| Native Name: | Hammersmith Parish |
| Common Name: | Parish of Hammersmith |
| Today: | London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham |
| Government Type: | Civil parish |
| Coordinates: | 51.4915°N -0.2341°W |
| Year End: | 1965 |
| Year Start: | 1834 |
| S1: | London Borough of Hammersmith |
| S2: | London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham |
| P1: | Parish of Fulham |
| Image Map Caption: | Hammersmith within London |
| Era: | 19th century-20th century |
| Legislature: | Hammersmith Vestry (1834-1855) Fulham District Board of Works (1855-1886) Hammersmith Vestry (1886-1900) Hammersmith Metropolitan Borough Council (1900-1965) |
| Conventional Long Name: | Parish of Hammersmith |
| Nation: | the County of London |
| Subdivision: | Civil parish |
Hammersmith Parish (also known as the Parish of Hammersmith) was a civil parish in Hammersmith, London from 1834 to 1965.
Hammersmith originated as a hamlet within the parish of Fulham, with All Saints Church as the parish church.[1]
In 1629, inhabitants of Hammersmith, including the Earl of Mulgrave and Nicholas Crispe, successfully petitioned the Bishop of London for a chapel of ease to be built at St Paul's, Church.
On 7 June 1631, the chapelry was consecrated by Bishop Laud. A perpetual curacy was established and the chapelry developed its own independent vestry.
In 1834, upon the passing of the Hammersmith Parish Act 1834, Hammersmith became a distinct parish with St Paul's as the parish church and vicarage, governed by the Hammersmith Vestry.[2]
In 1855, following the passing of the Metropolis Management Act 1855, the parishes of Fulham and Hammersmith were combined for civil purposes as the Fulham District, governed by the Fulham District Board of Works, abolishing the first Hammersmith Vestry.[3] This coincided with the parish becoming part of the area of responsibility of the Metropolitan Board of Works.
On 25 March 1886, following the passing of the Metropolis Management Amendment Act 1885, the Fulham District Board of Works was dissolved and vestries of Hammersmith and Fulham were incorporated, with elections to the Metropolitan Board of Works to be held on that date.[4]
On 21 March 1889, following the passing of the Local Government Act 1888, the parish transferred from the County of Middlesex to the County of London.[5]
The London Government Act 1899 reformed the administration of London by dividing the County of London into 28 metropolitan boroughs, replacing the 41 parish vestries and district boards of works administering the area.[6] On 15 May 1900, the Metropolitan Borough of Hammersmith was created from the civil parish of Hammersmith, governed by Hammersmith Borough Council, abolishing the Hammersmith Vestry.[7]
The London Government Act 1963 created Greater London, divided into 32 London boroughs, abolishing civil parishes in London.[8] In 1965, the parishes of Hammersmith and Fulham ceased to exist and were merged to form the London Borough of Hammersmith.