List of former administrative divisions in Cornwall explained

This is a list of former administrative divisions in the ceremonial county of Cornwall, England, United Kingdom.

Former district councils

Former urban/rural districts and municipal boroughs

Municipal boroughs existed from 1835 and urban and rural districts existed from 1894 as the middle level of local government. Urban and rural districts were created through the Local Government Act 1894 (56 & 57 Vict. c. 73) to provide administration as a subdivision of administrative counties; civil parishes within the districts formed the lowest level of local government. Elected municipal boroughs were created under the Municipal Corporations Act 1835, but had their roots from mediaeval times, established as municipal corporations.[1]

These were all abolished in 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, to form the new non-metropolitan districts, six in Cornwall. Although districts and boroughs were created and abolished between these periods, as well as undergoing boundary changes after various reviews.[2] This is a list of all the districts and boroughs that existed between these times.[3]

DistrictCreation dateAbolition dateNotes
Bodmin Municipal Borough18351974
Bodmin Rural District18941934Abolished to create Wadebridge Rural District as well as enlarging others
Bude-Stratton Urban District19001974
Callington Urban District19011934
Calstock Rural District18941934
Camborne Urban District18941934Abolished to create Camborne–Redruth Urban District
Camborne–Redruth Urban District19341974Created from the abolition of Camborne Urban District, Helston Rural District, Redruth Rural District and Redruth Urban District
Camelford Rural District18941974
East Kerrier Rural District18941934Abolished to create Kerrier Rural District and enlarge others
Falmouth Municipal Borough18351974
Fowey Municipal Borough19131968Abolished to create St Austell with Fowey Municipal Borough
Hayle Urban District18941934
Helston Municipal Borough18351974
Helston Rural District18941934Abolished to create Camborne–Redruth Urban District and Kerrier Rural District and enlarging another
Holsworthy Rural District18941934 (Cornwall)Was in both counties of Cornwall and Devon, but after the single North Tamerton civil parish was transferred to Stratton Rural District in 1934 it fell fully within Devon. The district in Devon was abolished in 1974[4]
Isles of Scilly Rural District18901974Unitary authority
Kerrier Rural District19341974Created from the abolition of East Kerrier Rural District, Helston Rural District and Redruth Rural District
Launceston Municipal Borough18351974
Launceston Rural District18941974
Liskeard Municipal Borough18351974
Liskeard Rural District18941974
Looe Urban District18981974
Lostwithiel Municipal Borough18851968
Ludgvan Urban District18941934
Madron Urban District18941934
Newquay Urban District18941974
Padstow Urban District18941968Abolished to create enlarged Wadebridge Rural District
Paul Urban District18941934Abolished to enlarge Penzance Municipal Borough and West Penwith Rural District
Penryn Municipal Borough18351974
Penzance Municipal Borough18351974
Phillack Urban District18941934
Redruth Rural District18941934Abolished to create Camborne–Redruth Urban District and Kerrier Rural District and enlarge others
Redruth Urban District18941934Abolished to create Camborne–Redruth Urban District
Saltash Municipal Borough18851974
St Austell Rural District18941974
St Austell with Fowey Municipal Borough19681974Created from the abolition of Fowey Municipal Borough and St Austell Urban District
St Columb Major Rural District18941934Abolished to create Wadebridge Rural District and enlarge others
St Germans Rural District18941974
St Ives Municipal Borough18351974
St Just Urban District18971974
Stratton Rural District18941974
Torpoint Urban District19041974
Truro Municipal Borough18351974
Truro Rural District18941974
Wadebridge and Padstow Rural District19681974Created from the abolition of Padstow Urban District and Wadebridge Rural District
Wadebridge Rural District19341968Created from the abolition of Bodmin Rural District, St Columb Major Rural District and Wadebridge Urban District. Abolished to create Wadebridge and Padstow Rural District
Wadebridge Urban District18981934Abolished to create Wadebridge Rural District
West Penwith Rural District18941974

See also

Notes and References

  1. Albert Shaw, Municipal Government in Great Britain, in Political Science Quarterly, Vol4, No.2, June 1889, pp. 197-229
  2. Web site: Local Government Act 1929 (County Reviews): Written Answers (Commons) vol 317 c1912. 12 July 2012. Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 19 November 1936.
  3. A Vision of Britain through Time. University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  4. Web site: Holsworthy Rural District (Devon). https://archive.today/20120919175910/http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/relationships.jsp?u_id=10061829. dead. 19 September 2012. A Vision of Britain through Time. 13 July 2012.