Municipal Borough of Twickenham
Encyclopedia
Twickenham was a local government district in Middlesex
, England
from 1868 to 1965.
Twickenham Local Government District was formed in 1868, when the civil parish
of Twickenham adopted the Local Government Act 1858. The district was governed by a local board
of 27 members.
The Local Government Act 1894
reconstituted the area of the local board as Twickenham Urban District. Twickenham Urban District Council, consisting of 24 councillors representing 4 wards, replaced the local board.
In 1926 Twickenham was granted a charter of incorporation to become a municipal borough
. The borough council consisted of a mayor
, 8 aldermen
and 24 councillors, and was divided into 8 wards.
In 1934 the borough was extended by a county review order
: the urban district
s of Hampton
, Hampton Wick
and Teddington
were all absorbed by Twickenham. The borough council was increased in size with 10 alderman and 30 councillors representing 10 wards. The number of wards was later increased to 11.
The local board met in rented rooms until 1881, when a town hall was opened in King Street. In 1924 Twickenham UDC purchased the historic York House
, and after restoration this became the offices for the borough.
The borough was abolished in 1965 with the creation of Greater London
. It became part of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
, along with the Municipal Borough of Barnes
and the Municipal Borough of Richmond, both from Surrey
.
by the College of Arms
in 1913. The name "Twickenham" was said to mean "place where two ways meet", and the main device on the shield was a green pall
or Y-shaped figure to illustrate this. The pall also resembles the arms of Diocese of Canterbury
, which had historical links with the area. At the top of the shield was an antique lamp for "literature arts and sciences". At the dexter side were crossed swords, from the arms of the Diocese of London
. These represented Twickenham's first appearance in historical records, when Waldhere, Bishop of London was granted land in the area in AD 704. The three red roses came from the arms of William of Wykeham
who built the tower of the parish church of St Mary.
The crest above the shield was a swan on water with an eel in its beak. This represented the River Thames
, which (at the time of the grant) was the boundary of the town for some three miles (5 km). The eel was for Eel Pie Island
.
The arms were inherited by the municipal borough in 1926, and were unaltered when the borough was extended in 1934.
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
, 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...
from 1868 to 1965.
Twickenham Local Government District was formed in 1868, when the civil parish
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
of Twickenham adopted the Local Government Act 1858. The district was governed by a local board
Local board of health
Local Boards or Local Boards of Health were local authorities in urban areas of England and Wales from 1848 to 1894. They were formed in response to cholera epidemics and were given powers to control sewers, clean the streets, regulate slaughterhouses and ensure the proper supply of water to their...
of 27 members.
The Local Government Act 1894
Local Government Act 1894
The Local Government Act 1894 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales outside the County of London. The Act followed the reforms carried out at county level under the Local Government Act 1888...
reconstituted the area of the local board as Twickenham Urban District. Twickenham Urban District Council, consisting of 24 councillors representing 4 wards, replaced the local board.
In 1926 Twickenham was granted a charter of incorporation to become 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...
. The borough council consisted of a mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
, 8 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...
and 24 councillors, and was divided into 8 wards.
In 1934 the borough was extended by a county review order
Local Government Act 1929
The Local Government Act 1929 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that made changes to the Poor Law and local government in England and Wales....
: the 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....
s of Hampton
Hampton, London
Hampton is a suburban area, centred on an old village on the north bank of the River Thames, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in England. Formerly it was in the county of Middlesex, which was formerly also its postal county. The population is about 9,500...
, Hampton Wick
Hampton Wick
Hampton Wick is a Thames-side area, formerly a village, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in London, England.Famous for its market gardens until well into the twentieth century, it is now commuter-belt territory, housing developments having been built on these areas...
and Teddington
Teddington
Teddington is a suburban area in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in south west London, on the north bank of the River Thames, between Hampton Wick and Twickenham. It stretches inland from the River Thames to Bushy Park...
were all absorbed by Twickenham. The borough council was increased in size with 10 alderman and 30 councillors representing 10 wards. The number of wards was later increased to 11.
The local board met in rented rooms until 1881, when a town hall was opened in King Street. In 1924 Twickenham UDC purchased the historic York House
York House, Twickenham
York House is an historic stately home in Twickenham, England, and currently serves as the Town Hall of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames...
, and after restoration this became the offices for the borough.
The borough was abolished in 1965 with the creation of 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...
. It became part of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
London Borough of Richmond upon Thames
The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames is a London borough in South West London, UK, which forms part of Outer London. It is unique because it is the only London borough situated both north and south of the River Thames.-Settlement:...
, along with the Municipal Borough of Barnes
Municipal Borough of Barnes
Barnes was a local government district in north west Surrey from 1894 to 1965.It was formed as an urban district in 1894 and became a municipal borough in 1932....
and the Municipal Borough of Richmond, both from Surrey
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...
.
Coat of arms
The Twickenham Urban District Council was granted a 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...
by 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...
in 1913. The name "Twickenham" was said to mean "place where two ways meet", and the main device on the shield was a green pall
Pall
Pall may refer to:* Pall , a cloth used to cover a coffin* Pall , a Y-shaped heraldic charge* Pall , a piece of stiffened linen used to cover the chalice at the Eucharist* Pall Corporation, a global business...
or Y-shaped figure to illustrate this. The pall also resembles the arms of Diocese of Canterbury
Diocese of Canterbury
The Diocese of Canterbury is a Church of England diocese covering eastern Kent, founded by St. Augustine of Canterbury in 597. It is centred on Canterbury Cathedral, and is the oldest see of the Church of England....
, which had historical links with the area. At the top of the shield was an antique lamp for "literature arts and sciences". At the dexter side were crossed swords, from the arms of the Diocese of London
Diocese of London
The Anglican Diocese of London forms part of the Province of Canterbury in England.Historically the diocese covered a large area north of the Thames and bordered the dioceses of Norwich and Lincoln to the north and west. The present diocese covers and 17 London boroughs, covering most of Greater...
. These represented Twickenham's first appearance in historical records, when Waldhere, Bishop of London was granted land in the area in AD 704. The three red roses came from the arms of William of Wykeham
William of Wykeham
William of Wykeham was Bishop of Winchester, Chancellor of England, founder of Winchester College, New College, Oxford, New College School, Oxford, and builder of a large part of Windsor Castle.-Life:...
who built the tower of the parish church of St Mary.
The crest above the shield was a swan on water with an eel in its beak. This represented the River Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
, which (at the time of the grant) was the boundary of the town for some three miles (5 km). The eel was for Eel Pie Island
Eel Pie Island
Eel Pie Island is an island in the River Thames in England at Twickenham, in the Borough of Richmond upon Thames, London. It is situated on the Tideway and can be reached only by footbridge or boat...
.
The arms were inherited by the municipal borough in 1926, and were unaltered when the borough was extended in 1934.