with those sections of the work of the Health Department which are peculiarly his province. NATURAL AND SOCIAL CONDITIONS: The Borough is an L shaped town sandwiched between the Avon and the Stour on the west, and between the railway and the sea towards the east. The western part is largely built up apart from low lying ground near the Avon, and future development must neces- sarily be between the old town and Highcliffe. The subsoil of the area is principally of sand and gravel which dries out rapidly after rain but in spite of this, because of the two rivers and the expanse of water in the land-locked harbour, the general atmosphere of the town tends to be damp in winter, and somewhat humid in hot weather. This ancient town, formerly largely residential, has grown rapidly in recent years. Its population has doubled in the last twenty years, and the majority of its workers are now engaged in light industry of varied character. In addition, a considerable amount of labour is imported daily from outside the Borough. RAINFALL FOR 1951 January 2.83 July 1.33 February 5.00 August 4.06 March 3.54 September ... 2.82 April 2.25 October 1.59 May 2.58 November ... 8.58 June 1.14 December ... 2.39 Total: 38.11 inches.