Municipal Borough of Mitcham
Encyclopedia
Mitcham was a local government district in north east Surrey
from 1915 to 1965 around the town of Mitcham
.
It was created in 1915 as an urban district
from part of the abolished Croydon Rural District
. It gained the status of municipal borough
in 1934.
In 1965, under the London Government Act 1963
, the municipal borough was abolished and its area combined with that of the Municipal Borough of Wimbledon
and the Merton and Morden Urban District
to form the present-day London Borough of Merton
in Greater London
.
of the municipal borough were granted in 1934 and defined as:
Shield
A pale
vert (green central vertical band), representing the green of Mitcham. The centre has a fess
wavy argent (silver wavy horizontal band) charged
with a barulet wavy azure (blue narrow wavy bar) to indicate the ford of north Mitcham, which was once known as Whitford. Below the fess, a tower argent (silver tower) represents the great dwelling, from which Mitcham got its earlier name of Michelham. Above the fess, cross-keys and sword or (gold) represent Mitcham's patron saints, St. Peter and St. Paul
. On each side of the pale is a sprig of lavender proper (in its natural colour).
Crest
Three sprigs of lavender on a wreath or and vert entwined by a mural coronet (wall-like crenellated crown, indicative of municipal status).
Motto
"Mitcham Faeste Gestandeþ" - Mitcham stands fast (Old English
).
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
from 1915 to 1965 around the town of Mitcham
Mitcham
Mitcham is a district in the south west area of London, in the London Borough of Merton. A suburban area, Mitcham is located on the border of Inner London and Outer London. It is both residentially and financially developed, well served by Transport for London, and home to Mitcham Town Centre,...
.
It was created in 1915 as an urban district
Urban district
In the England, Wales and Ireland, an urban district was a type of local government district that covered an urbanised area. Urban districts had an elected Urban District Council , which shared local government responsibilities with a county council....
from part of the abolished Croydon Rural District
Croydon Rural District
Croydon was a rural district in north east Surrey, England, from 1894 to 1915. It was created by the Local Government Act 1894 and replaced the Croydon Rural Sanitary District...
. It gained the status of 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...
in 1934.
In 1965, under the London Government Act 1963
London Government Act 1963
The London Government Act 1963 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which recognised officially the conurbation known as Greater London and created a new local government structure for the capital. The Act significantly reduced the number of local government districts in the area,...
, the municipal borough was abolished and its area combined with that of the Municipal Borough of Wimbledon
Municipal Borough of Wimbledon
Wimbledon was a local government district in north-east Surrey from 1866 to 1965 covering the town of Wimbledon and its surrounding area. It was part of the London postal district and Metropolitan Police District....
and the Merton and Morden Urban District
Merton and Morden Urban District
Merton Urban District and Merton and Morden Urban District was an urban district in Surrey, England. It was formed in 1907 from the parish of Merton and was expanded in 1913 to take in Morden...
to form the present-day London Borough of Merton
London Borough of Merton
The London Borough of Merton is a borough in southwest London, England.The borough was formed under the London Government Act in 1965 by the merger of the Municipal Borough of Mitcham, the Municipal Borough of Wimbledon and the Merton and Morden Urban District, all formerly within Surrey...
in Greater London
Greater London
Greater London is the top-level administrative division of England covering London. It was created in 1965 and spans the City of London, including Middle Temple and Inner Temple, and the 32 London boroughs. This territory is coterminate with the London Government Office Region and the London...
.
Coat of arms
The coat of armsCoat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
of the municipal borough were granted in 1934 and defined as:
Shield
A pale
Pale (heraldry)
A pale is a term used in heraldic blazon and vexillology to describe a charge on a coat of arms , that takes the form of a band running vertically down the center of the shield. Writers broadly agree that the width of the pale ranges from about one-fifth to about one-third of the width of the...
vert (green central vertical band), representing the green of Mitcham. The centre has a fess
Fess
In heraldry, a fess or fesse is a charge on a coat of arms that takes the form of a band running horizontally across the centre of the shield. Writers disagree in how much of the shield's surface is to be covered by a fess or other ordinary, ranging from one-fifth to one-third...
wavy argent (silver wavy horizontal band) charged
Charge (heraldry)
In heraldry, a charge is any emblem or device occupying the field of an escutcheon . This may be a geometric design or a symbolic representation of a person, animal, plant, object or other device...
with a barulet wavy azure (blue narrow wavy bar) to indicate the ford of north Mitcham, which was once known as Whitford. Below the fess, a tower argent (silver tower) represents the great dwelling, from which Mitcham got its earlier name of Michelham. Above the fess, cross-keys and sword or (gold) represent Mitcham's patron saints, St. Peter and St. Paul
Paul of Tarsus
Paul the Apostle , also known as Saul of Tarsus, is described in the Christian New Testament as one of the most influential early Christian missionaries, with the writings ascribed to him by the church forming a considerable portion of the New Testament...
. On each side of the pale is a sprig of lavender proper (in its natural colour).
Crest
Three sprigs of lavender on a wreath or and vert entwined by a mural coronet (wall-like crenellated crown, indicative of municipal status).
Motto
"Mitcham Faeste Gestandeþ" - Mitcham stands fast (Old English
Old English language
Old English or Anglo-Saxon is an early form of the English language that was spoken and written by the Anglo-Saxons and their descendants in parts of what are now England and southeastern Scotland between at least the mid-5th century and the mid-12th century...
).