County Borough of West Ham: Difference between revisions
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==Creation== |
==Creation== |
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West Ham underwent rapid growth from 1844 following the [[Metropolitan Building Act]]; this restricted dangerous and noxious industries from operating in the metropolitan area; as a result many of them moved across its eastern boundary, the [[River Lee (England)|River Lee]] into West Ham, then a parish in Essex. As a result, West Ham became one of Victorian Britain's major manufacturing centres for pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and processed foods. This rapid growth of the area earned it the name "London over the border". Many workers lived in slum conditions close to where they worked, leading to periodic outbreaks of contagious diseases and severe poverty. It had become apparent that local government in the parish of West Ham was not adequate to meet the needs of the area which was divided between the parish vestry, [[highway district|highway board]] and the Havering and Dagenham Commissioners of Sewers. Problems centred on provision of adequate paving, water supply, fire fighting and control of development. In 1853 a group of ratepayers initiated moves to improve local administration. This led to a public enquiry by [[Charles Dickens]]' brother Alfred, a medical officer, who published a report in 1855 severely critical of conditions in the slum areas. |
West Ham underwent rapid growth from 1844 following the [[Metropolitan Building Act]]; this restricted dangerous and noxious industries from operating in the metropolitan area; as a result many of them moved across its eastern boundary, the [[River Lee (England)|River Lee]] into West Ham, then a parish in Essex. As a result, West Ham became one of Victorian Britain's major manufacturing centres for pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and processed foods. This rapid growth of the area earned it the name "London over the border".<ref name=charter>{{cite news |title=The Incorporation of West Ham]] |author= |newspaper=[[The Times]] |date=1 November 1886 |page=12 }}</ref> Many workers lived in slum conditions close to where they worked, leading to periodic outbreaks of contagious diseases and severe poverty. It had become apparent that local government in the parish of West Ham was not adequate to meet the needs of the area which was divided between the parish vestry, [[highway district|highway board]] and the Havering and Dagenham Commissioners of Sewers. Problems centred on provision of adequate paving, water supply, fire fighting and control of development. In 1853 a group of ratepayers initiated moves to improve local administration. This led to a public enquiry by [[Charles Dickens]]' brother Alfred, a medical officer, who published a report in 1855 severely critical of conditions in the slum areas.<ref name=charter/> |
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Accordingly the [[Local_board_of_health#Public_Health_Act_1848|Public Health Act 1848]] was applied to the parish, and a [[local board of health]] was formed in 1856. The board had 15 members: 12 elected and 3 nominated by the Commissioners of Sewers.<ref name="vch">{{cite web |url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=42758 |title=West Ham - Local government and public services |accessdate=2008-06-22 |author=W R Powell (ed.) |date=1973 |work=A History of the County of Essex, Vol.6 |publisher=}}</ref> |
Accordingly the [[Local_board_of_health#Public_Health_Act_1848|Public Health Act 1848]] was applied to the parish, and a [[local board of health]] was formed in 1856. The board had 15 members: 12 elected and 3 nominated by the Commissioners of Sewers.<ref name="vch">{{cite web |url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=42758 |title=West Ham - Local government and public services |accessdate=2008-06-22 |author=W R Powell (ed.) |date=1973 |work=A History of the County of Essex, Vol.6 |publisher=}}</ref> |
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Early in 1886 the inhabitants of the parish decided to petition the [[privy council]] for a [[royal charter|charter]], incorporating the town as a [[municipal borough]]. This was in reaction to propsals to enlarge the area governed by the [[Metropolitan Board of Works]] to include all adjoining districts with a population of 50,000 or more. Encouraged by the example of [[County Borough of Croydon|Croydon]], made a borough in 1883, the primary aim of incorporation was to prevent the inclusion of West Ham in an enlarged London municipality.<ref name=charter/> |
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| ⚫ | In 1886 West Ham was granted a [[royal charter|charter of incorporation]] to become a [[municipal borough]]. A corporation consisting of a [[mayor]], 12 [[alderman|aldermen]] and 36 councillors replaced the board. Three years later the town gained further status, becoming a [[county borough]] under the [[Local Government Act 1888]]. At the time of the 1901 census it was the ninth most populous town or district in England with a population of 267,308.<ref>Vision of Britain - [http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/text/chap_page.jsp;jsessionid=E7023D4A5F58A79C13601D1FA6EFE39A?t_id=SRC_P&c_id=2&cpub_id=EW1901PRE 1901 Census: Preliminary Report]</ref> Although West Ham did not become officially part of London until 1965, the borough formed part of London's built-up area, was part of the [[London postal district]] and the [[Metropolitan Police District]]. |
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| ⚫ | In 1886 West Ham was granted a [[royal charter|charter of incorporation]] to become a [[municipal borough]]. A corporation consisting of a [[mayor]], 12 [[alderman|aldermen]] and 36 councillors replaced the board.<ref name=charter/> Three years later the town gained further status, becoming a [[county borough]] under the [[Local Government Act 1888]]. At the time of the 1901 census it was the ninth most populous town or district in England with a population of 267,308.<ref>Vision of Britain - [http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/text/chap_page.jsp;jsessionid=E7023D4A5F58A79C13601D1FA6EFE39A?t_id=SRC_P&c_id=2&cpub_id=EW1901PRE 1901 Census: Preliminary Report]</ref> Although West Ham did not become officially part of London until 1965, the borough formed part of London's built-up area, was part of the [[London postal district]] and the [[Metropolitan Police District]]. |
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==History== |
==History== |
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Revision as of 13:56, 5 November 2009
| West Ham | |
|---|---|
 West Ham within Essex in 1961 | |
| Area | |
| • 1911 | 4,683 acres (19.0 km2)[1] |
| • 1931/1961 | 4,689 acres (19.0 km2)[1] |
| Population | |
| • 1911 | 289,030[1] |
| • 1931 | 294,278[1] |
| • 1961 | 157,367[1] |
| Density | |
| • 1911 | 62/acre |
| • 1931 | 63/acre |
| • 1961 | 34/acre |
| History | |
| • Origin | West Ham parish |
| • Created | 1856 |
| • Abolished | 1965 |
| • Succeeded by | London Borough of Newham |
| Status | Local board of health (1856 - 1886) Municipal borough (1886 - 1889) County borough (after 1889) |
| Government | |
| • HQ | Stratford |
| • Motto | Progress with the people |
 Arms of the county borough corporation | |
West Ham was a local government district in the extreme south west of Essex from 1886 to 1965, forming part of the built-up area of London, although outside the County of London. It was immediately north of the River Thames and east of the River Lee.
Creation
West Ham underwent rapid growth from 1844 following the Metropolitan Building Act; this restricted dangerous and noxious industries from operating in the metropolitan area; as a result many of them moved across its eastern boundary, the River Lee into West Ham, then a parish in Essex. As a result, West Ham became one of Victorian Britain's major manufacturing centres for pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and processed foods. This rapid growth of the area earned it the name "London over the border".[2] Many workers lived in slum conditions close to where they worked, leading to periodic outbreaks of contagious diseases and severe poverty. It had become apparent that local government in the parish of West Ham was not adequate to meet the needs of the area which was divided between the parish vestry, highway board and the Havering and Dagenham Commissioners of Sewers. Problems centred on provision of adequate paving, water supply, fire fighting and control of development. In 1853 a group of ratepayers initiated moves to improve local administration. This led to a public enquiry by Charles Dickens' brother Alfred, a medical officer, who published a report in 1855 severely critical of conditions in the slum areas.[2]
Accordingly the Public Health Act 1848 was applied to the parish, and a local board of health was formed in 1856. The board had 15 members: 12 elected and 3 nominated by the Commissioners of Sewers.[3]
Early in 1886 the inhabitants of the parish decided to petition the privy council for a charter, incorporating the town as a municipal borough. This was in reaction to propsals to enlarge the area governed by the Metropolitan Board of Works to include all adjoining districts with a population of 50,000 or more. Encouraged by the example of Croydon, made a borough in 1883, the primary aim of incorporation was to prevent the inclusion of West Ham in an enlarged London municipality.[2]
In 1886 West Ham was granted a charter of incorporation to become a municipal borough. A corporation consisting of a mayor, 12 aldermen and 36 councillors replaced the board.[2] Three years later the town gained further status, becoming a county borough under the Local Government Act 1888. At the time of the 1901 census it was the ninth most populous town or district in England with a population of 267,308.[4] Although West Ham did not become officially part of London until 1965, the borough formed part of London's built-up area, was part of the London postal district and the Metropolitan Police District.
History
The borough acquired the horse-drawn tram services in its area in 1898, electrified them in 1904, and extended the network. There was also through running of the corporation trams and those of the London County Council system. West Ham operated 134 tram cars on 16.27 miles (26.2 km) of tracks when they became the responsibility of the London Passenger Transport Board in 1933.[5] The borough ran its own fire brigade which was absorbed into the London Fire Brigade in 1965. The corporation's electricity generation and supply undertaking was nationalised in 1948, when it was transferred to the London Electricity Board.
From 1934 to 1965 it was surrounded by the County Borough of East Ham to the east, the municipal boroughs of Wanstead and Woodford and Leyton to the north, and the metropolitan boroughs of Poplar to the west and Greenwich to the south.
Districts
The borough included Plaistow, West Ham, Stratford, Canning Town and Silvertown - all of the current-day London Borough of Newham west of Green Street.
Borough council
The number of wards in the borough was increased from 4 to 12 in 1899; and to 16 in 1922. The size of the corporation was increased on each occasion, with 3 councillors and 1 alderman being returned for each ward.[3]
The borough was notable for having the first Labour controlled council in England. Following the London Dock Strike of 1889, a number of Socialists and Progressives were elected to the council, formally becoming the Labour Group in 1897. The Group gained a majority on the town council in 1898. In reaction to this, a Municipal Alliance was formed by the West Ham Ratepayers Association and Chamber of Commerce to oppose the Labour Party. In 1900 they gained parity with Labour on the council and in the following year they took control.[6] The Municipal Alliance retained power until 1910 when a Labour-Progressive coalition replaced it. Two years later Municipal Alliance councillors regained a narrow majority, which they held at the 1913 election.[3] Elections were suspended for the duration of the First World War, and at the 1919 elections Labour won an overall majority which it retained for the rest of the borough's existence. The Labour majority was to increase over the years, with a small group of Ratepayers Association councillors supported by the Conservative Party forming the opposition group. From 1947 the Conservatives contested elections in their own name, but after 1954 had no councillors elected. From 1954 to 1960 Labour held all the seats on the council, after which a number of Liberal Party councillors formed a minority group.[3]
Coat of arms
The coat of arms was granted by the College of Arms on 14 January 1887. The chevrons on the lower portion represent Stratford, taken from the device of Stratford Langthorne Abbey. At the top right, there are crossed hammers, representing the Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company – the borough's main employer. The ship is representative of the Royal Docks, and the area's long association with the sea.
Abolition and inclusion in Greater London
The omission of West Ham from the London-administered metropolitan area, which took in nearby places such as Greenwich and Woolwich, was first commented on in 1855 and West Ham Council later considered the case for inclusion in the County of London in 1895 and 1907.[7] The reluctance to proceed with amalgamation was largely explained by lack of perceived support, fear of financial disadvantage caused by increased rates, the detrimental effect of London planning laws on industry, and the desire to retain the independent civic institutions and privileges attached to county borough status.[7]
The Royal Commission on Local Government in Greater London reviewed the local government arrangements of the Greater London Conurbation and in 1965 the county borough, and the County Borough of East Ham, were abolished and their former area was amalgamated with small parts of Barking and Woolwich to form the London Borough of Newham in Greater London.
References
- ^ a b c d e Vision of Britain - West Ham population (area and density)
- ^ a b c d "The Incorporation of West Ham]]". The Times. 1 November 1886. p. 12.
- ^ a b c d W R Powell (ed.) (1973). "West Ham - Local government and public services". A History of the County of Essex, Vol.6. Retrieved 2008-06-22.
{{cite web}}:|author=has generic name (help) - ^ Vision of Britain - 1901 Census: Preliminary Report
- ^ London's Trams and Trolleybuses, John R Day, published by London Transport, 1979
- ^ Municipal Socialism VIII: A Socialist Régime in West Ham, The Times, September 16, 1902, p.12
- ^ a b Local administration and public services: Administrative bodies, A History of the County of Essex: Volume 5 (1966), pp. 32-37. Date accessed: 07 December 2007.
External links
Local government districts abolished or transferred by the London Government Act 1963 | ||
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| London | ||
| Essex | ||
| Hertfordshire | ||
| Middlesex, CC | ||
| Kent | ||
| Surrey | ||
| Transfers | Middlesex to Hertfordshire: Potters Bar
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