Metropolitan Borough of Wandsworth

The Metropolitan Borough of Wandsworth was a Metropolitan borough under the London County Council, from 1900 to 1965.

Wandsworth

Wandsworth Town Hall

Wandsworth within the County of London
History
 • OriginWandsworth District Board of Works
 • Created1900
 • Abolished1965
 • Succeeded byLondon Borough of Wandsworth
London Borough of Lambeth
StatusMetropolitan borough
GovernmentWandsworth Borough Council
 • HQTown Hall, Wandsworth High Street
 • MottoWe Serve
The Arms of The Metropolitan Borough
Coat of arms of the borough council
Map of borough boundary

History

The borough was formed from five civil parishes: Clapham, Putney, Streatham, Tooting Graveney and Wandsworth. In 1904, these five were combined into a single civil parish called Wandsworth Borough, which was conterminous with the metropolitan borough.[1] Before 1900, these parishes, and Battersea until 1888, had been administered by the Wandsworth District Board of Works.

The borough had an irregular boundary with Mitcham in Surrey. On 1 April 1901 a small unpopulated exclave of Mitcham was transferred to Wandsworth. Part of the boundary followed the River Graveney, which had been culverted. On 1 April 1904 the boundary was straightened.[2]

Coat of arms

The coat of arms were granted on 6 July 1901. The blue wavy division represents the Rivers Wandle and Thames. French Huguenot refugees arrived in the area in 1685, and the blue drops represent the tears of their struggle. The five stars represent the constituent former parishes. At the top is a long boat, with a dragon's head, commemorating 9th century Danish incursions along the river. The borough council's motto was We Serve.[3]

Population and area

The borough covered 9,130 acres (36.9 km2), which made it the largest in the County of London. The population recorded in the Census was:

Constituent parishes 1801–1899

Year[4] 1801181118211831184118511861187118811891
Population14,28317,96322,72627,77933,23840,20450,80371,044103,172156,942

Metropolitan Borough 1900–1961

Year[5] 1901191119211931194119511961
Population232,024311,360328,307353,110[6]330,493347,442

Politics
A map showing the wards of Wandsworth Metropolitan Borough as they appeared in 1916.

The borough was divided into nine wards for elections: Balham, Clapham North, Clapham South, Fairfield, Putney, Southfield, Springfield, Streatham, and Tooting.[7][8]

Parliament constituency

For elections to Parliament, the borough was divided into one and a half constituencies:

In 1918 the borough's representation was increased to five seats:

In 1950 the borough's representation was reduced to four seats:

Replacement

When the metropolitan boroughs were replaced with larger London boroughs in 1965, this borough was split. The core area of Wandsworth (about 11 km2 or 4.2 sq mi) became part of the London Borough of Wandsworth, along with the former Metropolitan Borough of Battersea, but the areas of Streatham and Clapham (totalling 4 km2 or 1.5 sq mi) became part of the London Borough of Lambeth.

References
  1. "GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth, Wandsworth Borough CP through time, Census tables with data for the Parish-level Unit". A Vision of Britain through Time. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
  2. The Counties of London and Surrey (Wandsworth and Mitcham) Order, 1903
  3. "London County Council". Civic Heraldry. Retrieved 15 January 2008.
  4. Statistical Abstract for London, 1901 (Vol. IV); Census tables for Metropolitan Borough of Battersea
  5. "GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth, Wandsworth MetB through time, Population Statistics, Total Population". A Vision of Britain through Time. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
  6. The census was suspended for World War II
  7. Post Office London County Suburbs Directory, 1919. 1919. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
  8. "'County Series 3rd Edition' Map of London (1912–14) at 1:2500 scale". Ordnance Survey.

Further reading

51.4571°N 0.1903°W / 51.4571; -0.1903

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