| Bexley | |
|---|---|
| Area | |
| • 1911 | 4,942 acres (20.00 km2) [1] |
| • 1961 | 4,870 acres (19.7 km2) [2] |
| Population | |
| • 1901 | 13,476 [1] |
| • 1961 | 89,550 [2] |
| History | |
| • Created | 1879 |
| • Abolished | 1965 |
| • Succeeded by | London Borough of Bexley |
| Status | Local board (1879–1894) Urban district (1894–1935) Municipal borough (after 1935) |
| Government | |
| • Motto | Non Nobis Sed Communitati (Not for ourselves but for the community) |
 | |
Bexley was a local government district in north west Kent from 1879 to 1965 around the town of Old Bexley.
The parish of Bexley adopted the Local Government Act 1858 in 1879, and a local board of 15 members was formed to govern the area. The local board established offices at Oxford Place, High Street, Bexley. [3]
The Local Government Act 1894 reconstituted the local board's area as an urban district. [4] Bexley Urban District Council replaced the board. In 1902 the urban district was enlarged by absorbing the neighbouring parish of East Wickham, formerly in Dartford Rural District. The enlarged urban district was divided into three wards: Christ Church (returning 8 councillors), St Mary's (5) and East Wickham (2). The Council offices moved to Oak House on the south side of the Broadway, Bexleyheath in 1903. [5] [6] [7]
The urban district council ran its own tram services until they became the responsibility of the London Passenger Transport Board in 1933. [8]
The town was incorporated as a municipal borough in 1935. The royal charter was presented by the Lord Lieutenant of Kent in a ceremony held in Danson Park on 30 September. [9] A corporation consisting of a mayor, 6 aldermen and 18 councillors replaced the UDC, with the first elections being held on 1 November.
In 1965 the municipal borough was abolished by the London Government Act 1963 and its former area transferred to Greater London from Kent. Its former area was combined with that of other districts to form the present-day London Borough of Bexley. [10]
The borough council was initially controlled by independents. In 1945 the Labour Party gained a majority. [11] The Conservative Party took control in 1950, which they held until 1958. [12] The size of the council had been increased to 24 councillors and 8 aldermen in 1954, and in 1958 the council was evenly divided between Labour and Conservatives. [13] The Conservatives regained control in 1959, holding it until 1963. [14] At the final election before the borough's abolition in 1965, Labour took control. [15]
A coat of arms was granted to the Bexley UDC on 16 October 1937 and inherited by the borough. The blazon was as follows: Per fesse vert and Or a fesse wavy barry wavy of four argent and azure in chief an eagle displayed between two apples leaved and slipped of the second and in base an oak tree eradicated proper. Crest: Upon heather proper within a coronet of four fleur-de-lis set upon a rim Or a horse forcene argent. [16]
The green and gold colouring of the arms represented the cornfields and grasslands which covered the area before the town grew up. The oak tree continued this theme, and also depicted the town's parks. The blue and silver waves or "becks" referred to the name "Bexley". Gold apples stood for traditional fruit-growing and the eagle came from the arms of Nicholas Vansittart, 1st Baron Bexley, one time chancellor of the exchequer. The crown was included in the crest as the arms were granted in the year of the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. The crest was the white horse of Kent on a mound of heather for former heath lands of Bexleyheath.
The Latin motto was Non Nobis Sed Communitati or "Not for ourselves but for the community". [17]
The London Borough of Bexley is a London borough in south-east London, forming part of Outer London. It has a population of 248,287. The main settlements are Sidcup, Erith, Bexleyheath, Crayford, Welling and Old Bexley. The London Borough of Bexley is within the Thames Gateway, an area designated as a national priority for urban regeneration. The local authority is Bexley London Borough Council.
Upton was a hamlet in the southwest of today's Bexleyheath in the London Borough of Bexley, in the historic county of Kent.
The Metropolitan Borough of Hackney was a Metropolitan borough of the County of London from 1900 to 1965. Its area became part of the London Borough of Hackney.
South Bedfordshire was, from 1974 to 2009, a non-metropolitan district of Bedfordshire, in the East of England. Its main towns were Dunstable, Houghton Regis and Leighton Buzzard.
Danson Park is a public park in the London Borough of Bexley, South East London, located between Welling and Bexleyheath. At 75 hectares, it is the second largest public park in the borough, and the most used by the community. Opened in 1925, it is often considered the finest green open space in the borough, and is Grade II listed on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens. The park also gives its name to the electoral ward that covers the park and the surrounding area. The park is located at grid reference TQ472752. The southern boundary of both the park and the ward is delineated by Rochester Way, the A2 road.
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.
The County Borough of Croydon was a local government district in and around the town of Croydon in north east Surrey, England from 1889 to 1965. Since 1965 the district has been part of the London Borough of Croydon within Greater London.
Finchley, which is now in north London, was a local government district in Middlesex, England, from 1878 to 1965. Finchley Local Board first met in 1878. It became Finchley District Council in 1895 and the Municipal Borough of Finchley in 1933. In 1965 Middlesex was abolished and Finchley became part of the London Borough of Barnet.
Erith was a local government district in north west Kent from 1876 to 1965 around the town of Erith. It also included the generally suburban areas of Northumberland Heath, Belvedere, and parts of Barnehurst, Bexleyheath, Crayford and the SE2 London Postal District of Abbey Wood.
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.
Acton was a local government district in Middlesex, England from 1865 to 1965.
Enfield was a local government district in Middlesex, England from 1850 to 1965.
Southgate was a local government district of Middlesex from 1881 to 1965. It was part of the London postal district and Metropolitan Police District.
Twickenham was a local government district in Middlesex, England from 1868 to 1965.
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.
Sale was, from 1867 to 1974, a district in Cheshire, England. The district had in turn the status of local government district, urban district and municipal borough. Its area now forms part of the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, Greater Manchester.
Stretford was, from 1868 to 1974, a local government district coterminate with the town of Stretford, Lancashire, England.
The Municipal Borough of Heywood was, from 1881 to 1974, a local government district in the administrative county of Lancashire, England, with borough status and coterminate with the town of Heywood.
Bexley London Borough Council is the local authority for the London Borough of Bexley in the ceremonial county of Greater London, England. It is one of 32 London borough councils in the county. The council comprises 45 councillors.
Erith Town hall is a municipal building in Walnut Tree Road, Erith, south east London. It is a locally listed building.
Local government districts abolished or transferred by the London Government Act 1963 | ||
|---|---|---|
| London | ||
| Essex | ||
| Hertfordshire | ||
| Middlesex, CC | ||
| Kent | ||
| Surrey | ||
| Transfers | Middlesex to Hertfordshire: Potters Bar
| |
