History of local government in Bristol
Encyclopedia
Bristol City Council, formerly known as The Bristol Corporation (and colloquially as "The Corporation"), is the local government authority governing the city of Bristol
, England
. Following the Norman conquest of England in 1066, successive royal charters granted increasing rights of local governance to Bristol. County
status was attained in 1373 and city status in the early sixteenth century. Bristol Corporation was established in the nineteenth century and the office of Lord Mayor
was created in 1888. Following a brief period as part of the county of Avon
in the late twentieth century, Bristol regained its status as a city and county in 1996.
recorded that Bristol, then known as Brygstowe was part of the royal manor of Barton and was a borough governed by a reeve, and assessed at 110 marks. Charters confirming rights and duties were granted by Henry II
in 1172 and by John in 1190. The first mayor may have been Robert FitzNichol who took office in 1200. As the town developed the mayor was assisted by provosts, later known as stewards and bailiffs. The mayor was chosen by the merchants of Bristol. A list of mayor
s dating from 1216 was published by the town clerk, Robert Ricart, in 1479. A charter granted by Henry III
in 1256, extended the town's rights, enabling the burgesses to choose coroners and to farm
the fees payable to the king.
granted a charter
to Bristol stating that:
Bristol was the first provincial town to be given this status.
Bristol was first described as a city in a charter of Elizabeth I
in 1581, but this document suggests that Bristol had been granted city status at the time of Henry VII
. The Municipal Corporations Act 1835
established Bristol Corporation, which consisted of 48 councillor
s and 18 aldermen. The term Corporation of Bristol or Bristol Corporation, encompassing the mayor and common council, had been in use since the eighteenth century at least. Bristol became a county borough in 1888 and the boundaries were extended into Gloucestershire
and Somerset
. In 1899, Queen Victoria
granted the mayor the right to be styled Lord Mayor.
following the Redcliffe–Maud Report. Avon was abolished in 1996 and the city became a unitary authority
, styled as the City and County of Bristol.
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Following the Norman conquest of England in 1066, successive royal charters granted increasing rights of local governance to Bristol. County
County
A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain modern nations. Historically in mainland Europe, the original French term, comté, and its equivalents in other languages denoted a jurisdiction under the sovereignty of a count A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain...
status was attained in 1373 and city status in the early sixteenth century. Bristol Corporation was established in the nineteenth century and the office of Lord Mayor
Lord Mayor
The Lord Mayor is the title of the Mayor of a major city, with special recognition.-Commonwealth of Nations:* In Australia it is a political position. Australian cities with Lord Mayors: Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, Newcastle, Parramatta, Perth, Sydney, and Wollongong...
was created in 1888. Following a brief period as part of the county of Avon
Avon (county)
Avon was, from 1974 to 1996, a non-metropolitan and ceremonial county in the west of England.The county was named after the River Avon, which runs through the area. It was formed from parts of the historic counties of Gloucestershire and Somerset, together with the City of Bristol...
in the late twentieth century, Bristol regained its status as a city and county in 1996.
Origins
The exact date of establishment of a town council is unknown. The Domesday surveyDomesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
recorded that Bristol, then known as Brygstowe was part of the royal manor of Barton and was a borough governed by a reeve, and assessed at 110 marks. Charters confirming rights and duties were granted by 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...
in 1172 and by John in 1190. The first mayor may have been Robert FitzNichol who took office in 1200. As the town developed the mayor was assisted by provosts, later known as stewards and bailiffs. The mayor was chosen by the merchants of Bristol. A list of mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
s dating from 1216 was published by the town clerk, Robert Ricart, in 1479. A charter granted by Henry III
Henry III of England
Henry III was the son and successor of John as King of England, reigning for 56 years from 1216 until his death. His contemporaries knew him as Henry of Winchester. He was the first child king in England since the reign of Æthelred the Unready...
in 1256, extended the town's rights, enabling the burgesses to choose coroners and to farm
Tax farming
Farming is a technique of financial management, namely the process of commuting , by its assignment by legal contract to a third party, a future uncertain revenue stream into fixed and certain periodic rents, in consideration for which commutation a discount in value received is suffered...
the fees payable to the king.
County and city status
In 1373, Edward IIIEdward 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 a charter
Charter
A charter is the grant of authority or rights, stating that the granter formally recognizes the prerogative of the recipient to exercise the rights specified...
to Bristol stating that:
Bristol was the first provincial town to be given this status.
Bristol was first described as a city in a charter of Elizabeth I
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
in 1581, but this document suggests that Bristol had been granted city status at the time of Henry VII
Henry VII of England
Henry VII was King of England and Lord of Ireland from his seizing the crown on 22 August 1485 until his death on 21 April 1509, as the first monarch of the House of Tudor....
. The Municipal Corporations Act 1835
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...
established Bristol Corporation, which consisted of 48 councillor
Councillor
A councillor or councilor is a member of a local government council, such as a city council.Often in the United States, the title is councilman or councilwoman.-United Kingdom:...
s and 18 aldermen. The term Corporation of Bristol or Bristol Corporation, encompassing the mayor and common council, had been in use since the eighteenth century at least. Bristol became a county borough in 1888 and the boundaries were extended into Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
and Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
. In 1899, Queen Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
granted the mayor the right to be styled Lord Mayor.
Avon and after
From 1974 to 1996, Bristol was subsumed into the new county of AvonAvon (county)
Avon was, from 1974 to 1996, a non-metropolitan and ceremonial county in the west of England.The county was named after the River Avon, which runs through the area. It was formed from parts of the historic counties of Gloucestershire and Somerset, together with the City of Bristol...
following the Redcliffe–Maud Report. Avon was abolished in 1996 and the city became a unitary authority
Unitary authorities of England
Unitary authorities of England are areas where a single local authority is responsible for a variety of services for a district that elsewhere are administered separately by two councils...
, styled as the City and County of Bristol.