| Stretford | |
|---|---|
| Area | |
| • 1911 | 3,240 acres (13.1 km2) |
| • 1961 | 3,532 acres (14.29 km2) |
| Population | |
| • 1901 | 30,436 |
| • 1931 | 56,791 |
| • 1971 | 54,316 |
| History | |
| • Created | 1868 |
| • Abolished | 1974 |
| • Succeeded by | Metropolitan Borough of Trafford |
| Status | Local Government District 1868–1894 Urban district 1894–1933 |
| Government | |
| • HQ | Stretford Town Hall |
| • Motto | Service and Efficiency |
 | |
Stretford was, from 1868 to 1974, a local government district coterminate with the town of Stretford, Lancashire, England. [1]
In 1868 the township of Stretford adopted the Local Government Act 1858, and a local board was formed to govern the town. [2] In 1889 the district became part of the administrative county of Lancashire.
The Local Government Act 1894 reconstituted the local board's area as Stretford Urban District. An urban district council of eighteen members replaced the local board. The urban district was divided into six wards, each returning three councillors: Clifford, Cornbrook, Longford, Stretford, Talbot and Trafford. [3]
In 1933 the urban district was enlarged when the Davyhulme area was added on the abolition of the neighbouring Barton upon Irwell Rural District by a county review order. [1]
In 1933 the urban district was granted a charter of incorporation and Stretford became a municipal borough. The charter was formally presented by the Earl of Derby, Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire at a Charter Day celebration held on 16 September. [4] At the same time the Earl officially opened the Town Hall. [5]
The borough council consisted of a mayor, eight aldermen and twenty-four councillors. The charter mayor was Sir Thomas Robinson, who had been Member of Parliament for the Stretford constituency until 1931. [4] One third of the councillors were elected annually, while half of the aldermen were chosen by the council every three years. The Conservative Party controlled the borough from 1933 to 1945. From 1945 to 1947 the council was under no overall control. [6] The Conservatives regained control in 1947 and held it until 1962. [7] After two years with no party in a majority, the Labour and Conservative parties alternated in power for the last ten years of the borough's existence: Labour had a majority from 1964 to 1967, Conservatives 1967 to 1972 and Labour from 1972 to 1974. [8]
On 20 February 1933, Stretford Urban District Council was granted armorial bearings by the College of Arms. [9] The arms continued in use when the borough was incorporated. The arms were blazoned as follows:
Argent, on a fesse gules between in chief a flail and a scythe in saltire proper between two roses of the second, barbed and seeded, and in base upon waves of the sea a lymphad, sails furled, oars in action, proper a lion passant Or; and for a Crest: Issuant from a coronet composed of eight roses as in the Arms set upon a rim Or, a cubit arm, the hand proper grasping a thunderboltgold. Mantled gules doubled Or. [9]
The lion in the centre of the shield represented John of Gaunt, while the red roses were the county emblems for Lancashire. The "lymphad" or ancient ship at the base of the arms indicated that the area had maritime connections via the Rivers Mersey and Irwell. The arms were completed by a crossed flail and scythe. The scythe was emblematic of the agricultural past of the area, while the flail came from the arms of the Trafford family.
The crest on the helm above the shield was an arm grasping a golden thunderbolt, symbolising the modern industries of Stretford. The design was completed by a coronet of Lancastrian roses. [10]
The borough was abolished by the Local Government Act 1972, and its former area transferred to the new county of Greater Manchester in 1974, to form part of the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford.
Trafford is a metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England, with an estimated population of 236,301 in 2022. It covers 106 square kilometres (41 sq mi) and includes the area of Old Trafford and the towns of Altrincham, Stretford, Urmston, Partington and Sale. The borough was formed in 1974 as a merger of six former districts and part of a seventh. The River Mersey flows through the borough, separating North Trafford from South Trafford, and the historic counties of Lancashire and Cheshire. Trafford is the seventh-most populous district in Greater Manchester.
Stretford is a market town in Trafford, Greater Manchester, England, sited on flat ground between the River Mersey and the Manchester Ship Canal; the Bridgewater Canal bisects the town. The town is located 4 miles (6.4 km) south of Manchester, 3 miles (4.8 km) south of Salford and 4 miles (6.4 km) north-east of Altrincham. Stretford borders Chorlton-cum-Hardy to the east, Moss Side and Whalley Range to the south-east, Hulme to the north-east, Urmston to the west, Salford to the north and Sale to the south.
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.
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 Urban 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.
Bexley was a local government district in north west Kent from 1880 to 1965 covering the parish of Bexley, which included both Bexley village and Bexleyheath.
Acton was a local government district in Middlesex, England from 1865 to 1965.
Barton upon Irwell is a suburb of the City of Salford, Greater Manchester, England, with a population of 12,462 in 2014.
Flixton is a suburb and electoral ward in the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, Greater Manchester, England. The population of the ward at the 2011 census was 10,786. It lies six miles (9.7 km) southwest of Manchester city centre, in the historic county of Lancashire.
Salford was, from 1844 to 1974, a local government district in the county of Lancashire in the northwest of England, covering the city of Salford. It was granted city status in 1926.
Oldham was, from 1849 to 1974, a local government district in the northwest of England coterminous with the town of Oldham.
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.
Stockport County Borough was a county-level local authority between 1889 and 1974.
Trafford Council, or Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council, is the local authority of the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford in Greater Manchester, England. It is a metropolitan borough council and provides the majority of local government services in the borough. The council has been a member of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority since 2011.
Bolton was, from 1838 to 1974, a local government district in the northwest of England conterminate with the town of Bolton.
Rochdale was, from 1856 to 1974, a local government district coterminate with the town of Rochdale in the northwest of England.
Bury was a local government district centred on Bury in the northwest of England from 1846 to 1974.
Sir Thomas Robinson was an English industrialist, Liberal politician and Member of Parliament, who late in his career sat in the House of Commons as an Independent.
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.
The first elections to Trafford Council were held on Thursday, 10 May 1973. This was a new council created to replace the following authorities: the Municipal Borough of Altrincham, the Municipal Borough of Sale, the Municipal Borough of Stretford, Bowdon Urban District, Hale Urban District, Urmston Urban District, and parts of Bucklow Rural District. This election would create the entire 63-member council, which would shadow its predecessor councils before taking over their functions on 1 April 1974, as specified in the Local Government Act 1972. Each 1st-placed candidate would serve a five-year term of office, expiring in 1978. Each 2nd-placed candidate would serve a three-year term of office, expiring in 1976. Each 3rd-placed candidate would serve a two-year term of office, expiring in 1975.
Altrincham was, from 1886 to 1974, a local government district in Cheshire, England. It held the status of local board, urban district and municipal borough before it was abolished by the Local Government Act 1972 and became a part of Trafford.