Metropolitan Borough of Westminster
Westminster | |
---|---|
The old Westminster City Hall | |
Westminster within the County of London | |
Area | |
• 1911 | 2,503 acres (10.13 km2)[1] |
• 1961 | 2,505 acres (10.14 km2)[1] |
Population | |
• 1911 | 160,261[1] |
• 1961 | 85,735[1] |
Density | |
• 1911 | 64/acre |
• 1961 | 34/acre |
History | |
• Origin | Liberty of Westminster |
• Created | 1900 |
• Abolished | 1965 |
• Succeeded by | London Borough of Westminster |
Status | Civil parish (1922–1965) |
Government | Westminster City Council |
• HQ | Westminster City Hall, St Martin's Place WC2 |
• Motto | Custodi Civitatem Domine (O Lord, watch over the City) |
Coat of arms of Westminster City Council | |
Map of boundary |
The Metropolitan Borough of Westminster was a metropolitan borough in the County of London, England, from 1900 to 1965.
City status
By royal charter dated 29 October 1900, the borough was granted the title City of Westminster. Westminster had originally been created a city and seat of the short-lived
Arms and motto
The arms of Westminster represent two monarchs, closely associated with the City.
The motto Custodi Civitatem Domine, is translated as O Lord, watch over the City.[2]
The arms can still be seen on the Portland stone parapet of the former Westminster City Hall in St Martin's Place (built in 1890–91 by Robert Walker, replacing an earlier vestry hall).[3] It can also be seen on the entrance to the car park beneath 10 Spring Gardens (home of the British Council) and on Chelsea and Hammersmith Bridges.
Formation and boundaries
It consisted of the area that is now part of the City of Westminster and south of
.The borough was formed from eleven
Previous to the borough's formation it had been administered by five separate local bodies: the Vestry of St George Hanover Square, the Vestry of St Martin in the Fields,
Population and area
The borough covered 2,503 acres (10.1 km2). The population recorded in the Census was:
Constituent parishes 1801–1899
Year[6] | 1801 | 1811 | 1821 | 1831 | 1841 | 1851 | 1861 | 1871 | 1881 | 1891 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Population | 160,759 | 168,657 | 189,543 | 209,229 | 229,473 | 244,531 | 257,232 | 248,714 | 229,784 | 198,871 |
Metropolitan Borough 1900–1961
Year[7] | 1901 | 1911 | 1921 | 1931 | 1941 | 1951 | 1961 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Population | 183,011 | 160,261 | 141,578 | 129,579 | [8] | 99,048 | 85,735 |
Politics
The borough was divided into fourteen wards for elections: Charing Cross, Conduit, Covent Garden, Great Marlborough, Grosvenor, Hamlet of Knightsbridge, Knightsbridge St George's, Pall Mall, Regent, St Anne, St John, St Margaret, Strand and Victoria.[9][10]
Borough council
Parliament constituency
For elections to Parliament, the borough was divided into three constituencies:
In 1918 the borough's representation was reduced to two seats:
In 1950 the borough's representation was reduced to half a seat, when it was merged with the City of London:
Poor law
The parishes which made up the borough were within the St George's, Strand and Westminster
Replacement
It was abolished in 1965 and its area became part of the City of Westminster along with the Metropolitan Borough of Paddington and the Metropolitan Borough of St Marylebone.
References
- ^ a b c d Vision of Britain – Westminster population[permanent dead link] (area[permanent dead link] and density)
- ^ Civic Heraldry accessed 20 Jun 2007
- ISBN 978-1405049245.
- ^ GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth, City of Westminster CP through time | Census tables with data for the Parish-level Unit, A Vision of Britain through Time. http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10235583 Date accessed: 19 February 2015
- ^ Frederic A Youngs Jr., Guide to the Local Administrative Units of England, Volume I:Southern England, London, 1979
- ^ Statistical Abstract for London, 1901 (Vol. IV); Census tables for Metropolitan Borough of Westminster
- ^ GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth, Westminster MetB through time | Population Statistics | Total Population, A Vision of Britain through Time. http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10135576/cube/TOT_POP Date accessed: 19 February 2015
- ^ The census was suspended for World War II
- ^ Post Office London County Suburbs Directory, 1919. 1919. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
- ^ Ordnance Survey 'County Series 3rd Edition' Map of London (1912-14) at 1:2500 scale. Accessed at https://www.old-maps.co.uk/
Further reading
- Robert Donald, ed. (1907). "London: Westminster". Municipal Year Book of the United Kingdom for 1907. London: Edward Lloyd.
External links
- Metropolitan Borough of Westminster at Vision of Britain
- Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). 1911. .