Southwark | |
Motto: United to serve | |
Southwark within the County of London |
|
Geography | |
Status | Metropolitan borough |
1911/1931 area | 1,132 acres (4.58 km2) |
1961 area | 1,131 acres (4.58 km2) |
HQ | Walworth Road |
History | |
Created | 1900 |
Abolished | 1965 |
Succeeded by | London Borough of Southwark |
Demography | |
---|---|
1911 population - 1911 density |
191,907 169/acre |
1931 population - 1931 density |
171,695 152/acre |
1961 population - 1961 density |
86,249 76/acre |
Politics | |
Governance | Southwark Borough Council |
Coat of arms of the borough council |
The Metropolitan Borough of Southwark was a metropolitan borough in the County of London from 1900 to 1965. It was created to cover the western section of the ancient borough of Southwark and formed the northwestern part of the current London Borough of Southwark. In common with the rest of inner London, the borough experienced a steady decline in population throughout its existence. The borough council made an unsuccessful attempt to gain city status in 1955.
Contents |
The borough was one of two created in the Southwark area by the London Government Act 1899. It was formed from the areas of three local authorities: St Saviours District Board of Works (the civil parishes of Southwark Christchurch and Southwark St Saviours) and the incorporated vestries of Newington and Southwark St George the Martyr. The remaining, eastern, part of Southwark (the parishes of St John Horsleydown and St Olave & St Thomas) was combined with Bermondsey and Rotherhithe.[1]
The legislation did not name the two boroughs. Instead this responsibility was given to the commissioners who were appointed under the act to simplify the boundaries between the new municipalities. Representatives for the various vestries gave their suggestions: St Saviour's District Board suggested "Southwark" for the western borough, denying that the eastern borough had a "co-equal" claim to the name. Representatives of the Collegiate Church of St Saviour supported the district board. It was pointed out that a new diocese was soon to be established with the collegiate church becoming the cathedral. This, it was reasoned, would make the new borough the "City of Southwark".[2]
Newington Vestry believed that the borough should bear their name as they were the "predominant partner" in the merger in terms of population, acreage, rateable value and municipal property, and that the council was likely to be based in their district. The name "Walworth" was also proposed as the area had Roman associations and also appeared in early written histories.[2]
The commissioners originally suggested that "West Southwark" might be acceptable, with the neighbouring borough bearing the name "East Southwark". The vestry of St John Horsleydown proposed naming the boroughs as "Southwark St Saviour's" and "Southwark St Olave's", a suggestion supported by the London County Council.[2] A decision was finally made on 25 January 1900, with the western borough becoming "Southwark" and the eastern borough as Bermondsey.[3]
The existing boundaries were found to be "very unsatisfactory". Accordingly they were realigned, for the most part following the centre of roads. Guy's Hospital, which had been divided between three parishes, was entirely taken into the borough.[4]
In 1955 the borough council unsuccessfully petitioned for the grant of city status.[5]
It included the areas now known as:
The London Government Act 1963 abolished both the County of London and the metropolitan boroughs. In their place were created Greater London, which was divided into 32 London Boroughs, formed by the merger of existing authorities. On 1 April 1965 the London Borough of Southwark was formed by the amalgamation of the three metropolitan boroughs of Southwark, Camberwell and Bermondsey.[1]
The Borough had an area of 1,131 acres (4.6 km2). The population from the Census was:
Civil Parishes 1801-1899
Year[6] | 1801 | 1811 | 1821 | 1831 | 1841 | 1851 | 1861 | 1871 | 1881 | 1891 | 1901 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Population | 62,669 | 78,219 | 99,562 | 116,006 | 134,225 | 152,371 | 173,900 | 175,049 | 195,164 | 202,693 | 206,160 |
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