Civil parishes in Bedfordshire

A civil parish is a country subdivision, forming the lowest unit of local government in England. There are 125 civil parishes in the ceremonial county of Bedfordshire, most of the county being parished: Luton is completely unparished; Central Bedfordshire is entirely parished. At the 2001 census, there were 312,301 people living in the 125 parishes, which accounted for 55.2 per cent of the county's population.

A map of Bedfordshire, showing the districts: (1) Bedford; (2) Central Bedfordshire; and (3) Luton

History

Parishes arose from Church of England divisions, and were originally purely ecclesiastical divisions. Over time they acquired civil administration powers.[1]

The Highways Act 1555 made parishes responsible for the upkeep of roads. Every adult inhabitant of the parish was obliged to work four days a year on the roads, providing their own tools, carts and horses; the work was overseen by an unpaid local appointee, the Surveyor of Highways.[2]

The poor were looked after by the monasteries, until their dissolution. In 1572, magistrates were given power to 'survey the poor' and impose taxes for their relief. This system was made more formal by the Poor Law Act 1601, which made parishes responsible for administering the Poor Law; overseers were appointed to charge a rate to support the poor of the parish.[3] The 19th century saw an increase in the responsibility of parishes, although the Poor Law powers were transferred to Poor Law Unions.[4] The Public Health Act 1872 grouped parishes into Rural Sanitary Districts, based on the Poor Law Unions; these subsequently formed the basis for Rural Districts.[5]

Parishes were run by vestries, meeting annually to appoint officials, and were generally identical to ecclesiastical parishes,[6] although some townships in large parishes administered the Poor Law themselves; under the Divided Parishes and Poor Law Amendment Act 1882, all extra-parochial areas and townships that levied a separate rate became independent civil parishes.[7]

Civil parishes in their modern sense date from the Local Government Act 1894, which abolished vestries; established elected parish councils in all rural parishes with more than 300 electors; grouped rural parishes into Rural Districts; and aligned parish boundaries with county and borough boundaries.[7] Urban civil parishes continued to exist, and were generally coterminous with the Urban District, Municipal Borough or County Borough in which they were situated; many large towns contained a number of parishes, and these were usually merged into one. Parish councils were not formed in urban areas, and the only function of the parish was to elect guardians to Poor Law Unions; with the abolition of the Poor Law system in 1930 the parishes had only a nominal existence.[8]

The Local Government Act 1972 retained civil parishes in rural areas, and many former Urban Districts and Municipal Boroughs that were being abolished, were replaced by new successor parishes; urban areas that were considered too large to be single parishes became unparished areas.[9]

The current position

Recent governments have encouraged the formation of town and parish councils in unparished areas, and the Local Government and Rating Act 1997 gave local residents the right to demand the creation of a new civil parish.[10]

A parish council can become a town council unilaterally, simply by resolution;[9] and a civil parish can also gain city status, but only if that is granted by the Crown.[9] The chairman of a town or city council is called a mayor.[9] The Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 introduced alternative names: a parish council can now choose to be called a community; village; or neighbourhood council.[11]

Civil parishes with town status

List of civil parishes and unparished areas
Image Name Status Population District Former local authority[12] Refs
BedfordUnparished area69,271BedfordBedford Municipal Borough[13]
[14]
BiddenhamCivil parish1,640BedfordBedford
Rural District		[15]
[16]
BletsoeCivil parish281BedfordBedford
Rural District		[15]
[17]
Bolnhurst and KeysoeCivil parish734BedfordBedford
Rural District		[15]
[17]
BrickhillCivil parish8,678BedfordBedford Municipal Borough[13]
[18]
[19]
BromhamCivil parish4,768BedfordBedford
Rural District		[15]
[17]
CardingtonCivil parish316BedfordBedford
Rural District		[15]
[17]
Carlton and ChellingtonCivil parish827BedfordBedford
Rural District		[15]
[17]
ClaphamCivil parish3,643BedfordBedford
Rural District		[15]
[17]
ColmworthCivil parish367BedfordBedford
Rural District		[15]
[17]
CopleCivil parish736BedfordBedford
Rural District		[15]
[17]
Cotton EndCivil parishBedfordBedford
Rural District		[15]
[17]
Dean and SheltonCivil parish386BedfordBedford
Rural District		[15]
[17]
ElstowCivil parish2,049BedfordBedford
Rural District		[15]
[17]
FelmershamCivil parish737BedfordBedford
Rural District		[15]
[17]
Great BarfordCivil parish1,864BedfordBedford
Rural District		[15]
[17]
Great DenhamCivil parish980BedfordBedford
Rural District		[15]
[20]
[21]
HarroldCivil parish1,235BedfordBedford
Rural District		[15]
[17]
KempstonTown19,375BedfordKempston Urban District[22]
[17]
Kempston RuralCivil parish1,286BedfordBedford
Rural District		[15]
[17]
Knotting and SouldropCivil parish269BedfordBedford
Rural District		[15]
[17]
Little BarfordCivil parish44BedfordBedford
Rural District		[15]
[17]
Little StaughtonCivil parish421BedfordBedford
Rural District		[15]
[17]
Melchbourne and YieldenCivil parish391BedfordBedford
Rural District		[15]
[17]
Milton ErnestCivil parish754BedfordBedford
Rural District		[15]
[17]
OakleyCivil parish2,438BedfordBedford
Rural District		[15]
[17]
OdellCivil parish260BedfordBedford
Rural District		[15]
[17]
PavenhamCivil parish593BedfordBedford
Rural District		[15]
[17]
PertenhallCivil parish231BedfordBedford
Rural District		[15]
[17]
PodingtonCivil parish417BedfordBedford
Rural District		[15]
[17]
RavensdenCivil parish706BedfordBedford
Rural District		[15]
[17]
RenholdCivil parish1,448BedfordBedford
Rural District		[15]
[17]
RiseleyCivil parish1,284BedfordBedford
Rural District		[15]
[17]
RoxtonCivil parish322BedfordBedford
Rural District		[15]
[23]
[21]
SharnbrookCivil parish1,940BedfordBedford
Rural District		[15]
[17]
ShortstownCivil parishBedfordBedford
Rural District		[15]
[17]
StagsdenCivil parish354BedfordBedford
Rural District		[15]
[17]
StaploeCivil parish347BedfordBedford
Rural District		[15]
[17]
StevingtonCivil parish581BedfordBedford
Rural District		[15]
[17]
StewartbyCivil parish1,212BedfordBedford
Rural District		[15]
[17]
SwinesheadCivil parish150BedfordBedford
Rural District		[15]
[17]
ThurleighCivil parish696BedfordBedford
Rural District		[15]
[17]
TurveyCivil parish1,192BedfordBedford
Rural District		[15]
[17]
WildenCivil parish412BedfordBedford
Rural District		[15]
[17]
WillingtonCivil parish782BedfordBedford
Rural District		[15]
[17]
WilshamsteadCivil parish2,263BedfordBedford
Rural District		[15]
[17]
WixamsCivil parishBedfordBedford
Rural District		[24]
WoottonCivil parish4,230BedfordBedford
Rural District		[15]
[17]
Wyboston, Chawston and ColesdenCivil parish946BedfordBedford
Rural District		[15]
[23]
[21]
WymingtonCivil parish868BedfordBedford
Rural District		[15]
[17]
AmpthillTown6,767Central BedfordshireAmpthill Urban District[25]
[26]
ArleseyTown4,741Central BedfordshireBiggleswade
Rural District		[27]
[26]
Aspley GuiseCivil parish2,185Central BedfordshireAmpthill
Rural District		[28]
[26]
Aspley HeathCivil parish573Central BedfordshireAmpthill
Rural District		[28]
[26]
AstwickCivil parish24Central BedfordshireBiggleswade
Rural District		[27]
[26]
Barton-le-ClayCivil parish4,793Central BedfordshireLuton
Rural District		[29]
[30]
BattlesdenCivil parish37Central BedfordshireAmpthill
Rural District		[28]
[26]
BiggleswadeTown15,383Central BedfordshireBiggleswade Urban District[31]
[26]
Billington[32]Civil parish632Central BedfordshireLuton
Rural District		[29]
[30]
BlunhamCivil parish926Central BedfordshireBiggleswade
Rural District		[27]
[26]
BrogboroughCivil parish343Central BedfordshireAmpthill
Rural District		[28]
[26]
CaddingtonCivil parish3,673Central BedfordshireLuton
Rural District		[29]
[30]
Campton and ChicksandsCivil parish1,388Central BedfordshireBiggleswade
Rural District		[27]
[26]
ChalgraveCivil parish480Central BedfordshireLuton
Rural District		[29]
[30]
ChaltonCivil parish549Central BedfordshireLuton
Rural District		[29]
[30]
CliftonCivil parish2,730Central BedfordshireBiggleswade
Rural District		[27]
[26]
ClophillCivil parish1,702Central BedfordshireAmpthill
Rural District		[28]
[26]
CranfieldCivil parish4,909Central BedfordshireAmpthill
Rural District		[28]
[26]
DunstableTown33,805Central BedfordshireDunstable Municipal Borough[33]
[30]
DuntonCivil parish653Central BedfordshireBiggleswade
Rural District		[27]
[26]
Eaton BrayCivil parish2,591Central BedfordshireLuton
Rural District		[29]
[30]
EdworthCivil parish69Central BedfordshireBiggleswade
Rural District		[27]
[26]
EggingtonCivil parish288Central BedfordshireLuton
Rural District		[29]
[30]
EversholtCivil parish387Central BedfordshireAmpthill
Rural District		[28]
[26]
EvertonCivil parish525Central BedfordshireBiggleswade
Rural District		[27]
[26]
EyeworthCivil parish86Central BedfordshireBiggleswade
Rural District		[27]
[26]
FairfieldCivil parishCentral BedfordshireBiggleswade
Rural District		[34]
Flitton and GreenfieldCivil parish1,212Central BedfordshireAmpthill
Rural District		[28]
[26]
FlitwickTown12,700Central BedfordshireAmpthill
Rural District		[28]
[26]
GravenhurstCivil parish581Central BedfordshireAmpthill
Rural District		[28]
[26]
HarlingtonCivil parish2,322Central BedfordshireAmpthill
Rural District		[28]
[26]
HaynesCivil parish1,122Central BedfordshireAmpthill
Rural District		[28]
[26]
Heath and ReachCivil parish1,285Central BedfordshireLuton
Rural District		[29]
[30]
HenlowCivil parish3,084Central BedfordshireBiggleswade
Rural District		[27]
[26]
HockliffeCivil parish730Central BedfordshireLuton
Rural District		[29]
[30]
Houghton ConquestCivil parish1,299Central BedfordshireAmpthill
Rural District		[28]
[26]
Houghton RegisTown16,970Central BedfordshireLuton
Rural District		[29]
[30]
Hulcote and SalfordCivil parish186Central BedfordshireAmpthill
Rural District		[28]
[26]
Husborne CrawleyCivil parish217Central BedfordshireAmpthill
Rural District		[28]
[26]
HydeCivil parish402Central BedfordshireLuton
Rural District		[29]
[30]
KensworthCivil parish1,504Central BedfordshireLuton
Rural District		[29]
[30]
LangfordCivil parish2,882Central BedfordshireBiggleswade
Rural District		[27]
[26]
Leighton–LinsladeTown32,417Central BedfordshireLeighton–Linslade Urban District[35]
[30]
LidlingtonCivil parish1,145Central BedfordshireAmpthill
Rural District		[28]
[26]
Marston MoreteyneCivil parish3,684Central BedfordshireAmpthill
Rural District		[28]
[26]
MauldenCivil parish2,900Central BedfordshireAmpthill
Rural District		[28]
[26]
MeppershallCivil parish1,549Central BedfordshireBiggleswade
Rural District		[27]
[26]
MillbrookCivil parish130Central BedfordshireAmpthill
Rural District		[28]
[26]
Milton BryanCivil parish144Central BedfordshireAmpthill
Rural District		[28]
[26]
MogerhangerCivil parish636Central BedfordshireBiggleswade
Rural District		[27]
[26]
NorthillCivil parish2,288Central BedfordshireBiggleswade
Rural District		[27]
[26]
Old WardenCivil parish275Central BedfordshireBiggleswade
Rural District		[27]
[26]
PotsgroveCivil parish44Central BedfordshireAmpthill
Rural District		[28]
[26]
PottonTown4,473Central BedfordshireBiggleswade
Rural District		[27]
[26]
PulloxhillCivil parish850Central BedfordshireAmpthill
Rural District		[28]
[26]
RidgmontCivil parish418Central BedfordshireAmpthill
Rural District		[28]
[26]
SandyTown10,887Central BedfordshireSandy Urban District[36]
[26]
SheffordTown4,928Central BedfordshireBiggleswade
Rural District		[27]
[26]
ShillingtonCivil parish1,831Central BedfordshireAmpthill
Rural District		[28]
[26]
SilsoeCivil parish1,729Central BedfordshireAmpthill
Rural District		[28]
[26]
Slip EndCivil parish1,976Central BedfordshireLuton
Rural District		[29]
[30]
SouthillCivil parish1,141Central BedfordshireBiggleswade
Rural District		[27]
[26]
StanbridgeCivil parish747Central BedfordshireLuton
Rural District		[29]
[30]
SteppingleyCivil parish233Central BedfordshireAmpthill
Rural District		[28]
[26]
StondonCivil parish1,821Central BedfordshireBiggleswade
Rural District		[27]
[26]
StotfoldTown6,190Central BedfordshireBiggleswade
Rural District		[27]
[26]
StreatleyCivil parish1,707Central BedfordshireLuton
Rural District		[29]
[30]
StudhamCivil parish1,125Central BedfordshireLuton
Rural District		[29]
[30]
SundonCivil parish507Central BedfordshireLuton
Rural District		[29]
[30]
SuttonCivil parish299Central BedfordshireBiggleswade
Rural District		[27]
[26]
TempsfordCivil parish564Central BedfordshireBiggleswade
Rural District		[27]
[26]
TilsworthCivil parish360Central BedfordshireLuton
Rural District		[29]
[30]
TingrithCivil parish149Central BedfordshireAmpthill
Rural District		[28]
[26]
ToddingtonCivil parish4,459Central BedfordshireLuton
Rural District		[29]
[30]
TotternhoeCivil parish1,180Central BedfordshireLuton
Rural District		[29]
[30]
WestoningCivil parish2,001Central BedfordshireAmpthill
Rural District		[28]
[26]
WhipsnadeCivil parish457Central BedfordshireLuton
Rural District		[29]
[30]
WoburnCivil parish945Central BedfordshireAmpthill
Rural District		[28]
[26]
Wrestlingworth and Cockayne HatleyCivil parish737Central BedfordshireBiggleswade
Rural District		[27]
[26]
LutonUnparished area184,371LutonLuton County Borough[37]
[38]

See also

References
  1. Angus Winchester, 2000, Discovering Parish Boundaries. Shire Publications. Princes Risborough, 96 pages ISBN 978-0-7478-0470-3
  2. RAC Foundation : What Went Wrong? British Highway Development Before Motorways Retrieved 22 August 2009
  3. The Victorian Web : The Poor Law : Introduction Retrieved 22 August 2009
  4. Staffordshire University : Poor Law Unions and Registration Districts Archived 14 September 2012 at Archive.today Retrieved 22 August 2009
  5. A Vision of Britain Through Time : Status Details for Rural Sanitary District Retrieved 22 August 2009
  6. Robert Tittler, The Reformation and the Towns in England, 1998, Oxford University Press, 395 pages, ISBN 978-0-19-820718-4
  7. Modern British Surnames : Selected Events in the History of Civil Registration and Boundary Changes 1801-1996 Archived 1 August 2010 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 22 August 2009
  8. Alex MacMorran and T R Colquhoun Dill, The Local Government Act 1894 and the Subsequent Statutes Affecting Parish Councils, 1907, Butterworth and Co, London, 626 pages
  9. Office of Public Sector Information : Local Government Act 1972 Archived 5 December 2012 at Archive.today Retrieved 22 August 2009
  10. Office of Public Sector Information : Local Government and Rating Act 1997 Archived 5 August 2012 at Archive.today Retrieved 22 August 2009
  11. Office of Public Sector Information : Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 Archived 5 August 2012 at Archive.today Retrieved 22 August 2009
  12. From 1974 to 2009, Central Bedfordshire was divided into districts: Mid Bedfordshire, formed from Ampthill Rural District, Ampthill Urban District, Biggleswade Rural District, Biggleswade Urban District and Sandy Urban District; and South Bedfordshire, formed from Dunstable Municipal Borough, Leighton–Linslade Urban District and Luton Rural District.
  13. A Vision of Britain Through Time : Bedford Municipal Borough Retrieved 15 October 2010
  14. Office for National Statistics : Census 2001 : Table KS01 : Usual Resident Population Archived 22 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine Castle; Cauldwell (part); De Parys; Goldington (part); Harpur; Kempston East (part); Kempston North (part); Kingsbrook (part); Newnham; Putnoe; Queen's Park; and Wilshamstead (part) wards. Retrieved 15 October 2010
  15. A Vision of Britain Through Time : Bedford Rural District Archived 14 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 15 October 2010
  16. Office for National Statistics : Census 2001 : Table KS01 : Usual Resident Population Archived 22 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine Bromham (part) ward. Retrieved 15 October 2010
  17. Office for National Statistics : Census 2001 : Parish Headcounts : Bedford Retrieved 15 October 2010
  18. Office for National Statistics : Census 2001 : Table KS01 : Usual Resident Population Archived 22 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine Brickhill ward. Retrieved 15 October 2010
  19. The Bedford (Parish) Order 2004 Archived 19 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 15 October 2010
  20. Office for National Statistics : Census 2001 : Table KS01 : Usual Resident Population Archived 22 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine Bromham (part); and Turvey (part) wards. Retrieved 15 October 2010
  21. The Bedford (Parishes Electoral Arrangements) Order 2007 Retrieved 15 October 2010
  22. A Vision of Britain Through Time : Kempston Urban District Retrieved 15 October 2010
  23. Office for National Statistics : Census 2001 : Table KS01 : Usual Resident Population Archived 22 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine Roxton (part) ward. Retrieved 15 October 2010
  24. http://www.bedford.gov.uk/council_and_democracy/elections/community_governance_reviews/2013_reviews/wilstead-wixams.aspx
  25. A Vision of Britain Through Time : Ampthill Urban District Retrieved 15 October 2010
  26. Office for National Statistics : Census 2001 : Parish Headcounts : Mid Bedfordshire Archived 26 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 15 October 2010
  27. A Vision of Britain Through Time : Biggleswade Rural District Retrieved 15 October 2010
  28. A Vision of Britain Through Time : Ampthill Rural District Archived 14 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 15 October 2010
  29. A Vision of Britain Through Time : Luton Rural District Archived 1 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 15 October 2010
  30. Office for National Statistics : Census 2001 : Parish Headcounts : South Bedfordshire Retrieved 15 October 2010
  31. A Vision of Britain Through Time : Biggleswade Urban District Retrieved 15 October 2010
  32. "Billington". Mapit. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  33. A Vision of Britain Through Time : Dunstable Municipal Borough Retrieved 15 October 2010
  34. http://www.biggleswadetoday.co.uk/news/local-news/historic-moment-for-community-s-parish-council-1-5103001
  35. A Vision of Britain Through Time : Leighton–Linslade Urban District Retrieved 15 October 2010
  36. A Vision of Britain Through Time : Sandy Urban District Retrieved 15 October 2010
  37. A Vision of Britain Through Time : Luton County Borough Retrieved 15 October 2010
  38. Office for National Statistics : Census 2001 : Table KS01 : Usual Resident Population Archived 22 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine Barnfield; Biscot; Bramingham; Challney; Crawley; Dallow; Farley; High Town; Icknield; Leagrave; Lewsey; Limbury; Northwell; Round Green; Saints; South; Stopsley; Sundon Park; and Wigmore wards. Retrieved 15 October 2010
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