Bermondsey History & Changes

Bermondsey then & now

Bermondsey is an area in South East London, in the borough of Southwark.

The conditions were really polluted, that people in 1847 caught Cholera by drinking unboiled and died. The housing was poor as most of them were dreadful slums, people said that Bermondsey was the worst slum in London in the 19th Century. This was the time when Charles Dickens wrote 'Oliver Twist' he wrote about it being 'every repulsive lineament of poverty, every loathsome indication of filth, rot, and garbage.'

People on a low income could only afford basic accomodations, some builders would build their houses cheaply and quickly, sometimes even without toilets or bathrooms.

Most of the houses were occupied, sometimes with more than 1 family living together.

Industries

During the 20th century to the east of Tower Bridge, along the riverside were lined with warehouses and wharves.

Bermondsey was well known for its leather industry, which began in medieval times. Fur factories were also popular.

Population

In 1801 the population was 27,465, and in 1891 it had reached 136,660. So as the years went by the population increased rapidly. this is according to http://www.visitsouthwark.com/pages/history_of_bermondsey.html

In the 19th Century most people were working class citizens, but jobs were scarce and people who had a job didn't get paid a lot, as they were un-skilled. People were paid only when work was available, so many were unemployed this was a result of poverty.