Municipal Borough of Beckenham

Last updated
Beckenham
Area
 • 18813,881 acres (15.71 km2)
 • 19013,881 acres (15.71 km2) [1]
 • 19313,889 acres (15.74 km2)
 • 19615,935 acres (24.02 km2)
Population
 • 188113,045
 • 190126,331
 • 193143,832
 • 196177,290
History
 • Created1878
 • Abolished1965
 • Succeeded by London Borough of Bromley
Status Local board (1878 - 1894)
Urban district (1894 - 1935)
Municipal borough (after 1935)
Government
 •  HQ Beckenham Town Hall (demolished)
 •  Motto Non Nobis Solum (Not for ourselves alone)
Arms-beckenham.jpg

Beckenham was a local government district in north west Kent from 1878 to 1965 around the town of Beckenham. The area was suburban to London, formed part of the Metropolitan Police District and from 1933 was included in the area of the London Passenger Transport Board.

Contents

History

In 1878 the parish of Beckenham adopted the Local Government Act 1858 and formed a local board of 15 members to govern the area. The Local Government Act 1894 reconstituted the local board's area as an urban district. The urban district was divided into seven wards of Coper's Cope, Eden Park, Kent House, Langley Park, Lawrie Park, Manor House and Shortlands. It encompassed parts of Penge and Sydenham postal districts to the north east of Crystal Palace Park, including a strip of the east side of the park itself. Each ward returned three councillors to Beckenham Urban District Council. [2]

A distinctive town hall with a tall clock tower, which was designed by Lanchester, Lucas and Lodge in the Neo-Georgian style, [3] was built in the High Street and completed in 1932. [4] It was demolished in the 1990s. [3]

The urban district was extended by a county review order in 1934, taking in parts of Hayes and West Wickham from the abolished Bromley Rural District. [5] In 1935 the urban district council successfully petitioned for a charter of incorporation, and became a municipal borough. [6]

In 1965 the municipal borough was abolished by the London Government Act 1963 and its former area transferred to Greater London from Kent. [7] Its former area was combined with that of other districts to form the present-day London Borough of Bromley. The town hall became surplus to requirements and was demolished in the 1990s. [4]

Coat of arms

The borough was granted a coat of arms on incorporation. The shield was green, recalling that for most its history Beckenham had been a rural community. Across the centre were two silver waves, for the River Beck. At the top of the shield were two flowering chestnut trees. These represented the trees and flowers of the town's open spaces and parks. At the base of the shield was the white horse of Kent. The crest above the shield was a gold lion from the heraldry of the Cator family. John Cator was lord of the manor from 1773 and developed Beckenham from a village into a town. The lion supported a mitre and pastoral staff. These stood for Odo, Bishop of Bayeux, who received the manor of Beckenham at the time of the Norman Conquest. The supporters were described as gentleman and lady "in the costume of the early sixteenth century". [8]

Related Research Articles

Beckenham Human settlement in England

Beckenham is a town in Greater London, England, within the London Borough of Bromley. It is located 8.4 miles (13.5 km) south-east of Charing Cross, situated north of Elmers End and Eden Park, east of Penge, south of Lower Sydenham and Bellingham, and west of Bromley and Shortlands. Its population at the 2011 census counted 46,844 inhabitants.

Penge Human settlement in England

Penge is an area of South East London, England, within the London Borough of Bromley. It is located 3.5 miles (5.6 km) west of Bromley, 3.7 miles (6.0 km) north east of Croydon and 7.1 miles (11.4 km) south east of Charing Cross, the traditional centre of London.

London Borough of Bromley Borough in United Kingdom

The London Borough of Bromley is the southeasternmost of the 32 London boroughs that make up Greater London, bordering the county of Kent, which most of Bromley was part of before 1965. The borough's population is an estimated 332,336. It is named after Bromley, its principal town; other major towns are Penge, Hayes, West Wickham, Chislehurst, Beckenham and Orpington. The local authority is Bromley London Borough Council.

Beckenham (UK Parliament constituency) Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 1950 onwards

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Bexley Human settlement in England

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Municipal Borough of Bromley

Bromley was a local government district in northwest Kent from 1867 to 1965 around the town of Bromley. The area was suburban to London, and formed part of the Metropolitan Police District and from 1933 was included in the area of the London Passenger Transport Board.

County Borough of East Ham

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Penge Urban District

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.

Municipal Borough of Finchley

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Municipal Borough of Bexley

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Municipal Borough of Southall

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Municipal Borough of Enfield

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Municipal Borough of Edmonton

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Municipal Borough of Twickenham

Twickenham was a local government district in Middlesex, England from 1868 to 1965.

Carshalton Urban District

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Municipal Borough of Wimbledon

Wimbledon was a local government district in north-east Surrey from 1866 to 1965 covering the town of Wimbledon and its surrounding area. It was part of the London postal district and Metropolitan Police District.

Municipal Borough of Sutton and Cheam

Sutton and Cheam was a local government district in north east Surrey, England from 1882 to 1965.

Municipal Borough of Beddington and Wallington

Beddington and Wallington was, from 1915 to 1965, a local government district in north east Surrey, England. It formed part of the London suburbs, lying within the Metropolitan Police District and the London Passenger Transport Area. In 1965 it was abolished on the creation of Greater London.

Kelsey Park

Kelsey Park is a public park in Beckenham in the borough of Bromley, Greater London. It historically formed the landscaped park of the Kelsey Manor Estate. The river Beck runs through it.

Coat of arms of the London Borough of Bromley

The coat of arms of the London Borough of Bromley is the official coat of arms of the London Borough of Bromley, granted on 20 April 1965.

References

  1. ↑ The Survey Gazetteer of the British Isles, Topgraphical, Statistical and Commercial. Compiled from the 1901 Census and the Latest Official Returns. London: George Newnes Ltd. 1904. p. 59.
  2. ↑ Kelly's Directory of Kent 1903, p.48 (Historical Directories), accessed January 31, 2008
  3. 1 2 "London's Town Halls". Historic England. p. 22. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  4. 1 2 Johnson, David R. (2014). Beckenham Through Time. Amberley Publishing. ISBN   978-1445619767.
  5. ↑ Relationships / unit history of Beckenham (Vision of Britain), accessed January 31, 2008 Archived March 17, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ↑ "Beckenham". Ideal Homes. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  7. ↑ "Local Government Act 1963". Legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  8. ↑ C W Scott-Giles, Civic Heraldry of England and Wales, 2nd edition, London, 1953

Coordinates: 51°25′N0°01′W / 51.41°N 0.02°W / 51.41; -0.02

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