A map of Bedfordshire , showing the districts: (1) Bedford ; (2) Central Bedfordshire ; and (3) Luton A civil parish is a subnational entity, forming the lowest unit of local government in England . There are 125 civil parishes in the ceremonial county of Bedfordshire , most of the county being parished: Luton is completely unparished; Central Bedfordshire is entirely parished. At the 2001 census, there were 312,301 people living in the 125 parishes, accounting for 55.2 per cent of the county's population.
Parishes arose from Church of England divisions, and were originally purely ecclesiastical divisions. Over time they acquired civil administration powers.[ 1]
The Highways Act 1555 made parishes responsible for the upkeep of roads. Every adult inhabitant of the parish was obliged to work four days a year on the roads, providing their own tools, carts and horses; the work was overseen by an unpaid local appointee, the Surveyor of Highways .[ 2]
The poor were looked after by the monasteries , until their dissolution . In 1572, magistrates were given power to 'survey the poor' and impose taxes for their relief. This system was made more formal by the Poor Law Act 1601 , which made parishes responsible for administering the Poor Law ; overseers were appointed to charge a rate to support the poor of the parish.[ 3] Poor Law powers were transferred to Poor Law Unions .[ 4] Public Health Act 1872 grouped parishes into Rural Sanitary Districts, based on the Poor Law Unions; these subsequently formed the basis for Rural Districts .[ 5]
Parishes were run by vestries , meeting annually to appoint officials, and were generally identical to ecclesiastical parishes,[ 6] townships in large parishes administered the Poor Law themselves; under the Divided Parishes and Poor Law Amendment Act 1882 , all extra-parochial areas and townships that levied a separate rate became independent civil parishes.[ 7]
Civil parishes in their modern sense date from the Local Government Act 1894 , which abolished vestries ; established elected parish councils in all rural parishes with more than 300 electors; grouped rural parishes into Rural Districts; and aligned parish boundaries with county and borough boundaries.[ 7] Urban District , Municipal Borough or County Borough in which they were situated; many large towns contained a number of parishes, and these were usually merged into one. Parish councils were not formed in urban areas, and the only function of the parish was to elect guardians to Poor Law Unions; with the abolition of the Poor Law system in 1930 the parishes had only a nominal existence.[ 8]
The Local Government Act 1972 retained civil parishes in rural areas, and many former Urban Districts and Municipal Boroughs that were being abolished, were replaced by new successor parishes; urban areas that were considered too large to be single parishes became unparished areas .[ 9]
The current position [ edit ] Recent governments have encouraged the formation of town and parish councils in unparished areas, and the Local Government and Rating Act 1997 gave local residents the right to demand the creation of a new civil parish.[ 10]
A parish council can become a town council unilaterally, simply by resolution;[ 9] city status , but only if that is granted by the Crown .[ 9] mayor .[ 9] Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 introduced alternative names: a parish council can now choose to be called a community; village; or neighbourhood council.[ 11]
Civil parishes with town status List of civil parishes and unparished areas [ edit ]
Image
Name
Status
Population
District
Former local authority [ 12]
Refs
Bedford Unparished area
69,271
Bedford Bedford [ 13] [ 14]
Biddenham Civil parish
1,640
Bedford Bedford [ 15] [ 16]
Bletsoe Civil parish
281
Bedford Bedford [ 15] [ 17]
Bolnhurst and Keysoe Civil parish
734
Bedford Bedford [ 15] [ 17]
Brickhill Civil parish
8,678
Bedford Bedford [ 13] [ 18] [ 19]
Bromham Civil parish
4,768
Bedford Bedford [ 15] [ 17]
Cardington Civil parish
316
Bedford Bedford [ 15] [ 17]
Carlton and Chellington Civil parish
827
Bedford Bedford [ 15] [ 17]
Clapham Civil parish
3,643
Bedford Bedford [ 15] [ 17]
Colmworth Civil parish
367
Bedford Bedford [ 15] [ 17]
Cople Civil parish
736
Bedford Bedford [ 15] [ 17]
Dean and Shelton Civil parish
386
Bedford Bedford [ 15] [ 17]
Eastcotts Civil parish
3,187
Bedford Bedford [ 15] [ 17]
Elstow Civil parish
2,049
Bedford Bedford [ 15] [ 17]
Felmersham Civil parish
737
Bedford Bedford [ 15] [ 17]
Great Barford Civil parish
1,864
Bedford Bedford [ 15] [ 17]
Great Denham Civil parish
980
Bedford Bedford [ 15] [ 20] [ 21]
Harrold Civil parish
1,235
Bedford Bedford [ 15] [ 17]
Kempston Town
19,375
Bedford Kempston [ 22] [ 17]
Kempston Rural Civil parish
1,286
Bedford Bedford [ 15] [ 17]
Knotting and Souldrop Civil parish
269
Bedford Bedford [ 15] [ 17]
Little Barford Civil parish
44
Bedford Bedford [ 15] [ 17]
Little Staughton Civil parish
421
Bedford Bedford [ 15] [ 17]
Melchbourne and Yielden Civil parish
391
Bedford Bedford [ 15] [ 17]
Milton Ernest Civil parish
754
Bedford Bedford [ 15] [ 17]
Oakley Civil parish
2,438
Bedford Bedford [ 15] [ 17]
Odell Civil parish
260
Bedford Bedford [ 15] [ 17]
Pavenham Civil parish
593
Bedford Bedford [ 15] [ 17]
Pertenhall Civil parish
231
Bedford Bedford [ 15] [ 17]
Podington Civil parish
417
Bedford Bedford [ 15] [ 17]
Ravensden Civil parish
706
Bedford Bedford [ 15] [ 17]
Renhold Civil parish
1,448
Bedford Bedford [ 15] [ 17]
Riseley Civil parish
1,284
Bedford Bedford [ 15] [ 17]
Roxton Civil parish
322
Bedford Bedford [ 15] [ 23] [ 21]
Sharnbrook Civil parish
1,940
Bedford Bedford [ 15] [ 17]
Stagsden Civil parish
354
Bedford Bedford [ 15] [ 17]
Staploe Civil parish
347
Bedford Bedford [ 15] [ 17]
Stevington Civil parish
581
Bedford Bedford [ 15] [ 17]
Stewartby Civil parish
1,212
Bedford Bedford [ 15] [ 17]
Swineshead Civil parish
150
Bedford Bedford [ 15] [ 17]
Thurleigh Civil parish
696
Bedford Bedford [ 15] [ 17]
Turvey Civil parish
1,192
Bedford Bedford [ 15] [ 17]
Wilden Civil parish
412
Bedford Bedford [ 15] [ 17]
Willington Civil parish
782
Bedford Bedford [ 15] [ 17]
Wilshamstead Civil parish
2,263
Bedford Bedford [ 15] [ 17]
Wootton Civil parish
4,230
Bedford Bedford [ 15] [ 17]
Wyboston, Chawston and Colesden Civil parish
946
Bedford Bedford [ 15] [ 23] [ 21]
Wymington Civil parish
868
Bedford Bedford [ 15] [ 17]
Ampthill Town
6,767
Central Bedfordshire Ampthill [ 24] [ 25]
Arlesey Town
4,741
Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade [ 26] [ 25]
Aspley Guise Civil parish
2,185
Central Bedfordshire Ampthill [ 27] [ 25]
Aspley Heath Civil parish
573
Central Bedfordshire Ampthill [ 27] [ 25]
Astwick Civil parish
24
Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade [ 26] [ 25]
Barton le Clay Civil parish
4,793
Central Bedfordshire Luton [ 28] [ 29]
Battlesden Civil parish
37
Central Bedfordshire Ampthill [ 27] [ 25]
Biggleswade Town
15,383
Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade [ 30] [ 25]
Blunham Civil parish
926
Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade [ 26] [ 25]
Brogborough Civil parish
343
Central Bedfordshire Ampthill [ 27] [ 25]
Caddington Civil parish
3,673
Central Bedfordshire Luton [ 28] [ 29]
Campton and Chicksands Civil parish
1,388
Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade [ 26] [ 25]
Chalgrave Civil parish
480
Central Bedfordshire Luton [ 28] [ 29]
Chalton Civil parish
549
Central Bedfordshire Luton [ 28] [ 29]
Clifton Civil parish
2,730
Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade [ 26] [ 25]
Clophill Civil parish
1,702
Central Bedfordshire Ampthill [ 27] [ 25]
Cranfield Civil parish
4,909
Central Bedfordshire Ampthill [ 27] [ 25]
Dunstable Town
33,805
Central Bedfordshire Dunstable [ 31] [ 29]
Dunton Civil parish
653
Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade [ 26] [ 25]
Eaton Bray Civil parish
2,591
Central Bedfordshire Luton [ 28] [ 29]
Edworth Civil parish
69
Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade [ 26] [ 25]
Eggington Civil parish
288
Central Bedfordshire Luton [ 28] [ 29]
Eversholt Civil parish
387
Central Bedfordshire Ampthill [ 27] [ 25]
Everton Civil parish
525
Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade [ 26] [ 25]
Eyeworth Civil parish
86
Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade [ 26] [ 25]
Flitton and Greenfield Civil parish
1,212
Central Bedfordshire Ampthill [ 27] [ 25]
Flitwick Town
12,700
Central Bedfordshire Ampthill [ 27] [ 25]
Gravenhurst Civil parish
581
Central Bedfordshire Ampthill [ 27] [ 25]
Great Billington Civil parish
632
Central Bedfordshire Luton [ 28] [ 29]
Harlington Civil parish
2,322
Central Bedfordshire Ampthill [ 27] [ 25]
Haynes Civil parish
1,122
Central Bedfordshire Ampthill [ 27] [ 25]
Heath and Reach Civil parish
1,285
Central Bedfordshire Luton [ 28] [ 29]
Henlow Civil parish
3,084
Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade [ 26] [ 25]
Hockliffe Civil parish
730
Central Bedfordshire Luton [ 28] [ 29]
Houghton Conquest Civil parish
1,299
Central Bedfordshire Ampthill [ 27] [ 25]
Houghton Regis Town
16,970
Central Bedfordshire Luton [ 28] [ 29]
Hulcote and Salford Civil parish
186
Central Bedfordshire Ampthill [ 27] [ 25]
Husborne Crawley Civil parish
217
Central Bedfordshire Ampthill [ 27] [ 25]
Hyde Civil parish
402
Central Bedfordshire Luton [ 28] [ 29]
Kensworth Civil parish
1,504
Central Bedfordshire Luton [ 28] [ 29]
Langford Civil parish
2,882
Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade [ 26] [ 25]
Leighton–Linslade Town
32,417
Central Bedfordshire Leighton–Linslade [ 32] [ 29]
Lidlington Civil parish
1,145
Central Bedfordshire Ampthill [ 27] [ 25]
Marston Moretaine Civil parish
3,684
Central Bedfordshire Ampthill [ 27] [ 25]
Maulden Civil parish
2,900
Central Bedfordshire Ampthill [ 27] [ 25]
Meppershall Civil parish
1,549
Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade [ 26] [ 25]
Millbrook Civil parish
130
Central Bedfordshire Ampthill [ 27] [ 25]
Milton Bryan Civil parish
144
Central Bedfordshire Ampthill [ 27] [ 25]
Mogerhanger Civil parish
636
Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade [ 26] [ 25]
Northill Civil parish
2,288
Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade [ 26] [ 25]
Old Warden Civil parish
275
Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade [ 26] [ 25]
Potsgrove Civil parish
44
Central Bedfordshire Ampthill [ 27] [ 25]
Potton Town
4,473
Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade [ 26] [ 25]
Pulloxhill Civil parish
850
Central Bedfordshire Ampthill [ 27] [ 25]
Ridgmont Civil parish
418
Central Bedfordshire Ampthill [ 27] [ 25]
Sandy Town
10,887
Central Bedfordshire Sandy [ 33] [ 25]
Shefford Town
4,928
Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade [ 26] [ 25]
Shillington Civil parish
1,831
Central Bedfordshire Ampthill [ 27] [ 25]
Silsoe Civil parish
1,729
Central Bedfordshire Ampthill [ 27] [ 25]
Slip End Civil parish
1,976
Central Bedfordshire Luton [ 28] [ 29]
Southill Civil parish
1,141
Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade [ 26] [ 25]
Stanbridge Civil parish
747
Central Bedfordshire Luton [ 28] [ 29]
Steppingley Civil parish
233
Central Bedfordshire Ampthill [ 27] [ 25]
Stondon Civil parish
1,821
Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade [ 26] [ 25]
Stotfold Town
6,190
Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade [ 26] [ 25]
Streatley Civil parish
1,707
Central Bedfordshire Luton [ 28] [ 29]
Studham Civil parish
1,125
Central Bedfordshire Luton [ 28] [ 29]
Sundon Civil parish
507
Central Bedfordshire Luton [ 28] [ 29]
Sutton Civil parish
299
Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade [ 26] [ 25]
Tempsford Civil parish
564
Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade [ 26] [ 25]
Tilsworth Civil parish
360
Central Bedfordshire Luton [ 28] [ 29]
Tingrith Civil parish
149
Central Bedfordshire Ampthill [ 27] [ 25]
Toddington Civil parish
4,459
Central Bedfordshire Luton [ 28] [ 29]
Totternhoe Civil parish
1,180
Central Bedfordshire Luton [ 28] [ 29]
Westoning Civil parish
2,001
Central Bedfordshire Ampthill [ 27] [ 25]
Whipsnade Civil parish
457
Central Bedfordshire Luton [ 28] [ 29]
Woburn Civil parish
945
Central Bedfordshire Ampthill [ 27] [ 25]
Wrestlingworth and Cockayne Hatley Civil parish
737
Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade [ 26] [ 25]
Luton Unparished area
184,371
Luton Luton [ 34] [ 35]
^ Angus Winchester, 2000, Discovering Parish Boundaries . Shire Publications. Princes Risborough, 96 pages ISBN 978-0747804703
^ RAC Foundation : What Went Wrong? British Highway Development Before Motorways Retrieved 22 August 2009^ The Victorian Web : The Poor Law : Introduction Retrieved 22 August 2009^ Staffordshire University : Poor Law Unions and Registration Districts Retrieved 22 August 2009^ A Vision of Britain Through Time : Status Details for Rural Sanitary District Retrieved 22 August 2009^ Robert Tittler, The Reformation and the Towns in England , 1998, Oxford University Press, 395 pages, ISBN 9780198207184
^ a b Modern British Surnames : Selected Events in the History of Civil Registration and Boundary Changes 1801-1996 Retrieved 22 August 2009^ Alex MacMorran and T R Colquhoun Dill, The Local Government Act 1894 and the Subsequent Statutes Affecting Parish Councils , 1907, Butterworth and Co, London, 626 pages
^ a b c d Office of Public Sector Information : Local Government Act 1972 Retrieved 22 August 2009^ Office of Public Sector Information : Local Government and Rating Act 1997 Retrieved 22 August 2009^ Office of Public Sector Information : Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 Retrieved 22 August 2009^ From 1974 to 2009, Central Bedfordshire was divided into districts: Mid Bedfordshire , formed from Ampthill Rural District, Ampthill Urban District, Biggleswade Rural District, Biggleswade Urban District and Sandy Urban District; and South Bedfordshire , formed from Dunstable Municipal Borough, Leighton–Linslade Urban District and Luton Rural District.
^ a b A Vision of Britain Through Time : Bedford Municipal Borough Retrieved 15 October 2010^ Office for National Statistics : Census 2001 : Table KS01 : Usual Resident Population Castle; Cauldwell (part); De Parys; Goldington (part); Harpur; Kempston East (part); Kempston North (part); Kingsbrook (part); Newnham; Putnoe; Queen's Park; and Wilshamstead (part) wards. Retrieved 15 October 2010^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as A Vision of Britain Through Time : Bedford Rural District Retrieved 15 October 2010^ Office for National Statistics : Census 2001 : Table KS01 : Usual Resident Population Bromham (part) ward. Retrieved 15 October 2010^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap Office for National Statistics : Census 2001 : Parish Headcounts : Bedford Retrieved 15 October 2010^ Office for National Statistics : Census 2001 : Table KS01 : Usual Resident Population Brickhill ward. Retrieved 15 October 2010^ The Bedford (Parish) Order 2004 Retrieved 15 October 2010^ Office for National Statistics : Census 2001 : Table KS01 : Usual Resident Population Bromham (part); and Turvey (part) wards. Retrieved 15 October 2010^ a b c The Bedford (Parishes Electoral Arrangements) Order 2007 Retrieved 15 October 2010^ A Vision of Britain Through Time : Kempston Urban District Retrieved 15 October 2010^ a b Office for National Statistics : Census 2001 : Table KS01 : Usual Resident Population Roxton (part) ward. Retrieved 15 October 2010^ A Vision of Britain Through Time : Ampthill Urban District Retrieved 15 October 2010^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc Office for National Statistics : Census 2001 : Parish Headcounts : Mid Bedfordshire Retrieved 15 October 2010^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w A Vision of Britain Through Time : Biggleswade Rural District Retrieved 15 October 2010^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac A Vision of Britain Through Time : Ampthill Rural District Retrieved 15 October 2010^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u A Vision of Britain Through Time : Luton Rural District Retrieved 15 October 2010^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w Office for National Statistics : Census 2001 : Parish Headcounts : South Bedfordshire Retrieved 15 October 2010^ A Vision of Britain Through Time : Biggleswade Urban District Retrieved 15 October 2010^ A Vision of Britain Through Time : Dunstable Municipal Borough Retrieved 15 October 2010^ A Vision of Britain Through Time : Leighton–Linslade Urban District Retrieved 15 October 2010^ A Vision of Britain Through Time : Sandy Urban District Retrieved 15 October 2010^ A Vision of Britain Through Time : Luton County Borough Retrieved 15 October 2010^ Office for National Statistics : Census 2001 : Table KS01 : Usual Resident Population Barnfield; Biscot; Bramingham; Challney; Crawley; Dallow; Farley; High Town; Icknield; Leagrave; Lewsey; Limbury; Northwell; Round Green; Saints; South; Stopsley; Sundon Park; and Wigmore wards. Retrieved 15 October 2010
Unitary authorities Major settlements Topics
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