County Borough of Carlisle
Encyclopedia
Carlisle was, from 1835 to 1974, a local government district in the northwest of England, coterminate with Carlisle. In 1835, following the Municipal Corporations Act 1835
, Carlisle was constituted a municipal borough
of Cumberland
, but was promoted to county borough
status in 1914, within its boundaries taking over the functions of Cumberland County Council
. The district was abolished on 31 March 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972
.
, and received its first royal charter
from Henry II
. It enjoyed the title of "city"
by virtue of being the see of an Anglican
bishop
from 1133. The original charter was lost in 1292 when much of the city was destroyed by fire. In 1352 Edward III
granted the city a new charter which confirmed the rights previously enjoyed, and created a close corporation consisting of a mayor and bailiffs. Among the privileges granted to the corporation were the holding of a sixteen-day market beginning on the Feast of the Assumption and the right to the King's fishery in the River Eden.
The charter by which the city was governed prior to the 1835 reforms was that granted by Charles I
in 1615. This created a corporation by the name of the Mayor, Aldermen, Bailiffs and Citizens of the City of Carlisle. There were twelve aldermen
, one of whom was elected mayor
, two coroner
s and twenty-four capital citizens. The right of election to the body was vested in the free burgesses, who consisted of members of eight fraternities or trade guilds of the city, namely the Merchants, Tanners, Skinners, Butchers, Smiths, Weavers, Tailors and Shoemakers. Burgesses, of which there were estimated to be about a thousand in 1835, did not have to be resident in the city. Elections were held annually at a general meeting on Ascension Day
.
investigating municipal corporations throughout England and Wales, 178 boroughs were reformed as "municipal boroughs" under the Municipal Corporations Act 1835. The Act introduced a uniform constitution for each borough, which was governed by a town or city council consisting of a mayor, aldermen and councillors. Elections were held annually on 1 November, with one third of councillors retiring each year. There was one alderman for every three councillors, with half of the aldermanic bench being elected by the council itself every three years. The councillors and aldermen elected a mayor from among their number each year. The electorate was widened to include all ten pound householders within the borough. Non-resident freemen no longer had the vote unless they lived within seven miles (11 km) of the city. Later legislation periodically widened the franchise.
The reformed city and municipal borough of Carlisle had an area of 1800 acres (7.3 km²), as opposed to the old borough which was limited to 80 acres (323,748.8 m²). The city council consisted of thirty councillors and ten aldermen, with the city divided into ten wards each represented by three councillors and one alderman. The boundaries were enlarged in 1887 and 1912.
had divided England and Wales into a system of county council
s and county boroughs. Under the Act any municipal borough could, on reaching a population of 50,000, apply to become a county borough, independent of the county council. Carlisle made a successful application in 1913, and on 1 April 1914 became a county borough, for its own area taking over the functions of Cumberland County Council
, although it remained within Cumberland
for non-administrative purposes such as lieutenancy
and shrievalty
. The county borough boundaries were enlarged in 1951.
between four red roses. A fifth rose, gold in colour was placed in the centre of the cross.
The reformed corporation adopted a completely different coat of arms in 1835, blazon
ed as Vert on a base barry wavy of six argent and azure, a castle between two roses Or, on a chief gules a lion passant guardant Or. This coat of arms was depicted on a 1610 map of the city engraved by John Speed
. The arms had apparently never been used by the corporation prior to 1835, and were probably invented by Speed himself.
By 1915 both coats were in use, and were sometimes displayed side by side. The motto
"Be Just And Fear Not" had been adopted. Neither coat, however, was on record at the College of Arms
. On 7 July 1924 an official grant by letters patent
was made. This featured the ancient arms, topped by a castle in place of a crest, and supported by two red wyverns, with gold roses on their wings.
The arms were blazoned as follows:
reorganised administration throughout England and Wales from 1 April 1974. The area of the county borough was merged with the surrounding Border Rural District
to form a new City of Carlisle
, one of six districts of the non-metropolitan county of Cumbria
.
Municipal Corporations Act 1835
The Municipal Corporations Act 1835 – sometimes known as the Municipal Reform Act, was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that reformed local government in the incorporated boroughs of England and Wales...
, Carlisle was constituted a municipal borough
Municipal borough
Municipal boroughs were a type of local government district which existed in England and Wales between 1835 and 1974, in Northern Ireland from 1840 to 1973 and in the Republic of Ireland from 1840 to 2002...
of Cumberland
Cumberland
Cumberland is a historic county of North West England, on the border with Scotland, from the 12th century until 1974. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974 and now forms part of Cumbria....
, but was promoted to county borough
County borough
County borough is a term introduced in 1889 in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland , to refer to a borough or a city independent of county council control. They were abolished by the Local Government Act 1972 in England and Wales, but continue in use for lieutenancy and shrievalty in...
status in 1914, within its boundaries taking over the functions of Cumberland County Council
Cumberland County Council
Cumberland County Council was the county council of Cumberland in the North West of England, an elected local government body responsible for most local services in the county. It was established in 1889 as a result of the Local Government Act 1888. Carlisle was initially within its area but became...
. The district was abolished on 31 March 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972
Local Government Act 1972
The Local Government Act 1972 is an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales on 1 April 1974....
.
Carlisle corporation prior to 1835
Carlisle was a borough by prescriptionTime immemorial
Time immemorial is a phrase meaning time extending beyond the reach of memory, record, or tradition, indefinitely ancient, "ancient beyond memory or record"...
, and received its first royal charter
Royal Charter
A royal charter is a formal document issued by a monarch as letters patent, granting a right or power to an individual or a body corporate. They were, and are still, used to establish significant organizations such as cities or universities. Charters should be distinguished from warrants and...
from Henry II
Henry II of England
Henry II ruled as King of England , Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Count of Nantes, Lord of Ireland and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland and western France. Henry, the great-grandson of William the Conqueror, was the...
. It enjoyed the title of "city"
City status in the United Kingdom
City status in the United Kingdom is granted by the British monarch to a select group of communities. The holding of city status gives a settlement no special rights other than that of calling itself a "city". Nonetheless, this appellation carries its own prestige and, consequently, competitions...
by virtue of being the see of an Anglican
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
bishop
Bishop of Carlisle
The Bishop of Carlisle is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Carlisle in the Province of York.The diocese covers the County of Cumbria except for Alston Moor and the former Sedbergh Rural District...
from 1133. The original charter was lost in 1292 when much of the city was destroyed by fire. In 1352 Edward III
Edward III of England
Edward III was King of England from 1327 until his death and is noted for his military success. Restoring royal authority after the disastrous reign of his father, Edward II, Edward III went on to transform the Kingdom of England into one of the most formidable military powers in Europe...
granted the city a new charter which confirmed the rights previously enjoyed, and created a close corporation consisting of a mayor and bailiffs. Among the privileges granted to the corporation were the holding of a sixteen-day market beginning on the Feast of the Assumption and the right to the King's fishery in the River Eden.
The charter by which the city was governed prior to the 1835 reforms was that granted by Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
in 1615. This created a corporation by the name of the Mayor, Aldermen, Bailiffs and Citizens of the City of Carlisle. There were twelve aldermen
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
, one of whom was elected mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
, two coroner
Coroner
A coroner is a government official who* Investigates human deaths* Determines cause of death* Issues death certificates* Maintains death records* Responds to deaths in mass disasters* Identifies unknown dead* Other functions depending on local laws...
s and twenty-four capital citizens. The right of election to the body was vested in the free burgesses, who consisted of members of eight fraternities or trade guilds of the city, namely the Merchants, Tanners, Skinners, Butchers, Smiths, Weavers, Tailors and Shoemakers. Burgesses, of which there were estimated to be about a thousand in 1835, did not have to be resident in the city. Elections were held annually at a general meeting on Ascension Day
Feast of the Ascension
The Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord is one of the great solemnities, in the Christian liturgical calendar, and commemorates the bodily Ascension of Jesus into heaven. Ascension Day is traditionally celebrated on a Thursday, the fortieth day from Easter day...
.
The reformed borough
Following the report of a royal commissionRoyal Commission
In Commonwealth realms and other monarchies a Royal Commission is a major ad-hoc formal public inquiry into a defined issue. They have been held in various countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Saudi Arabia...
investigating municipal corporations throughout England and Wales, 178 boroughs were reformed as "municipal boroughs" under the Municipal Corporations Act 1835. The Act introduced a uniform constitution for each borough, which was governed by a town or city council consisting of a mayor, aldermen and councillors. Elections were held annually on 1 November, with one third of councillors retiring each year. There was one alderman for every three councillors, with half of the aldermanic bench being elected by the council itself every three years. The councillors and aldermen elected a mayor from among their number each year. The electorate was widened to include all ten pound householders within the borough. Non-resident freemen no longer had the vote unless they lived within seven miles (11 km) of the city. Later legislation periodically widened the franchise.
The reformed city and municipal borough of Carlisle had an area of 1800 acres (7.3 km²), as opposed to the old borough which was limited to 80 acres (323,748.8 m²). The city council consisted of thirty councillors and ten aldermen, with the city divided into ten wards each represented by three councillors and one alderman. The boundaries were enlarged in 1887 and 1912.
County borough
The Local Government Act 1888Local Government Act 1888
The Local Government Act 1888 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which established county councils and county borough councils in England and Wales...
had divided England and Wales into a system of county council
County council
A county council is the elected administrative body governing an area known as a county. This term has slightly different meanings in different countries.-United Kingdom:...
s and county boroughs. Under the Act any municipal borough could, on reaching a population of 50,000, apply to become a county borough, independent of the county council. Carlisle made a successful application in 1913, and on 1 April 1914 became a county borough, for its own area taking over the functions of Cumberland County Council
Cumberland County Council
Cumberland County Council was the county council of Cumberland in the North West of England, an elected local government body responsible for most local services in the county. It was established in 1889 as a result of the Local Government Act 1888. Carlisle was initially within its area but became...
, although it remained within Cumberland
Cumberland
Cumberland is a historic county of North West England, on the border with Scotland, from the 12th century until 1974. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974 and now forms part of Cumbria....
for non-administrative purposes such as lieutenancy
Lord Lieutenant of Cumberland
This is a list of people who have served as Lord Lieutenant of Cumberland. From 1765 to 1974, all Lord Lieutenants were also Custos Rotulorum of Cumberland.*Henry Hastings, 3rd Earl of Huntingdon 20 August 1586 – 14 December 1595*vacant?...
and shrievalty
High Sheriff of Cumberland
The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred elsewhere or are now defunct, so that its functions...
. The county borough boundaries were enlarged in 1951.
Coat of arms
The ancient Carlisle Corporation used a coat of arms from at least 1462. This was a gold shield bearing a red cross pattéeCross pattée
A cross pattée is a type of cross which has arms narrow at the centre, and broader at the perimeter. An early English example from the start of the age of heraldry proper A cross pattée (or "cross patty", known also as "cross formée/formy") is a type of cross which has arms narrow at the...
between four red roses. A fifth rose, gold in colour was placed in the centre of the cross.
The reformed corporation adopted a completely different coat of arms in 1835, blazon
Blazon
In heraldry and heraldic vexillology, a blazon is a formal description of a coat of arms, flag or similar emblem, from which the reader can reconstruct the appropriate image...
ed as Vert on a base barry wavy of six argent and azure, a castle between two roses Or, on a chief gules a lion passant guardant Or. This coat of arms was depicted on a 1610 map of the city engraved by John Speed
John Speed
John Speed was an English historian and cartographer.-Life:He was born at Farndon, Cheshire, and went into his father's tailoring business where he worked until he was about 50...
. The arms had apparently never been used by the corporation prior to 1835, and were probably invented by Speed himself.
By 1915 both coats were in use, and were sometimes displayed side by side. The motto
Motto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
"Be Just And Fear Not" had been adopted. Neither coat, however, was on record at the College of Arms
College of Arms
The College of Arms, or Heralds’ College, is an office regulating heraldry and granting new armorial bearings for England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
. On 7 July 1924 an official grant by letters patent
Letters patent
Letters patent are a type of legal instrument in the form of a published written order issued by a monarch or president, generally granting an office, right, monopoly, title, or status to a person or corporation...
was made. This featured the ancient arms, topped by a castle in place of a crest, and supported by two red wyverns, with gold roses on their wings.
The arms were blazoned as follows:
Or on a Cross patée between for Roses Gules a Rose of the field barbed and seeded proper. The Shield ensigned by a Mural Crown having three Towers Or and lined Gules the centre Tower pierced by a Gateway Gules. And for Supporters Upon a Mount Vert on either side a Wyvern Gules armed and langued Azure the wings semée of Roses Or barbed Vert.
Abolition
The Local Government Act 1972Local Government Act 1972
The Local Government Act 1972 is an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales on 1 April 1974....
reorganised administration throughout England and Wales from 1 April 1974. The area of the county borough was merged with the surrounding Border Rural District
Border Rural District
Border was a rural district of Cumberland, England from 1934 to 1974.It was formed by a County Review Order in 1934, by a merger of Longtown Rural District, most of Brampton Rural District and nearly all of Carlisle Rural District, as well as a part of Penrith Rural District...
to form a new City of Carlisle
City of Carlisle
The City of Carlisle is a local government district of Cumbria, England, with the status of a city and non-metropolitan district. It is named after its largest settlement, Carlisle, but covers a far larger area which includes the towns of Brampton and Longtown, as well as outlying villages...
, one of six districts of the non-metropolitan county of Cumbria
Cumbria
Cumbria , is a non-metropolitan county in North West England. The county and Cumbria County Council, its local authority, came into existence in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972. Cumbria's largest settlement and county town is Carlisle. It consists of six districts, and in...
.