The Sun.
London, England, 1865-08-30 00:00:00

Comparative Healthiness of London Suburbs

(From an Appeadis to the New Edition of Dr. Sigismund
Sutro's •‘ Spas of Germany,")
The following short hints on the altitude and soil of the
various parts of the metropolis may afford some guidance
in this respect.

A line drawn from Hendon, in the north-west, to East
Wickham, in the south-east, shows us, first, in the western
portion of Hendon, an altitude of 220 ft. over high-water
mark, and a superstratum of gravel over the London clay.
The other parts are devoid of gravel. To the left of this
line the altitude gradually diminishes, in the direction of
the river Brent, to 90ft. above Willesden, and then increases
again to 146 north-east of Willesden, 120 east, 158 and 140
south-east. Passing the North-Western Railway, we de-
scend from 120 to 100 feet at the Paddington Canal, to 80
at the north, 60 at the south of Wormwood Scrubs, then
we descend to 30 and 20—all on clay soil. Proceeding still
southward, we meet with brick-earth as superstructure,
surrounded in the form of an island by a strip of gravel,
bordered by Notting Hill on the east (lying mostly on clay),
and Hammersmith on the south (built on gravel);
If we take up our original line, and journey from Hendon
towards Hampstead, the ground (clay) lowers first, and then
rises again to 430 feet at Hampstead Hill, which has a su-
perstratum of Bagshot sand ; we then gradually descend to
80 feet at Hampstead Road, to 60 at Gray's-inn Road, all
clay soil, till the line intersects the eastern portion of Hol-
born-hill, which is built on gravel. The line then passes
through Cheapside (48ft. high, built, like the whole city
on brick-earth); crosses St. Paul's Cathedral (412 ft. high);
and on proceeding to the river passes over gravel soil,
which encircles the city, extending on the south to the
riser, on the east as far as East India Docks, on the north-
east along the Mile-end-road, not quite to the Regent's
Canal (whence a strip of brick-earth stretches as far as
Victoria-park); on the north, from Bishopsgate-street (in-
clusive) to Finsbury, City-road, and Islington ; on the
west, not quite to Farringdon-street.

The line crosses the river (clay soil) obliquely over
London-bridge ; proceeds through Bermondsey (below
high-water mark, built on gravel), this side to the Green-
wich Railway ; then passes through Deptford (gravel),
over the river Ravensboume, and arrives at Greenwich
(20ft. high), possessing siliceous sands as far as the Ob-
servatory (210 ft. high), and pebble beds afterwards; then
the line crosses Blackheath (130 to 100 ft. high), pebble
bed ; then passes over clay soil to Shooter's-hill (412 ft
high, with a superstratum of gravel at the top); the line
descends then again on clay, to 300, 200, 180 ft. high, and
arrives at East Wickham (pebble bed, 150 ft. high.)
All through London the clay rests on a bed of chalk.
Among the suburbs on the north side of the Thames
Brompton enjoys the mildest and most equable winter
climate. Built on gravel, with a moderate elevation of
20ft. between Chelsea (loft.) on the south, and Kensing-
ton (40 to 60ft.) on the north, it is somewhat protected
against north winds, without being so enclosed as to pre-
vent evaporation or free circulation of the atmosphere. Its
northern neighbour, Kensington (from 40 to 60ft.) has a
border of brick-earth on the south ; then clay, more to the
north ; then gravel. It has great advantages in the
numerous trees and open squares ; but as it partly rests on
the slope of a hill—for the ground rises towards the north-
west (Notting-hill) to 125 ft., and towards the north (Bays-
water) to 80ft.—it must be exposed to greater vicissitudes
of temperature than Brompton; still it would be a more
desirable residence for the whole year, especially the
eastern and western part, than Brompton, which is too
relaxing in summer.

Bayswater, and particularly that part intersected by
Queen's-road, enjoys the advantage of a moderately high
elevation (80 ft.), and of being partly built on gravel soil.
The air is bracing in summer, and not too bleak in winter,
as the ground, though a little lower on the clayey West-
bourne-grove (60 ft.), exhibits some eminences further
north, and higher hills still more northerly. Regent's-
park, though somewhat more elevated, from 80 ft. to 206
(at Primrose-hill), is built on clay, and lying on a decli-
vity of the hill, the moisture will be more apt to be retained
on the ground, evaporation being further somewhat impeded
through the steep northern hills. The climate will, there-
fore, be mild in winter, but somewhat relaxing in summer.
St. John's Wood (from 140 to 160 ft. high), also built
on clay, has a bleaker climate in winter, being more ex-
posed to vicissitudes of temperature, with the disadvantage
of retaining moisture longer than gravelly soil would;
whilst the neighbouring Hampstead heights, on the north-
east, afford only partial protection against northerly winds.
In summer, however, it is a very desirable residence.

Hampstead Hill (430 feet) and Highgate Hill (412 feet
high), both having siliceous sands of the Bagshot series as
a superstratum, whilst the other gravelly soil mentioned is
only composed of drift, gravel, and sand, are vary bracing,
and would be extremely well adapted for sanitaria, to admit
convalescents after severe and exhausting disease. Three or
four weeks spent there would probably have a more restora-
tive effect than double the time at the ordinary home. But,
of course, for a winter residence both places are too bleak
and might, by the vicissitudes of temperature, produce
bronchial and pulmonary as well as rheumatic diseases,
whenever a predisposition exists to these ailments.
In the north-east, Dalston and the southern part of
Hackney are built on gravel, and have a moderate eleva-
iinn of 411 fpat ? L.- in n4.-een,
somewhat less relaxing in summer than Brompton. That
portion of Hackney surrounding London-fields is more
humid and relaxing than the eastern and northern part.
Victoria-park, built on gravel,with the exception of a strip
of brick earth at the south-western termination, is not very
elevated, having an altitude of 40 min. at the western fron-
tier, and of 20 min. where it approaches Bow (built on gra-
vel), at the south-eastern frontier. It is therefore very
mild, but too relaxing in hot summers. North of Kingsland
Railway Station, till near Stoke Newington, the houses are
built on brick earth, and enjoy an elevation of 60 feet (this
includes part of West Hackney). Stamford-hill (97 feet
high), in the north, to 80 feet towards Upper Clapton, is
built on gravel, and also the contiguous portion of Lower
Clapton. It has a very bracing and salubrious climate,
Stoke Newington (80 feet), built on clay, lies on a some-
what sloping ground, from west to east, as the north-
western Highgate hills gradually descend towards Stoke
Newington. The latter, therefores, shares some of the
advantages belonging to Regent's-park.
Highbury, situated to the south and west of Stoke New-
ington is built on a ground rising to 132 ft. (Highbury-place
and hill), with strong clays in the west, and brick-earth in
the east : from here the ground gently slants again to 120
and 100 ft. The climate thus partakes of a bracing and mild
character, the altitude allowing a free circulation of the at-
mosphere ; and though the ground would absorb moisture
more readily if it was gravel, the eminence on which it
stands, with the sloping circumference, favours evaporation.
West Ham, east of Bow (built on gravel), borders on a
bed of peat and alluvium, which stretches from the north-
western part of the River Lee, along the Leyton, Hackney,
and Plaistow marshes, and extends beyond Barking Level,
with an altitude of only 10ft. in the north, and diminishing
towards the south.

Walthamstow, north- east of Stamford-hill, rises from 80
to 100 ft. with clay soil, except the centre, which consists
of gravel. Snaresbrook, fits eastern neighbour, enjoys an
altitude of 100 ft., with the advantage of a gravelly soil.
The ground slants to the south (80 to 60ft.). Wanstead..
Stratford, north-east of Bow, with an altitude of 20 to 10ft. ;
West Ham to its south, Plaistow to the south of the lat-
ter, East Ham to the east, and Barking still more easterly ;
all lie on gravel soil, with a low elevation, and exposed
somewhat to the neighbouring marshy exhalations. As
regards the more distant western suburbs, Hammersmith
hes partly on gravel, towards the south, and on brick-earth
in the northern part (loft.), which soil extends to Shep-
herd's-bush, and considerably beyond Uxbridge-road ;
Chiswick, west of Hammersmith, is built on brick earth,
and likewise Fulham. Being contiguous to the Thames,
they have a very slight elevation; but the Thames becom-
ing a pure river through the deviation of the sewage by
means of the stupendous main drainage works lately ac-
complished, the freshness imparted to the air by the rapid
course of a tidal stream will afford somo compensation for
the deficient altitude.
South of the Thames we have Barnes, built on brick-
earth, rising towards the south to 20ft. (gravel soil) on the
common. Putney-heath, rising towards the south-east to
163 ft., with gravelly soil, surrounded by sandy clays. Put-
ney, south of Fulham, gravel soil (20ft.) Wandsworth, to
the east, same soil, with an altitude rising to 60ft., inter-
sected by the river Wandle; the common to the south-east
on gravel soil, surrounded by clay, rising from 40 to 93ft.
Battersea-fields, south of Chelsea, on brick-earth. Clap-
ham, on gravel soil, rising southward from 20 to 60ft., and
to 93ft. (Clapham-common). Camberwell, to the east, gravel
soil, 10 to 20ft., then rising southward on sandy clays to 40
60, 80, and 130 ft., with Peckham, on sand and mottled clay
to the east, 20ft. high, separated by shelly clays from the
southern Peckham Rye, rising from 20 to 40ft., and posses-
sing soil of striped sand, with a southern border of pebble
bed; moreover, rising ground towards the east from 60 to
184ft.(Nunhead, Telegraph-hill, Hatch= on sandy clay), and
towards the south from GO to 80,100, and 160 to 284 ft. in the
south-east (Forest-hill) built on clay, and also towards the
west, from 60 or 80 feet (Denmark-hill rising to 130 feet,
with gravel in the centre and clay at the circumference),
afford an excellent protection against north-eastern, south-
eastern, and south-western winds. This confirms the
popular belief in its salubrity for persons affected with
bronchial irritation or incipient phthisis. According to the
above geological characteristics, it must prove especially
useful, as a summer residence, in cases of profuse bronchial
secretion, whilst in severe winters, and where the cough
exhibits a dry and irritative character, Brompton would
deserve the preference.

REVISING BARRISTERS.—Mr. Charles Evans, of
the Norfolk circuit, has been appointed to revise the
list of voters for the borough of Cambridge.. Mr. Samuel
Cross Fish has been appointed revising barrister for the
Northern division, and Mr. William Mawdesley Best for
the Southern division, of the county of Essex.
THE BRITISH MUSEUM.—•A notice has been placed
outside the British Museum gates, by order of the
trustees, announcing the closing of all the departments
from tho Ist to the 7th of September, both inclusive. For
the next two months after the re-opening the museum
will be closed at five, instead of six, as in June, July, and
August.