Civil parishes in Cambridgeshire
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A civil parish is a country subdivision, forming the lowest unit of local government in England. There are 263 civil parishes in the ceremonial county of Cambridgeshire, most of the county being parished; Cambridge is completely unparished; Fenland, East Cambridgeshire, South Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire are entirely parished. At the 2001 census, there were 497,820 people living in the 263 parishes, accounting for 70.2 per cent of the county's population.
Contents
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]
List of civil parishes and unparished areas
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See also
References
- ↑ Angus Winchester, 2000, Discovering Parish Boundaries. Shire Publications. Princes Risborough, 96 pages ISBN 978-0-7478-0470-3
- ↑ RAC Foundation : What Went Wrong? British Highway Development Before Motorways Retrieved 22 August 2009
- ↑ The Victorian Web : The Poor Law : Introduction Retrieved 22 August 2009
- ↑ Staffordshire University : Poor Law Unions and Registration Districts Retrieved 22 August 2009
- ↑ A Vision of Britain Through Time : Status Details for Rural Sanitary District Retrieved 22 August 2009
- ↑ Robert Tittler, The Reformation and the Towns in England, 1998, Oxford University Press, 395 pages, ISBN 978-0-19-820718-4
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Modern British Surnames : Selected Events in the History of Civil Registration and Boundary Changes 1801–1996 Retrieved 22 August 2009
- ↑ 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
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Office of Public Sector Information : Local Government Act 1972 Retrieved 22 August 2009
- ↑ Office of Public Sector Information : Local Government and Rating Act 1997 Retrieved 22 August 2009
- ↑ Office of Public Sector Information : Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 Retrieved 22 August 2009
- ↑ A Vision of Britain Through Time : Cambridge Municipal Borough Retrieved 19 September 2010
- ↑ Office for National Statistics : Census 2001 : Usual Resident Population Abbey; Arbury; Castle; Cherry Hinton; Coleridge; East Chesterton; King's Hedges; Market; Newnham; Petersfield; Queen Edith's; Romsey; Trumpington; and West Chesterton wards. Retrieved 17 September 2010
- ↑ 14.00 14.01 14.02 14.03 14.04 14.05 14.06 14.07 14.08 14.09 14.10 14.11 14.12 14.13 14.14 14.15 14.16 14.17 14.18 14.19 14.20 A Vision of Britain Through Time : Newmarket Rural District Retrieved 19 September 2010
- ↑ 15.00 15.01 15.02 15.03 15.04 15.05 15.06 15.07 15.08 15.09 15.10 15.11 15.12 15.13 15.14 15.15 15.16 15.17 15.18 15.19 15.20 15.21 15.22 15.23 15.24 15.25 15.26 15.27 15.28 15.29 15.30 15.31 15.32 15.33 15.34 Office for National Statistics : Census 2001 : Parish Headcounts : East Cambridgeshire Retrieved 17 September 2010
- ↑ 16.00 16.01 16.02 16.03 16.04 16.05 16.06 16.07 16.08 16.09 16.10 16.11 16.12 A Vision of Britain Through Time : Ely Rural District Retrieved 17 September 2010
- ↑ A Vision of Britain Through Time : Ely Urban District Retrieved 17 September 2010
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 A Vision of Britain Through Time : North Witchford Rural District Retrieved 17 September 2010
- ↑ 19.00 19.01 19.02 19.03 19.04 19.05 19.06 19.07 19.08 19.09 19.10 19.11 19.12 19.13 19.14 19.15 Office for National Statistics : Census 2001 : Parish Headcounts : Fenland Retrieved 17 September 2010
- ↑ A Vision of Britain Through Time : Chatteris Urban District Retrieved 17 September 2010
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 21.4 21.5 21.6 21.7 A Vision of Britain Through Time : Wisbech Rural District Retrieved 17 September 2010
- ↑ A Vision of Britain Through Time : March Urban District Retrieved 17 September 2010
- ↑ A Vision of Britain Through Time : Whittlesey Urban District Retrieved 17 September 2010
- ↑ A Vision of Britain Through Time : Wisbech Municipal Borough Retrieved 17 September 2010
- ↑ 25.00 25.01 25.02 25.03 25.04 25.05 25.06 25.07 25.08 25.09 25.10 25.11 25.12 25.13 25.14 25.15 25.16 25.17 25.18 25.19 25.20 25.21 25.22 25.23 A Vision of Britain Through Time : Huntingdon Rural District Retrieved 17 September 2010
- ↑ 26.00 26.01 26.02 26.03 26.04 26.05 26.06 26.07 26.08 26.09 26.10 26.11 26.12 26.13 26.14 26.15 26.16 26.17 26.18 26.19 26.20 26.21 26.22 26.23 26.24 26.25 26.26 26.27 26.28 26.29 26.30 26.31 26.32 26.33 26.34 26.35 26.36 26.37 26.38 26.39 26.40 26.41 26.42 26.43 26.44 26.45 26.46 26.47 26.48 26.49 26.50 26.51 26.52 26.53 26.54 26.55 26.56 26.57 26.58 26.59 26.60 26.61 26.62 26.63 26.64 26.65 26.66 26.67 26.68 26.69 26.70 26.71 26.72 26.73 Office for National Statistics : Census 2001 : Parish Headcounts : Huntingdonshire Retrieved 17 September 2010
- ↑ 27.00 27.01 27.02 27.03 27.04 27.05 27.06 27.07 27.08 27.09 27.10 27.11 27.12 27.13 27.14 27.15 27.16 27.17 27.18 27.19 A Vision of Britain Through Time : St Neots Rural District Retrieved 17 September 2010
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 Office for National Statistics : Census 2001 : Key Statistics : Usual Resident Population Gransden and the Offords ward (part). Retrieved 17 September 2010
- ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 29.4 29.5 29.6 The Huntingdonshire (Parishes) Order 2009 Retrieved 25 September 2010
- ↑ 30.00 30.01 30.02 30.03 30.04 30.05 30.06 30.07 30.08 30.09 30.10 30.11 30.12 30.13 30.14 30.15 A Vision of Britain Through Time : Norman Cross Rural District Retrieved 17 September 2010
- ↑ 31.00 31.01 31.02 31.03 31.04 31.05 31.06 31.07 31.08 31.09 31.10 31.11 31.12 31.13 31.14 31.15 31.16 31.17 A Vision of Britain Through Time : St Ives Rural District Retrieved 17 September 2010
- ↑ 32.0 32.1 A Vision of Britain Through Time : Huntingdon and Godmanchester
Municipal Borough Retrieved 17 September 2010 - ↑ 33.0 33.1 Office for National Statistics : Census 2001 : Key Statistics : Usual Resident Population The Hemingfords ward (part). Retrieved 17 September 2010
- ↑ Office of the Deputy Prime Minister : Bulletin of Changes to Local Authority Areas and Names in England : Orders Made Between 1 April 2003 and 31 March 2004 : District Council Notices of the Change of Name of a Parish Retrieved 25 September 2010
- ↑ A Vision of Britain Through Time : Ramsey Urban District Retrieved 17 September 2010
- ↑ A Vision of Britain Through Time : St Ives Municipal Borough Retrieved 17 September 2010
- ↑ A Vision of Britain Through Time : St Neots Urban District Retrieved 17 September 2010
- ↑ Office for National Statistics : Census 2001 : Key Statistics : Usual Resident Population Gransden and the Offords (part); St Neots Eaton Ford; St Neots Eaton Socon; St Neots Eynesbury; and St Neots Priory Park wards. Retrieved 17 September 2010
- ↑ Office for National Statistics : Census 2001 : Key Statistics : Usual Resident Population Upwood and the Raveleys ward (part). Retrieved 17 September 2010
- ↑ 40.00 40.01 40.02 40.03 40.04 40.05 40.06 40.07 40.08 40.09 40.10 40.11 40.12 40.13 40.14 A Vision of Britain Through Time : Peterborough Rural District Retrieved 17 September 2010
- ↑ 41.00 41.01 41.02 41.03 41.04 41.05 41.06 41.07 41.08 41.09 41.10 41.11 41.12 41.13 41.14 41.15 41.16 41.17 41.18 41.19 41.20 41.21 41.22 41.23 41.24 41.25 41.26 41.27 Office for National Statistics : Census 2001 : Parish Headcounts : Peterborough Retrieved 17 September 2010
- ↑ 42.0 42.1 42.2 42.3 42.4 42.5 42.6 42.7 42.8 A Vision of Britain Through Time : Barnack Rural District Retrieved 17 September 2010
- ↑ 43.0 43.1 A Vision of Britain Through Time : Peterborough Municipal Borough Retrieved 17 September 2010
- ↑ 44.0 44.1 A Vision of Britain Through Time : Old Fletton Urban District Retrieved 17 September 2010
- ↑ Office for National Statistics : Census 2001 : Usual Resident Population Orton with Hampton (part) ward. Retrieved 17 September 2010
- ↑ The Peterborough (Reorganisation of Community Governance) Order 2010 Retrieved 1 September 2010
- ↑ Office for National Statistics : Census 2001 : Usual Resident Population Fletton (part); Orton with Hampton (part); Stanground Central (part); and Stanground East wards. Retrieved 17 September 2010
- ↑ Office for National Statistics : Census 2001 : Usual Resident Population Central; Dogsthorpe; East (part); Fletton (part); North; Park; Paston; Ravensthorpe; Walton; Werrington North; Werrington South; and West wards. Retrieved 17 September 2010
- ↑ 49.0 49.1 A Vision of Britain Through Time : Thorney Rural District Retrieved 17 September 2010
- ↑ Office for National Statistics : Census 2001 : Usual Resident Population Stanground Central (part) ward. Retrieved 17 September 2010
- ↑ The Peterborough (Parishes) Order 2004 Retrieved 17 September 2010
- ↑ 52.00 52.01 52.02 52.03 52.04 52.05 52.06 52.07 52.08 52.09 52.10 52.11 52.12 52.13 52.14 52.15 52.16 52.17 52.18 52.19 52.20 52.21 52.22 52.23 52.24 52.25 52.26 52.27 52.28 52.29 52.30 52.31 52.32 52.33 52.34 52.35 52.36 52.37 52.38 52.39 52.40 52.41 52.42 52.43 52.44 52.45 52.46 52.47 A Vision of Britain Through Time : South Cambridgeshire Rural District Retrieved 17 September 2010
- ↑ 53.00 53.01 53.02 53.03 53.04 53.05 53.06 53.07 53.08 53.09 53.10 53.11 53.12 53.13 53.14 53.15 53.16 53.17 53.18 53.19 53.20 53.21 53.22 53.23 53.24 53.25 53.26 53.27 53.28 53.29 53.30 53.31 53.32 53.33 53.34 53.35 53.36 53.37 53.38 53.39 53.40 53.41 53.42 53.43 53.44 53.45 53.46 53.47 53.48 53.49 53.50 53.51 53.52 53.53 53.54 53.55 53.56 53.57 53.58 53.59 53.60 53.61 53.62 53.63 53.64 53.65 53.66 53.67 53.68 53.69 53.70 53.71 53.72 53.73 53.74 53.75 53.76 53.77 53.78 53.79 53.80 53.81 53.82 53.83 53.84 53.85 53.86 53.87 53.88 53.89 53.90 53.91 53.92 53.93 53.94 53.95 53.96 Office for National Statistics : Census 2001 : Parish Headcounts : South Cambridgeshire Retrieved 17 September 2010
- ↑ 54.00 54.01 54.02 54.03 54.04 54.05 54.06 54.07 54.08 54.09 54.10 54.11 54.12 54.13 54.14 54.15 54.16 54.17 54.18 54.19 54.20 54.21 54.22 54.23 54.24 54.25 54.26 54.27 54.28 54.29 54.30 54.31 54.32 54.33 54.34 54.35 54.36 54.37 54.38 54.39 54.40 54.41 54.42 54.43 54.44 54.45 54.46 54.47 54.48 54.49 54.50 54.51 54.52 54.53 A Vision of Britain Through Time : Chesterton Rural District Retrieved 17 September 2010
- ↑ 55.0 55.1 55.2 Office for National Statistics : Census 2001 : Usual Resident Population Bourn (part) ward. Retrieved 17 September 2010
- ↑ The South Cambridgeshire (Parishes) Order 2004 Retrieved 17 September 2010
- ↑ 57.0 57.1 Office for National Statistics : Census 2001 : Usual Resident Population Histon and Impington (part) ward. Retrieved 17 September 2010
- ↑ The South Cambridgeshire District Council (Reorganisation of Community Governance) Order 2009 Retrieved 19 May 2010
External links
- Office for National Statistics : Geographical Area Listings
- East Cambridgeshire District Council : Parish and Town Councils in East Cambridgeshire
- Fenland District Council : Parish and Town Councils and Councillors
- Huntingdonshire District Council : Parish Councils
- Peterborough City Council : Parish Council Contact Details
- South Cambridgeshire District Council : Parish Councils
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