Local Government prior to 1974

In 1894, the Local Government Act, also known as the Parish Councils Act, created a system of urban and rural district councils. Civil parishes were established as sub-divisions of rural councils.

The following districts were all in the administrative county of Lancashire before the reforms of 1974:

Stretford

Following the Public Health Act of 1848 and the Sanitary Act of 1866, the Stretford Local Board of Health was formed, taking over most of the administration of the district. Their first meeting was held at the Town Hall on Wednesday 27 May 1868. The Stretford Local Board functioned until 1894 and it was then superseded by Stretford Urban District Council which had committees responsible for finance and general purposes, sewage farm, highways, technical instruction and school attendance, sanitation, recreation grounds and the town hall and cemetery. In 1908, committees for libraries, electricity and tramways were added.

Stretford was rapidly increasing in population and rateable value. The question of it becoming a municipal borough was first brought up in 1922, but it wasn’t until 16 September 1933, that a Charter of Incorporation was granted. The Charter was handed over by Lord Derby at Longford Hall. The first Mayor was Sir Thomas Robinson, who had been M.P. for Stretford for thirteen years, as well as serving on the Urban District Council since 1894.

Lord Derby presenting The Charter for Stretford in front of Longford Hall in 1933.

Trafford Local Studies collection, cat.ref. TL01451

The Stretford Coat of Arms were officially granted on 20 February 1933. The flail and scythe are taken from the arms of the de Trafford family, who long resided in Stretford. The galley or Lymphad sail, shows Stretford’s long-standing association with the sea, by means of the River Mersey and River Irwell. The lion is taken from the arms of John of Gaunt. The roses are for Lancashire and the scythe recalls the agricultural nature of the area in the past. The thunderbolt represents the town's industrial development, in which electricity has played a major role.

Trafford Local Studies collection, cat. ref TL1451

Urmston Urban District Council and Flixton and Davyhulme Civil Parishes.

From 1849, until the end of the nineteenth century, the townships of Urmston, Flixton and Davyhulme were included in the Barton-upon-Irwell Union. Following the Local Government Act of 1894, an order was made by Lancashire County Council, that the township of Urmston be converted into an Urban District. Flixton and Davyhulme Civil Parishes were formed, and they became administrative units in the newly formed Barton-Upon-Irwell Rural District Council.

In 1933, the Lancashire, (Manchester and District) Review Order of that year, amalgamated the then Urban District of Urmston (comprising the township of Urmston only), with two parts of the Barton-upon-Irwell Rural District Council, namely the parish of Flixton and most of the parish of Davyhulme. The order came into operation on 1 April 1933 and all three townships were then administrated by the Urmston Urban District Council.

Image: Moorfield House, seen here in the 1930s, was originally built as a private residence during the latter half of the 19th century. It was a large Victorian mansion and gardens situated on Crofts Bank Road in Urmston. On the death of the owner Mr. George Fryer in 1930, the house was bequeathed to Urmston Urban District Council. It was utilised by the council as council offices and held the council chamber.

Trafford Local Studies collection, cat.ref. TL10110

The Urmston Coat of Arms were officially granted on June 10, 1942.The chevron and martlets are from the heraldry of the local families of Asshawe and Hyde, and the griffin is from the arms of the de Traffords. The oak tree alludes to the preservation of the rural aspect of the area, while the anvil and waves refer to industry, the River Mersey and the Ship Canal. The squirrel is taken from the arms of the De Ormeston family and the balance is an emblem of St. Michael, to whom the parish church is dedicated.

Trafford Local Studies collection, cat.ref. TL10292

The following districts were all in the administrative county of Cheshire before the reforms of 1974:

Sale and Ashton-upon-Mersey Urban District Councils

In August 1836, following the 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act, the Altrincham Poor Law Union was established, containing forty townships from the parishes of Bowdon, Ashton-upon-Mersey, Great Budworth, Cheadle, Knutsford, and Rostherne. The township of Sale was included in this Union.

Most of the administration for the township of Ashton-upon-Mersey, was carried out by the Vestry, a committee composed of the parish priest and other local worthies, who could appoint parish officials such as overseers of the poor, churchwardens, and constables.

Following the 1848 Public Health Act and the 1866 Sanitary Act, Sale Local Board of Health was formed in 1867. In 1894, following the Local Government Act of that year, Sale Local Board was replaced by Sale Urban District Council and the Vestry was replaced by Ashton-upon-Mersey Urban District Council. The two Urban Districts existed side by side until they eventually decided to amalgamate their areas and petitioned the government to be termed as a Borough. The petition was successful, and on 21 September 1935, Sale was presented with a Charter of Incorporation, making it a Municipal Borough. The area was administrated by Sale Borough Council until 1974.

Mayoral reception, Sale Borough Council Charter Jubilee celebrations, 1960.

Trafford Local Studies collection, cat. ref. TL5411

The Sale Coat of Arms were granted on 23 September 1920. The wheatsheaves are from the arms of the Cheshire County Council and the lozenges are from the arms of the Massey family of Sale. The Moorcock refers to the district of Sale Moor. The unicorn represents the Ashton-on-Mersey district of Sale, and the badger is a punning allusion to Brooklands. The sallow twigs, and the first word of the motto, refer to the name of the Borough.

Trafford Local Studies collection, cat.ref. TL10291

Timperley Civil Parish

From 1836, Timperley was included in the Altrincham Poor Law Union. The township of Timperley continued to belong to the Union, until it was dissolved in 1930. In 1894, Timperley Civil Parish was formed, administrated by Timperley Parish Council and situated within the newly created Bucklow Rural District Council. In November 1933, the County Council of Chester issued a report reviewing the county districts, under Section 46 of the Local Government Act of 1929. In 1936, Altrincham Urban District Council’s jurisdiction was extended to include part of the parish of Dunham Massey and the whole of the parish of Timperley. The final meeting of Timperley Parish Council was held on 30 March 1936. The council was dissolved on 1 April 1936.

Altrincham Urban District Council

In 1836, Altrincham was represented by two Poor Law Guardians on the Altrincham Poor Law Union’s Board of Guardians, who were responsible for the administration of poor relief. A meeting was held in Altrincham to appoint the Guardians on 18 August 1836.

Following the 1848 Public Health Act, the township requested that an inspector be sent by the General Board of Health to assist the town in adopting the Public Health Bill. The town had seen its population double in the previous 25 years and due to overcrowding and poor sanitary conditions, there was the increased danger of disease. A survey by influential Sanitary Engineer, Sir Robert Rawlinson, was carried out, and as a result of his report, a Local Board of Health was set up in 1851, which took over many of the governing duties of the town.

Following the Local Government Act of 1894, Altrincham Urban District Council was formed and invested with the powers formerly held by the Local Board of Health. The first Urban District Council meeting took place on 15 December 1894. The Altrincham Poor Law Union was renamed the Bucklow Poor Law Union in 1895, and Altrincham remained within this until 1930, when it was dissolved.

In 1937, King George VI granted a Charter of Incorporation to Altrincham Urban District Council, making it a Municipal Borough. This was presented to the town on 31 July of that year by the Lord-Lieutenant of the County Palatine of Chester, Sir William Bromley-Davenport.

People gather outside Altrincham Town Hall to join in the Altrincham Charter Day celebrations, 1937.

Trafford Local Studies collection, cat.ref. TL2625

The Altrincham Coat of Arms were granted on 30 August 1937. The wheatsheaves and cogwheel refer to the agricultural and engineering industries. The lion in the crest supports a banner symbolic of plenty, recalling the town's former motto, Pax et abuntantia. The unicorn is from the heraldry of the Earl of Stamford whose arms (for the family of Grey) hang from the collar. The lion, with the arms of Massey on its pendent shield, represents the old Barons of Dunham Massey, one of whom, Hamon de Massey, granted the town a charter in 1290.

Trafford Local Studies collection, cat.ref. TL10293

Hale and Bowdon Urban District Councils

From 1836, Hale and Bowdon were included in the Altrincham Poor Law Union. Following the 1894 Local Government Act, Hale came under the jurisdiction of Altrincham Rural District Council, which was renamed the Bucklow Rural District Council in 1895. The residents of Hale applied to the county authority to be reconstituted as an urban district and as a result, Hale Urban District Council was formed by order of Chester County Council on 31 March 1900. The district included the village of Hale Barns. The Bowdon Local Board of Health was established in 1864, following the 1848 Public Health Act. The first meeting was held in February of that year. In 1894, Bowdon Urban District Council was formed, replacing the Local Board of Health.

Both Hale and Bowdon remained within the Bucklow Poor Law Union (formerly the Altrincham Poor Law Union) until 1930, when it was dissolved.

Hale Urban District Council, presentation of office, c1952.

Trafford Local Studies collection, cat. ref. TL1559

Carrington and Partington Civil Parishes

Following the Local Government Act of 1894, Carrington and Partington Civil Parishes were formed and were situated within the newly created Bucklow Rural District Council. They were administrated by Carrington Parish Council and Partington Parish Council respectively. Following an enquiry by Cheshire County Council, part of Carrington was incorporated into Altrincham Urban District Council as part of the Altrincham Extension Order, dated 21 September 1920 and part remained within Bucklow Rural District Council’s jurisdiction.

Following the 1972 Local Government Act, Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council formally came into existence on 1 April 1974. Partington Parish Council continued within this new jurisdiction, but also continued to operate for local matters relating specifically to Partington.

Bucklow Rural District Council

Following the 1894 Local Government Act, the Altrincham Rural District Council was formed and was renamed Bucklow Rural District Council in 1895. The newly formed council took over the duties of the Bucklow Highway Board and Altrincham Rural Sanitary Authority. The Council included the townships of Agden, Ashley, Aston by Budworth, Baguley, Bexton, Bollington, Carrington, Dunham Massey, Northern Etchells, Hale, High Legh, Marthall cum Warford, Mere, Millington, Mobberley, Northenden, Ollerton, Partington, Peover Inferior, Peover Superior, Pickmere, Plumley, Rostherne, Styal, Tabley Inferior, Tatton, Timperley, Toft and Warburton. In 1974, most of the area that made up Bucklow Rural District was incorporated into the new Macclesfield Borough Council. Carrington, Dunham Massey, Partington and Warburton were incorporated into the newly formed Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council.

Sources:

Trafford Lifetimes

Altrincham A history by Don Bayliss

Stretford An Illustrated History by Vicki Masterson & Karen Cliff

The Story of Urmston, Flixton and Davyhulme by Michael Billington

Sale Official Guide 1969

A History of the Township of Timperley, Cheshire, 1070-1988 by Ronald Broadhurst

Trafford Library Service Local History Pack 1 Urmston

Trafford Library Service Local History Pack 2 Altrincham

Trafford Library Service Local History Pack 3 Stretford

Trafford Library Service Local History Pack 4 Sale

A History of the Township of Timperley, Cheshire, 1070-1988 by Ronald Broadhurst

The Heraldry of Cheshire by H. Ellis Tomlinson

Armorial County Councils of England website