The population of Greater London by the census of 1901 was 6,581,402.
The following table gives comparisons between the figures of certain
census returns for Greater London and its chief component parts, namely,
the City, the county and the outer ring (i.e. Greater London outside the
county). All the figures before those of 1901 are adjusted to these
areas.
+------+---------+-----------+-------------+-----------------+
| Year.| City. | County. | Outer Ring. | Greater London. |
+------+---------+-----------+-------------+-----------------+
| 1801 | 128,129 | 831,181 | 155,334 | 1,114,644 |
| 1841 | 123,563 | 1,825,714 | 286,067 | 2,235,344 |
| 1881 | 50,569 | 3,779,728 | 936,364 | 4,766,661 |
| 1901 | 26,923 | 4,509,618 | 2,044,864 | 6,581,402 |
+------+---------+-----------+-------------+-----------------+
The reason for the decrease in the resident City population is to be
found in the rapid extension of business premises, while the widening
ramifications of the outer residential areas are illustrated by the
increase in the later years of the population of the Outer Ring. The
growth and population of London previous to the 19th century is
considered under _History_, _ad. fin._
Aliens.
The foreign-born population of London was 60,252 in 1881, and 135,377
in 1901. During 1901, 27,070 aliens (excluding sailors) arrived at the
port, and in 1902, 33,060. Of these last Russians and Poles numbered
21,013; Germans, 3386; Austrians and Hungarians, 2197; Dutch, 1902;
Norwegians, Swedes and Danes, 1341; and Rumanians, 1016. Other
nationalities numbered below one thousand each. The foreign-born
population shows a large increase in percentage to the whole, being
1.57 in 1881 and 2.98 in 1901. Residents of Irish birth have decreased
since 1851; those of Scottish birth have increased steadily, and
roughly as the population. German residents are found mainly in the
western and west central districts; French mainly in the City of
Westminster (especially the district of Soho), St Pancras and St
Marylebone; Italians in Holborn (Saffron Hill), Soho and Finsbury; and
Russians and Poles in Stepney and Bethnal Green.
_Vital Statistics._--The following table shows the average birth rate
and death-rate per thousand at stated periods.
+------------+---------+---------+
| Years. | Births. | Deaths. |
+------------+---------+---------+
| 1861-1880* | 35.4 | 23.4 |
| 1891-1900* | 30.3 | 19.2 |
| 1901-1904* | 28.5 | 16.5 |
| 1905 | 27.1 | 15.6 |
+------------+---------+---------+
* Average.
A comparison of the death-rate of London and those of other great
towns in England and abroad is given here:--
+---------------+-----------+-------+
| | Average | 1905. |
| | 1895-1904.| |
+---------------+-----------+-------+
| Leicester | 16.7 | 13.3 |
| Brussels | 16.7 | 14.5 |
| Bristol | 16.9 | 14.6 |
| Bradford | 17.7 | 15.2 |
| Leeds | 19.1 | 15.2 |
| LONDON | 18.2 | 15.6 |
| Birmingham | 20.2 | 16.2 |
| Nottingham | 18.4 | 16.5 |
| Newcastle | 20.9 | 16.8 |
| Sheffield | 19.6 | 17.0 |
| Berlin | 17.8 | 17.2 |
| Paris | 19.2 | 17.4 |
| Manchester | 22.6 | 18.0 |
| New York | 20.2 | 18.3 |
| Vienna | 20.0 | 19.0 |
| Liverpool | 23.2 | 19.6 |
| Rome | 19.1 | 20.6 |
| St Petersburg | 25.9 | 25.3 |
+---------------+-----------+-------+
In 1905 the lowest death-rates among the metropolitan boroughs were
returned by Hampstead (9.3), Lewisham (11.7), Wandsworth (12.6),
Woolwich (12.8), Stoke Newington (12.9), and the highest by Shoreditch
(19.7), Finsbury (19.0), Bermondsey (18.7), Bethnal Green (18.6) and
Southwark (18.5). A return of the percentage of inhabitants dwelling
in over-crowded tenements shows 2.7 for Lewisham, 4.5 for Wandsworth,
5.5 for Stoke Newington, and 6.4 for Hampstead, against 35.2 for
Finsbury and 29.9 for Shoreditch.
_Sanitation._--As regards sanitation London is under special
regulations. When the statutes relating to public health were
consolidated and amended in 1875 London was excluded; and the law
applicable to it was specially consolidated and amended in 1891. The
London County Council is a central sanitary authority; the City and
metropolitan boroughs are sanitary districts, and the Corporation and
borough councils are local sanitary authorities. The County Council
deals directly with matters where uniformity of administration is
essential, e.g. main drainage, housing of working classes, infant life
protection, common lodging-houses and shelters, and contagious
diseases of animals. With a further view to uniformity it has certain
powers of supervision and control over local authorities, and can make
by-laws respecting construction of local sewers, sanitary
conveniences, offensive trades, slaughter-houses and dairies, and
prevention of nuisances outside the jurisdiction of local authorities.
A medical officer of health for the whole county is appointed by the
Council, which also pays half the salaries of local medical officers
and sanitary inspectors. The Council may also act in cases of default
by the local authorities, or may make representations to the Local
Government Board respecting such default, whereupon the Board may
direct the Council to withhold payment due to the local authority
under the Equalization of Rates Act 1894.
Drainage.
The first act providing for a commission of sewers in London dates
from 1531. Various works of a more or less imperfect character were
carried out, such as the bridging over in 1637 of the river Fleet,
which as early as 1307 had become inaccessible to shipping through the
accumulation of filth. Scavengers were employed in early times, and
sewage was received into wells and pumped into the kennels of the
streets. A system of main drainage was inaugurated by the
Commissioners of Sewers in 1849, but their work proceeded very slowly.
It was carried on more effectively by the Metropolitan Board of Works
(1856-1888) which expended over six-and-a-half millions sterling on
the work. The London County Council maintained, completed and improved
the system. The length of sewers in the main system is about 288 m.,
and their construction has cost about eight millions. The system
covers the county of London, West Ham, Penge, Tottenham, Wood Green,
and parts of Beckenham, Hornsey, Croydon, Willesden, East Ham and
Acton. There are actually two distinct systems, north and south of the
Thames, having separate outfall works on the north and south banks of
the river, at Barking and Crossness. The clear effluent flows into the
Thames, and the sludge is taken 50 m. out to sea. The annual cost of
maintenance of the system exceeds £250,000. The sanitary authorities
are concerned only with the supervision of house drainage, and the
construction and maintenance of local sewers discharging into the main
system. The Thames and the Lea Conservancies have powers to guard
against the pollution of the rivers.
Metropolitan Asylums Board.
_Hospitals._--The Metropolitan Asylums Board, though established in
1867 purely as a poor-law authority for the relief of the sick, insane
and infirm paupers, has become a central hospital authority for
infectious diseases, with power to receive into its hospitals persons,
who are not paupers, suffering from fever, smallpox or diphtheria.
Both the Board and the County Council have certain powers and duties
of sanitary authority for the purpose of epidemic regulations. The
local sanitary authorities carry out the provisions of the Infectious
Diseases (Notification and Prevention) Acts, which for London are
embodied in the Public Health (London) Act 1891. The Board has asylums
for the insane at Tooting Bec (Wandsworth), Ealing (for children);
King's Langley, Hertfordshire; Caterham, Surrey; and Darenth, Kent.
There are twelve fever hospitals, including northern and southern
convalescent hospitals. For smallpox the Board maintains hospital
ships moored in the Thames at Dartford, and a land establishment at
the same place. There are land and river ambulance services.
There are three regular funds in London for the support of hospitals.
(1) King Edward's Hospital Fund (1897) founded by King Edward VII. as
Prince of Wales in commemoration of the Diamond Jubilee of Queen
Victoria. The League of Mercy, under royal charter, operates in
conjunction with the Fund in the collection of small subscriptions.
The Order of Mercy was instituted by the King as a reward for
distinguished personal service. (2) The Metropolitan Hospital Sunday
Fund, founded in 1873, draws the greater part of its revenue from
collections in churches on stated occasions. (3) The Metropolitan
Hospital Saturday Fund was founded in 1873, and is made up chiefly of
small sums collected in places of business, &c. The following is a
list of the principal London hospitals, with dates of foundation:--
1. _General Hospitals with Medical Schools_ (all of which, with the
exception of that of the Seamen's Hospital, are schools of London
University):--
Charing Cross; Agar Street, Strand (1820).
Guy's; St Thomas Street, Southwark (1724).
King's College; Lincoln's Inn Fields (1839).
London; Whitechapel (1740).
Middlesex; Mortimer Street, Marylebone (1745).
North London, or University College; Gower Street (1833).
Royal Free; Gray's Inn Road (1828; on present site, 1842).
London School of Medicine for Women.
St Bartholomew's; Smithfield (1123; refounded 1547).
St George's; Hyde Park Corner (1733).
St Mary's; Paddington (1845).
St Thomas'; Lambeth (1213; on present site, 1871).
Seamen's Hospital Society; Greenwich (1821).
Westminster, facing the Abbey. (1720; on present site, 1834).