178 



The Growth of Cambridge 



In 1906 it was said that "our town is mostly btult";' even in 1925 it 

 could be stated "Cambridge is stUl to an appreciable extent a rural town- 

 ship".^ Present development is rapidly changing these conditions. Twice 

 at short intervals, in 1912 and 1935, the Borough boundaries (Fig. 46) 

 have been considerably extended — boundaries hitherto unchanged 

 throughout the centuries. The additions to the Borough show the position 

 and amount of the extension : 



By Extension Order Act of 1911. 



By Extension Order Act q/"i934. 



The most rapid growth is now in tlie south, and along the gravels to the 

 north of the river. The tendency to move out from the medieval nucleus 

 has largely ceased and the recent extension of College buildings will result, 

 if anytliing, in a rise of population density in this area during term time. 

 But the general movement to the periphery continues. The residential 

 areas to the south and west are still growing. There is also a marked 

 movement from the eastern and northern slums of the nineteenth century 

 to the adjoining areas. The wards of South Chesterton, Petersfield and 

 St Matthew, which had a density of more than 40 persons per acre in 191 1, 

 showed a decrease to 37-3, 38-8, and 37-8 persons per acre respectively in 

 193 1 . During the same period the density increased in the rest of Chesterton 

 and in Romsey Town (Fig. 45). A new factor is at work here, the twentieth 

 century demands better standards in housing conditions and looks askance 

 at the crowded buildings of the previous one. This factor is additional to 

 the continued development of the University, and to the continued 

 increase in industries, largely of a skilled character: the Cambridge 



' E. M. Jebb, Cambridge. A Brief Study of Social Questions (1906), p. 25. 

 * A. Gray, The Town of Cambridge (1925), p. 167. 



