Metropolitan Borough of Battersea

Last updated

Battersea
St Mary
Battersea Arts Centre, Lavender Hill, SW11 (3324322940).jpg
Former Battersea Town Hall (now Arts Centre)
Metropolitan Borough of Battersea.svg
Metropolitan Borough of Battersea shown within the County of London
Area
  18313,020 acres (12.2 km2) [1]
  18512,343 acres (9.48 km2) [1]
  19012,161 acres (8.75 km2) [1]
Population
  18013,365 [1]
  185110,560 [1]
  1901168,907 [1]
Density
  18514.5/acre
  190178/acre
History
  OriginAncient parish
  Abolished1965
  Succeeded by London Borough of Wandsworth
Status Civil parish (until 1965)
Metropolitan borough (1900—1965)
GovernmentVestry of the Parish of Battersea (1888—1900)
Battersea Borough Council (1900—1965)
   HQ Municipal Buildings, Lavender Hill
   Motto Non Mihi Non Tibi Sed Nobis
(Not for me, not for thee, but for us)
Batterseaarms.PNG
Coat of arms of the borough council
Metropolitan Borough of Battersea Map of borough boundary

Battersea was a civil parish and metropolitan borough in the County of London, England. In 1965, the borough was abolished and its area combined with parts of the Metropolitan Borough of Wandsworth to form the London Borough of Wandsworth. The borough was administered from Battersea Town Hall on Lavender Hill. That building is now Battersea Arts Centre.

Contents

Ancient parish

As an ancient parish, Battersea was part of the hundred of Brixton and county of Surrey. It included the exclave of Penge.

Parish in the Metropolis

In 1855, under the Metropolis Management Act 1855, the civil responsibilities of the parish were passed to the Metropolitan Board of Works. The two parts of the parish were assigned to different districts by the act establishing the MBW: Battersea was included in the area of the Wandsworth District Board of Works and the hamlet of Penge in that of Lewisham District Board of Works. Penge became a civil parish in its own right in 1866.

On 25 March 1888, a separate vestry was formed as a local authority for The parish of Saint Mary Battersea excluding Penge. [2] In 1889, the Local Government Act 1888 reconstituted the area of the Metropolitan Board of Works as the County of London, and Battersea was transferred from Surrey to the new county. [3]

The population of the parish in 1896 was 165,115 and it had adopted the Public Libraries Act 1850 immediately upon obtaining local independence in 1888, with its own vestry. For electoral purposes, the parish was divided into four wards and had 120 elected vestrymen.

Metropolitan borough

In 1900, the London Government Act 1899 divided the County of London into twenty-eight metropolitan boroughs. The vestries and district boards were dissolved. The parish became the Metropolitan Borough of Battersea, with the borough council replacing the civil vestry.

The Metropolitan Borough included within its bounds Battersea, Battersea Park, Clapham Junction and parts of Wandsworth Common and Clapham Common.

In 1913, John Archer became mayor of the borough and the first black mayor in the capital. [4]

Ecclesiastical parish

The ancient parish, dedicated to St Mary, was in the Diocese of Winchester until 1877, then the Diocese of Rochester until 1905, and then finally in the Diocese of Southwark. From 1851, as the population of Battersea increased, a number of new parishes were formed: [5]

A number of new parishes were also formed within the detached part of Battersea parish, the hamlet of Penge: [5]

Coat of arms

In 1901, the borough adopted an unofficial coat of arms, consisting of a shield vertically divided blue and white, the division line being indented (in heraldry-speak Party per pale indented azure and argent ). This design was taken from a flag dating from 1803. On top of the shield was a dove bearing an olive branch. The Latin motto was Non Mihi, Non Tibi, Sed Nobis, or "Neither for myself, nor for yourself, but for us".

In 1955, the borough received an official grant from the College of Arms, based on the old device. The colours in the shield were reversed, and a bordure or heraldic border added. The bordure consisted of silver and blue waves, representative of the River Thames, and bore sixteen gold stars for the sixteen wards of the borough. The new crest on top of the helm was the dove of the 1901 design, with the addition of sprigs of lavender, for the old lavender fields of the area, and Lavender Hill, the main road of Battersea. The old motto was retained.

Population and area

The area of the borough was 2,163 acres (8.8 km2). The population recorded in the Census was:

Battersea Vestry 1801–1899

Year [6] 1801181118211831184118511861187118811891
Population3,365 [7] 4,409 [7] 4,7645,3116,61710,56019,60054,016107,262150,558

Metropolitan Borough 1900–1961

Year [8] 1901191119211931194119511961
Population168,907167,743167,739159,552 [9] 117,140105,870

Politics

A map showing the wards of Battersea Metropolitan Borough as they appeared in 1916. Battersea Met. B Ward Map 1916.svg
A map showing the wards of Battersea Metropolitan Borough as they appeared in 1916.

The first election to the council was on 1 November 1900, with the Progressive Party taking control of the new borough. They retained power until 1909, when the Municipal Reform Party (allied to the Conservatives) gained a majority. The Progressives regained the council in 1912, holding power until 1919 when the Labour Party gained control. In 1931 the borough come under Municipal Reform control again. Labour regained power in 1934, retaining it for the rest of the borough's existence.

Elections of the whole council were held every three years. Elections were cancelled during the two world wars (1914–1918 and 1939–1945). The 1952 election was postponed for a year so that it did not clash with elections to the London County Council. The number of councillors returned at each election was as follows:. [10]

Local elections
Year1900190319061909191219191922192519281931193419371945
Progressives373829229
Municipal Alliance171625
Municipal Reform5225112125223118155
Labour4133293323374050
Discharged servicemen2

No Municipal Reform candidates were nominated after 1946, and Conservative candidates were nominated at local elections for the first time.

Year19491953195619591962
Labour3437463440
Conservative2118182112
Liberal3

Wards

From 1900 to 1949 the borough was divided into nine wards, returning either three, six or nine councillors:

In 1949 the wards were redrawn, with fourteen wards returning three to five councillors each:

The latest ward to be redrawn was Fairfield ward, with three councillors.

Parliamentary constituencies

For elections to parliament the borough was originally part of the parliamentary borough of Battersea and Clapham, which consisted of two divisions, Battersea and Clapham.

In 1918 the metropolitan borough was divided into two constituencies:

The boundaries of the two constituencies were adjusted in 1949 to reflect the redrawn borough wards:

The constituencies continued unchanged until 1983 [11] when the Battersea constituency largely succeeded these two.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battersea</span> District in London, England

Battersea is a large district in southwest London, part of the London Borough of Wandsworth, England. It is centred 3.5 miles (5.6 km) southwest of Charing Cross and extends along the south bank of the Thames Tideway. It includes the 200-acre (0.81 km2) Battersea Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Borough of Wandsworth</span> London borough in United Kingdom

Wandsworth is a London borough in south London; it forms part of Inner London and has an estimated population of 329,677 inhabitants. Its main named areas are Battersea, Balham, Putney, Tooting and Wandsworth Town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Borough of Lambeth</span> London borough in United Kingdom

Lambeth is a London borough in South London, England, which forms part of Inner London. Its name was recorded in 1062 as Lambehitha and in 1255 as Lambeth. The geographical centre of London is at Frazier Street near Lambeth North tube station, though nearby Charing Cross on the other side of the Thames in the City of Westminster is traditionally considered the centre of London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clapham Junction railway station</span> Major railway station in London, England

Clapham Junction railway station is a major railway station and transport hub near St John's Hill in south-west Battersea in the London Borough of Wandsworth. It is 2 miles 57 chains from London Victoria and 3 miles 74 chains from London Waterloo; it is on both the South West Main Line and Brighton Main Line as well as numerous other routes and branch lines passing through or diverging from the main lines at this station. Despite its name, Clapham Junction is not located in Clapham, a district situated approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) to the south-east and is instead sited in Battersea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Metropolitan Borough of Wandsworth</span>

The Metropolitan Borough of Wandsworth was a Metropolitan borough under the London County Council, from 1900 to 1965.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Metropolitan Borough of Lambeth</span> Metropolitan borough of England

Lambeth was a civil parish and metropolitan borough in south London, England. It was an ancient parish in the county of Surrey. The parish was included in the area of responsibility of the Metropolitan Board of Works in 1855 and became part of the County of London in 1889. The parish of Lambeth became a metropolitan borough in 1900, following the London Government Act 1899, with the parish vestry replaced by a borough council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battersea (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom since 1983

Battersea is a constituency in the London Borough of Wandsworth. It has been represented since 2017 by Marsha de Cordova of the Labour Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Penge Urban District</span>

Penge was a civil parish and a local government district located to the southeast of London, England. It included the settlements of Penge, Anerley and part of Crystal Palace. It was part of the London postal district, Metropolitan Police District and, from 1933, the London Passenger Transport Area. In 1965 the urban district was abolished by the London Government Act 1963 and it became part of Greater London, being combined with other districts to form the London Borough of Bromley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Government Act 1899</span> United Kingdom legislation

The London Government Act 1899 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that reformed the administration of the capital. The Act divided the County of London into 28 metropolitan boroughs, replacing the 41 parish vestries and District Boards of Works administering the area. The legislation also transferred a few powers from the London County Council to the boroughs, and removed a number of boundary anomalies. The first elections to the new boroughs were held on 1 November 1900.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clapham (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Former UK Parliament constituency, 1885–February 1974

Clapham was a borough constituency in South London which returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the UK Parliament. It was created in time for the 1885 general election then altered in periodic national boundary reviews, principally in 1918, and abolished before the February 1974 general election. In its early years the seat was officially named Battersea and Clapham Parliamentary Borough: No. 2—The Clapham Division.

Battersea North was a parliamentary constituency in the Metropolitan Borough of Battersea, and then the London Borough of Wandsworth, in South London. It returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first-past-the-post voting system.

Battersea South was a parliamentary constituency, originally in the County of London and later in Greater London. It returned one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons of the UK Parliament.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A3036 road</span> Road in southwest London

The A3036 is an A road in London, England, running from Waterloo to Wandsworth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lambeth London Borough Council</span> Local authority in Greater London, England

Lambeth London Borough Council is the local authority for the London Borough of Lambeth in Greater London, England. It is a London borough council, and one of the 32 in the United Kingdom capital of London. The council meets at Lambeth Town Hall in Brixton. Lambeth is divided into 25 wards: thirteen are represented by 3 councillors and twelve are represented by 2. The council was first elected in 1964.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shaftesbury Park Estate</span> Housing estate in Battersea, London

The Shaftesbury Park Estate, commonly known as The Shaftesbury Estate, is a residential estate in Battersea in South London, England. It lies north of Lavender Hill and Clapham Common and east of Clapham Junction railway station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wandsworth District (Metropolis)</span>

Wandsworth was a local government district within the metropolitan area of London, England from 1855 to 1900. It was formed by the Metropolis Management Act 1855 and was governed by the Wandsworth District Board of Works, which consisted of elected vestrymen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battersea Central Library</span>

Battersea Central Library is a public lending library situated on Lavender Hill in Battersea, south-west London. The library was built by the Battersea Vestry between 1889 and 1890, to a design by Edward Mountford, and remains in use in contemporary times as one of Wandsworth Council's libraries, operated by Greenwich Leisure Ltd.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Latchmere Recreation Ground, Battersea</span> Park in Wandsworth, London

Latchmere Recreation Ground or Latchmere Park is a public open space with a children's playground in Battersea in the London Borough of Wandsworth. It is located approximately 300 metres (330 yd) south of the far larger Battersea Park and the River Thames beyond. It is bounded by Burns Road to the south and Reform Street to the east and north. The former Latchmere School site, converted to housing in 1996, forms the eastern boundary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Winstanley and York Road Estate</span> Housing estates in Battersea, London

The Winstanley and York Road Estate comprises two large estates of predominantly public housing apartments in Battersea, London, adjacent to Clapham Junction railway station, although some have since passed into private ownership.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Wandsworth London Borough Council election</span> 2022 local election in Wandsworth

The 2022 Wandsworth London Borough Council elections took place on 5 May 2022.

References

Notes
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Vision of Britain – Battersea population (area and density)
  2. Metropolis Management (Battersea and Westminster) Act 1887 (50 & 51 Vict. C.17)
  3. Local Government Act, 1888 (51 & 52 Vict. C. 41), s.40
  4. John Archer biography (Black History) Archived 7 May 2006 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 14 January 2008
  5. 1 2 "'Parishes: Battersea with Penge', A History of the County of Surrey". 1912. pp. 8–17. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  6. Statistical Abstract for London, 1901 (Vol. IV); Census tables for Metropolitan Borough of Battersea
  7. 1 2 (probably including Penge)
  8. Battersea MetB: Census Tables. Retrieved 19 June 2007
  9. The census was suspended for World War II
  10. Election results as reported in The Times, 3 November 1900; 4 November 1903; 3 November 1906; 2 November 1909; 2 November 1912; 4 November 1919; 4 November 1925; 3 November 1928; 4 November 1931; 3 November 1934; 3 November 1937; 2 November 1945; 7 May 1949; 7 May 1953; 11 May 1956; 8 May 1959; 12 May 1962
  11. F.A. Youngs, Guide to the Local Administrative Units of England, Volume 1, 1979
Bibliography

Further reading

51°27′53″N0°09′39″W / 51.4648°N 0.1607°W / 51.4648; -0.1607