Civil parishes in Bedfordshire

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

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.

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

Image Name Status Population District Former local authority [12] Refs
Bedford Unparished area 69,271 Bedford Bedford
Municipal Borough 		[13]
[14]
Biddenham Civil parish 1,640 Bedford Bedford
Rural District 		[15]
[16]
Bletsoe Civil parish 281 Bedford Bedford
Rural District 		[15]
[17]
Bolnhurst and Keysoe Civil parish 734 Bedford Bedford
Rural District 		[15]
[17]
Brickhill Civil parish 8,678 Bedford Bedford
Municipal Borough 		[13]
[18]
[19]
Bromham Civil parish 4,768 Bedford Bedford
Rural District 		[15]
[17]
Cardington Civil parish 316 Bedford Bedford
Rural District 		[15]
[17]
Carlton and Chellington Civil parish 827 Bedford Bedford
Rural District 		[15]
[17]
Clapham Civil parish 3,643 Bedford Bedford
Rural District 		[15]
[17]
Colmworth Civil parish 367 Bedford Bedford
Rural District 		[15]
[17]
Cople Civil parish 736 Bedford Bedford
Rural District 		[15]
[17]
Dean and Shelton Civil parish 386 Bedford Bedford
Rural District 		[15]
[17]
Eastcotts Civil parish 3,187 Bedford Bedford
Rural District 		[15]
[17]
Elstow Civil parish 2,049 Bedford Bedford
Rural District 		[15]
[17]
Felmersham Civil parish 737 Bedford Bedford
Rural District 		[15]
[17]
Great Barford Civil parish 1,864 Bedford Bedford
Rural District 		[15]
[17]
Great Denham Civil parish 980 Bedford Bedford
Rural District 		[15]
[20]
[21]
Harrold Civil parish 1,235 Bedford Bedford
Rural District 		[15]
[17]
Kempston Town 19,375 Bedford Kempston
Urban District 		[22]
[17]
Kempston Rural Civil parish 1,286 Bedford Bedford
Rural District 		[15]
[17]
Knotting and Souldrop Civil parish 269 Bedford Bedford
Rural District 		[15]
[17]
Little Barford Civil parish 44 Bedford Bedford
Rural District 		[15]
[17]
Little Staughton Civil parish 421 Bedford Bedford
Rural District 		[15]
[17]
Melchbourne and Yielden Civil parish 391 Bedford Bedford
Rural District 		[15]
[17]
Milton Ernest Civil parish 754 Bedford Bedford
Rural District 		[15]
[17]
Oakley Civil parish 2,438 Bedford Bedford
Rural District 		[15]
[17]
Odell Civil parish 260 Bedford Bedford
Rural District 		[15]
[17]
Pavenham Civil parish 593 Bedford Bedford
Rural District 		[15]
[17]
Pertenhall Civil parish 231 Bedford Bedford
Rural District 		[15]
[17]
Podington Civil parish 417 Bedford Bedford
Rural District 		[15]
[17]
Ravensden Civil parish 706 Bedford Bedford
Rural District 		[15]
[17]
Renhold Civil parish 1,448 Bedford Bedford
Rural District 		[15]
[17]
Riseley Civil parish 1,284 Bedford Bedford
Rural District 		[15]
[17]
Roxton Civil parish 322 Bedford Bedford
Rural District 		[15]
[23]
[21]
Sharnbrook Civil parish 1,940 Bedford Bedford
Rural District 		[15]
[17]
Stagsden Civil parish 354 Bedford Bedford
Rural District 		[15]
[17]
Staploe Civil parish 347 Bedford Bedford
Rural District 		[15]
[17]
Stevington Civil parish 581 Bedford Bedford
Rural District 		[15]
[17]
Stewartby Civil parish 1,212 Bedford Bedford
Rural District 		[15]
[17]
Swineshead Civil parish 150 Bedford Bedford
Rural District 		[15]
[17]
Thurleigh Civil parish 696 Bedford Bedford
Rural District 		[15]
[17]
Turvey Civil parish 1,192 Bedford Bedford
Rural District 		[15]
[17]
Wilden Civil parish 412 Bedford Bedford
Rural District 		[15]
[17]
Willington Civil parish 782 Bedford Bedford
Rural District 		[15]
[17]
Wilshamstead Civil parish 2,263 Bedford Bedford
Rural District 		[15]
[17]
Wixams Civil parish Bedford Bedford
Rural District 		[24]
Wootton Civil parish 4,230 Bedford Bedford
Rural District 		[15]
[17]
Wyboston, Chawston and Colesden Civil parish 946 Bedford Bedford
Rural District 		[15]
[23]
[21]
Wymington Civil parish 868 Bedford Bedford
Rural District 		[15]
[17]
Ampthill Town 6,767 Central Bedfordshire Ampthill
Urban District 		[25]
[26]
Arlesey Town 4,741 Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade
Rural District 		[27]
[26]
Aspley Guise Civil parish 2,185 Central Bedfordshire Ampthill
Rural District 		[28]
[26]
Aspley Heath Civil parish 573 Central Bedfordshire Ampthill
Rural District 		[28]
[26]
Astwick Civil parish 24 Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade
Rural District 		[27]
[26]
Barton le Clay Civil parish 4,793 Central Bedfordshire Luton
Rural District 		[29]
[30]
Battlesden Civil parish 37 Central Bedfordshire Ampthill
Rural District 		[28]
[26]
Biggleswade Town 15,383 Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade
Urban District 		[31]
[26]
Blunham Civil parish 926 Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade
Rural District 		[27]
[26]
Brogborough Civil parish 343 Central Bedfordshire Ampthill
Rural District 		[28]
[26]
Caddington Civil parish 3,673 Central Bedfordshire Luton
Rural District 		[29]
[30]
Campton and Chicksands Civil parish 1,388 Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade
Rural District 		[27]
[26]
Chalgrave Civil parish 480 Central Bedfordshire Luton
Rural District 		[29]
[30]
Chalton Civil parish 549 Central Bedfordshire Luton
Rural District 		[29]
[30]
Clifton Civil parish 2,730 Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade
Rural District 		[27]
[26]
Clophill Civil parish 1,702 Central Bedfordshire Ampthill
Rural District 		[28]
[26]
Cranfield Civil parish 4,909 Central Bedfordshire Ampthill
Rural District 		[28]
[26]
Dunstable Town 33,805 Central Bedfordshire Dunstable
Municipal Borough 		[32]
[30]
Dunton Civil parish 653 Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade
Rural District 		[27]
[26]
Eaton Bray Civil parish 2,591 Central Bedfordshire Luton
Rural District 		[29]
[30]
Edworth Civil parish 69 Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade
Rural District 		[27]
[26]
Eggington Civil parish 288 Central Bedfordshire Luton
Rural District 		[29]
[30]
Eversholt Civil parish 387 Central Bedfordshire Ampthill
Rural District 		[28]
[26]
Everton Civil parish 525 Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade
Rural District 		[27]
[26]
Eyeworth Civil parish 86 Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade
Rural District 		[27]
[26]
Fairfield Park Civil parish Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade
Rural District 		[33]
Flitton and Greenfield Civil parish 1,212 Central Bedfordshire Ampthill
Rural District 		[28]
[26]
Flitwick Town 12,700 Central Bedfordshire Ampthill
Rural District 		[28]
[26]
Gravenhurst Civil parish 581 Central Bedfordshire Ampthill
Rural District 		[28]
[26]
Great Billington Civil parish 632 Central Bedfordshire Luton
Rural District 		[29]
[30]
Harlington Civil parish 2,322 Central Bedfordshire Ampthill
Rural District 		[28]
[26]
Haynes Civil parish 1,122 Central Bedfordshire Ampthill
Rural District 		[28]
[26]
Heath and Reach Civil parish 1,285 Central Bedfordshire Luton
Rural District 		[29]
[30]
Henlow Civil parish 3,084 Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade
Rural District 		[27]
[26]
Hockliffe Civil parish 730 Central Bedfordshire Luton
Rural District 		[29]
[30]
Houghton Conquest Civil parish 1,299 Central Bedfordshire Ampthill
Rural District 		[28]
[26]
Houghton Regis Town 16,970 Central Bedfordshire Luton
Rural District 		[29]
[30]
Hulcote and Salford Civil parish 186 Central Bedfordshire Ampthill
Rural District 		[28]
[26]
Husborne Crawley Civil parish 217 Central Bedfordshire Ampthill
Rural District 		[28]
[26]
Hyde Civil parish 402 Central Bedfordshire Luton
Rural District 		[29]
[30]
Kensworth Civil parish 1,504 Central Bedfordshire Luton
Rural District 		[29]
[30]
Langford Civil parish 2,882 Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade
Rural District 		[27]
[26]
Leighton–Linslade Town 32,417 Central Bedfordshire Leighton–Linslade
Urban District 		[34]
[30]
Lidlington Civil parish 1,145 Central Bedfordshire Ampthill
Rural District 		[28]
[26]
Marston Moretaine Civil parish 3,684 Central Bedfordshire Ampthill
Rural District 		[28]
[26]
Maulden Civil parish 2,900 Central Bedfordshire Ampthill
Rural District 		[28]
[26]
Meppershall Civil parish 1,549 Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade
Rural District 		[27]
[26]
Millbrook Civil parish 130 Central Bedfordshire Ampthill
Rural District 		[28]
[26]
Milton Bryan Civil parish 144 Central Bedfordshire Ampthill
Rural District 		[28]
[26]
Mogerhanger Civil parish 636 Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade
Rural District 		[27]
[26]
Northill Civil parish 2,288 Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade
Rural District 		[27]
[26]
Old Warden Civil parish 275 Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade
Rural District 		[27]
[26]
Potsgrove Civil parish 44 Central Bedfordshire Ampthill
Rural District 		[28]
[26]
Potton Town 4,473 Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade
Rural District 		[27]
[26]
Pulloxhill Civil parish 850 Central Bedfordshire Ampthill
Rural District 		[28]
[26]
Ridgmont Civil parish 418 Central Bedfordshire Ampthill
Rural District 		[28]
[26]
Sandy Town 10,887 Central Bedfordshire Sandy
Urban District 		[35]
[26]
Shefford Town 4,928 Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade
Rural District 		[27]
[26]
Shillington Civil parish 1,831 Central Bedfordshire Ampthill
Rural District 		[28]
[26]
Silsoe Civil parish 1,729 Central Bedfordshire Ampthill
Rural District 		[28]
[26]
Slip End Civil parish 1,976 Central Bedfordshire Luton
Rural District 		[29]
[30]
Southill Civil parish 1,141 Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade
Rural District 		[27]
[26]
Stanbridge Civil parish 747 Central Bedfordshire Luton
Rural District 		[29]
[30]
Steppingley Civil parish 233 Central Bedfordshire Ampthill
Rural District 		[28]
[26]
Stondon Civil parish 1,821 Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade
Rural District 		[27]
[26]
Stotfold Town 6,190 Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade
Rural District 		[27]
[26]
Streatley Civil parish 1,707 Central Bedfordshire Luton
Rural District 		[29]
[30]
Studham Civil parish 1,125 Central Bedfordshire Luton
Rural District 		[29]
[30]
Sundon Civil parish 507 Central Bedfordshire Luton
Rural District 		[29]
[30]
Sutton Civil parish 299 Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade
Rural District 		[27]
[26]
Tempsford Civil parish 564 Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade
Rural District 		[27]
[26]
Tilsworth Civil parish 360 Central Bedfordshire Luton
Rural District 		[29]
[30]
Tingrith Civil parish 149 Central Bedfordshire Ampthill
Rural District 		[28]
[26]
Toddington Civil parish 4,459 Central Bedfordshire Luton
Rural District 		[29]
[30]
Totternhoe Civil parish 1,180 Central Bedfordshire Luton
Rural District 		[29]
[30]
Westoning Civil parish 2,001 Central Bedfordshire Ampthill
Rural District 		[28]
[26]
Whipsnade Civil parish 457 Central Bedfordshire Luton
Rural District 		[29]
[30]
Woburn Civil parish 945 Central Bedfordshire Ampthill
Rural District 		[28]
[26]
Wrestlingworth and Cockayne Hatley Civil parish 737 Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade
Rural District 		[27]
[26]
Luton Unparished area 184,371 Luton Luton
County Borough 		[36]
[37]

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 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. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Modern British Surnames : Selected Events in the History of Civil Registration and Boundary Changes 1801-1996 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. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Office of Public Sector Information : Local Government Act 1972 Retrieved 22 August 2009
  10. ↑ Office of Public Sector Information : Local Government and Rating Act 1997 Retrieved 22 August 2009
  11. ↑ Office of Public Sector Information : Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 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. ↑ 13.0 13.1 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 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. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 15.6 15.7 15.8 15.9 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 15.35 15.36 15.37 15.38 15.39 15.40 15.41 15.42 15.43 15.44 A Vision of Britain Through Time : Bedford Rural District Retrieved 15 October 2010
  16. ↑ Office for National Statistics : Census 2001 : Table KS01 : Usual Resident Population Bromham (part) ward. Retrieved 15 October 2010
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 17.5 17.6 17.7 17.8 17.9 17.10 17.11 17.12 17.13 17.14 17.15 17.16 17.17 17.18 17.19 17.20 17.21 17.22 17.23 17.24 17.25 17.26 17.27 17.28 17.29 17.30 17.31 17.32 17.33 17.34 17.35 17.36 17.37 17.38 17.39 17.40 17.41 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 Brickhill ward. Retrieved 15 October 2010
  19. ↑ The Bedford (Parish) Order 2004 Retrieved 15 October 2010
  20. ↑ Office for National Statistics : Census 2001 : Table KS01 : Usual Resident Population Bromham (part); and Turvey (part) wards. Retrieved 15 October 2010
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 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. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Office for National Statistics : Census 2001 : Table KS01 : Usual Resident Population 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. ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 26.3 26.4 26.5 26.6 26.7 26.8 26.9 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 Office for National Statistics : Census 2001 : Parish Headcounts : Mid Bedfordshire Retrieved 15 October 2010
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 27.3 27.4 27.5 27.6 27.7 27.8 27.9 27.10 27.11 27.12 27.13 27.14 27.15 27.16 27.17 27.18 27.19 27.20 27.21 27.22 A Vision of Britain Through Time : Biggleswade Rural District Retrieved 15 October 2010
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 28.3 28.4 28.5 28.6 28.7 28.8 28.9 28.10 28.11 28.12 28.13 28.14 28.15 28.16 28.17 28.18 28.19 28.20 28.21 28.22 28.23 28.24 28.25 28.26 28.27 28.28 A Vision of Britain Through Time : Ampthill Rural District Retrieved 15 October 2010
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 29.4 29.5 29.6 29.7 29.8 29.9 29.10 29.11 29.12 29.13 29.14 29.15 29.16 29.17 29.18 29.19 29.20 A Vision of Britain Through Time : Luton Rural District Retrieved 15 October 2010
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 30.3 30.4 30.5 30.6 30.7 30.8 30.9 30.10 30.11 30.12 30.13 30.14 30.15 30.16 30.17 30.18 30.19 30.20 30.21 30.22 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. ↑ A Vision of Britain Through Time : Dunstable Municipal Borough Retrieved 15 October 2010
  33. ↑ http://www.biggleswadetoday.co.uk/news/local-news/historic-moment-for-community-s-parish-council-1-5103001
  34. ↑ A Vision of Britain Through Time : Leighton–Linslade Urban District Retrieved 15 October 2010
  35. ↑ A Vision of Britain Through Time : Sandy Urban District Retrieved 15 October 2010
  36. ↑ A Vision of Britain Through Time : Luton County Borough Retrieved 15 October 2010
  37. ↑ Office for National Statistics : Census 2001 : Table KS01 : Usual Resident Population 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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