Barking And Dagenham

Barking and Dagenham is the 10th largest London Borough in terms of population and is one of the most ethnically diverse local authority areas in the United Kingdom. It has a large Asian population, which is well represented in its restaurants and shops. The Borough also has one of the country’s highest proportions of foreign residents, with more than 20 per cent of the population coming from non-British backgrounds. Barking and Dagenham is a London borough located to the east of the city, with an area of just under 30 square miles.

Due to its proximity to Central London, the borough has seen a significant rise in its population in recent years, The London NET (thelondonnet.co.uk). The 2011 census data showed that 342,792 people were living in Barking and Dagenham. The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham contains a number of significant historic components, including the ancient seat of Barking Abbey. From 1927 to 1965, it was part of the County Borough of East Ham. From 1965 to 2014 it formed part of Greater London.

I promise you, that I am about to give you more information than you've ever needed on the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. I consider this one of the best blogs to write if all you need is information on this area. Barking and Dagenham. The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham was created by joining the two former municipal boroughs of Barking and Dagenham. The borough also incorporates the town of Chadwell Heath.

Barnet

A fantastic place to find all sorts of things in London has long been the area around Barnet. Its rich history, as an area as well as a region, is said to be evident from the 16th century when the region was one of a small number in England and Wales classified as forest. Earl Tostig is said to have been responsible for this and he and his brother Harold were said to be among those particularly fond of hunting in the forests.

The borough’s name derives from its early history as an agricultural settlement on the River Brent. It was finally merged with Hendon in 1965 to form the London Borough of Barnet. It is now known for its high proportion of wealthy residents and well kept parks in many parts of the borough. The law in the UK grants employment rights to all workers, from full-time employees to zero hours contract workers. The same principle applies to payment of the NMW rates.

Bexley

Around Bexley, people have their own local dialect which is similar to that of the Cockney accent. The term “Bexleyite” is also said to originate from the area in around 1769. This was created by combining the word “Beachy” which was one of the common variations on the name of Bexley and a local habitation known as “cleave” (to remove weeds and grasses which prevented growth for plants). The first ever mention of Bexley in print appeared in 1705 as being a small village that was located on the south bank of the River Cray.

During this time, at least three mills had been built on this river by these people who lived in. Although there wasn't much happening over the centuries, Bexley is a nice place to live and play. Once upon a time, it was considered to be an inland port. It is now the third most populous district in the region of Outer London. After being administered by Kent County Council for decades, the district has been governed by the London Borough of Bexley since 1965.

Of course, like many other areas in London and England, this one has a rich history behind it. While there are still more things that could be said about its past, here are some facts you should know about the place. Around 63 people live in the vicinity and 55 of them are happy. Why? Because they have found a lovely place to live. The other eight, however, will need some convincing. Let us see why.

After paying for a few rounds with a local cabbie called Dave we discovered about the history of this part of London that is called Bexley. It all began in 814 AD when Hamon, son of King Alfred and his wife Countess Ealhswith was born here. Bexley has a number of important buildings, including the Chislehurst Caves which are relics from the Paleolithic era. A section of these caves has been converted into a show cave, and it is possible to travel by boat through the underground system of tunnels.

At the Chislehurst Caves Heritage Centre, visitors can learn about how archaeologists discovered this site and learn about London's prehistory. Bexley is a London Borough of diverse and interesting character. The borough has a strong arts scene, vibrant shopping areas, great pubs and restaurants, beautiful parks, and some of the best schools in the country. To find out more about this wonderful area read our guide to Bexley below which details some popular Bexley attractions and events.

Bexley is separated from Dartford by the River Darent and some farmland. They are linked by the B224 road. It is around 35 minutes’ travel via road or rail to either London Charing Cross or London Victoria station. The town also has its own fire brigade, which was actually officially opened in 1931. 90 per hour       20 or over   £5. 90 per hour £4. 20 per hour £3. 70 per hour.

Bromley

Dating back to pre-Roman times, the borough contains numerous districts, the most notable of which is Bromley. The area was once largely forested but lost its wilderness status over the years, although two large areas of woodland are still retained and protected. Bromley’s major attractions include an indoor and outdoor swimming pool, a theatre and a town hall.  Another location worth visiting in Bromley is Hayes Common. This is especially popular with the local cross-country runners who come here to train.

Bromley is a part of Greater London. It lies south east of the River Thames and borders the London Boroughs of Croydon, Lewisham, and Greenwich.  Bromley is also home to London's biggest urban forest which is located within a 25 acre site in Perry Hill Park. Bromley, formally The London Borough of Bromley is a London borough in South East England and forms part of Outer London. It is centred on the suburban town of Bromley in the historic county of Kent, but also takes in some rural territory to the south.

The London Borough of Bromley was formed in 1965 and is made up of many former districts and two municipal boroughs: Bromley and Beckenham. Both boroughs were part of Kent until 1965, when they became part of Greater London. Bromley is located in South London and has a population of around 320,000. It is made up of numerous towns including Beckenham and Orpington with the town centre being located close to Station Road. The London Borough of Bromley was formed in 1965 and is made up of many former districts and two municipal boroughs: Bromley and Beckenham.

Croydon

Croydon is an urban area in South London, England. It is historically part of Greater London and has a population of 99,806 (2011 census). Croydon is the largest settlement in the borough, which was formed in 1965 through the merger of the former area of Croydon with Coulsdon and Purley. It is located on the reach between two rivers: on the one hand The Wandle and Wreaks Brook, on the other side Molecule Creek and Knights Hill Brook.

The earliest recorded use of Croydon as a settlement is from the 8th century when Anglo-Saxon settlers, moving north and east away from the Roman expansion established their presence there. At that time the area was clearly marked and referred to as being a part of Surrey. The London Borough of Croydon is named after the historical town of Croydon which was known as Crogdene or Croindone in the 8th century by the Anglo-Saxons. There is evidence to suggest however, that the site has been inhabited since prehistoric times.

Enfield

Enfield has a lot of history, and the word Enfield is thought to have Saxon origins which means either “rough field” or “open land”. There is a wide range of buildings here such as the Tudor Hall, churches like St Leonard’s and urban spaces like New Town Square. You can come here with friends and family to enjoy some shopping in The White Horse Exchange, take a look around the parklands and make sure you ride down the Goldsmiths Bell.

During the Industrial revolution Enfield became a centre for making guns and weapons, employing up to 30000 people at its height, unfortunately this meant that it got badly damaged during the second world war and for this reason it has some of the most architecturally interesting houses in London. A substantial amount of history, within Enfield, can be found in the Broadwater Farm area. This is partly due to the houses of which were built using materials from an older structure, that were built during the Victorian era.

Enfield was an area of historical significance, and during the First World War it was the site of the Battle of Enfield. During the Second World War, Enfield was one of only two places that were bombed in London. My wife and I were lucky enough to get married in Enfield, not a lot of people know that Enfield is the location of the UK’s only modern life-size replica of Stonehenge. Enfield Town is now an area that could be described as North London’s secret, it has kept its charm while still managing to attract big businesses and boutiques alike.

Haringey

London professional football clubs are known for their rivalry and this is evident in London as well. Tottenham Hotspur Football Club and Chelsea FC are both located in Haringey, the difference though is that there’s no love between the clubs! The rivalry originates from the historical interaction between the two clubs, in fact Spurs were founded thanks to a group of workers from Chelsea. In 1905 both teams reached the first division and a massive rivalry was born.

They share the same ground which has further added fuel to the fire. On the face of it, the two main sides to Haringey are glass and concrete, with the affluent residents living in luxury, whilst the eastern areas are evidently high-rise blocks – at least that’s how they appear. The Sky Blues and the Hotspurs of Tottenham have a huge rivalry which is arguably mirrored in some parts of the borough. The two areas do have a lot in common and there are some striking differences, however I doubt that many people could accurately define where one ends and the other begins.

Haringey is a largely residential borough with a population of around 331,000. It was incorporated in 1974 and contains the towns of Wood Green, Palmers Green and Hornsey. The Borough borders Enfield, Waltham Forest, Hackney, Islington and Camden. Haringey is located near to some major transport networks such as the A1 road which runs near Tottenham and Harringay offering fast access to central London. Redesign of a local council website for the London Borough of Haringey.

The project included news and event coverage, a place finder, business directory, an area forum, easy ways to contact councillors and much more. Croydon is a large town in South London, and its main commercial centres are Purley and Croydon Purley Way. The name is derived from the Anglo Saxon Crohdeene or Croindene and was first recorded (as Crogdene) in the Domesday Book. The National Living Wage (NLW) is a higher minimum wage for people aged 25 and over.

Harrow

Harrow London borough is unique in London in many ways because it is the only borough that has not been changed over the years when it was a municipal borough. It has the largest local government district in Middlesex and is one of two boroughs, and there are eight counties of England that now constitute metropolitan areas.  Berkshire is an example. The M4 Trunk Road runs through Harrow, as well as the M1, M25 and M40 motorways.

London Heathrow Airport is located on the southern edge of Harrow for easy access to Heathrow. Harrow's eastern border with Hillingdon follows the length of a very short stream, Harrow Weald Common Brook, and then the main roads north from Harrow Underground station to Wealdstone and then again to North Harrow before meeting at a T-junction with Rayners Lane. Harrow is an area in the north west of London and a popular location for relocation.

If you are moving to Harrow, it is important that you make sure your move goes as smoothly as possible. Harrow was an ancient parish in the county of Middlesex, England. It was a civil parish from 1837 until 1965. In 1965 it became part of the London Borough of Harrow, in Greater London. There are other London Boroughs that have merged and changed their borders over the years, but Harrow has remained the same size and shape since it was formed in 1954.

Havering

Today, as one of the London boroughs for places to visit and attractions in London and Essex, Havering has a wide range of things to do from exploring parks such as Havering Park, National Trust parks such as High Beach and Hainault Forest Park, going swimming at Orsett Outdoor centre, taking a trip along historic river Thames, visiting museums such as Queen Mary’s Bower and Hornchurch Country park museum; the list is endless. For all those who want to visit places to see in London and Essex should consider getting the best Airbnb accommodation in Havering while they are at it.

The London Borough of Havering is the largest in area in terms of the whole of Greater London. It is divided into 14 wards, and has 5 council members for each ward who are elected by a public vote. The council meets 6 times a year with a three week break at Christmas time and a two-week shutdown in August. The main operation functions are planning, housing, transport, environment and trading standards. These services are organized by 4 departments: Environment and Transport; Resources, Rights and Community Services; Finance and Governance; and Corporate Regeneration.

The London Borough of Havering saw to it that the town center of Romford was constructed and developed. Romford Town Center is now a major hub that has a wide array of retail outlets, restaurants, and pubs; multiple theaters; a landscaped park; a community center and much more. The Romford Market which is also located in the town center is one of the busiest markets in London. The architecture in the area reflects the older structures and buildings from right around the period of 1500 to 1700.

The 2015 census information reveals that the borough had a population of 151,100. Most of the population in this area consists of adults between 35-44 years and there are a total of 117,304 households. Families, who live in the London Borough of Havering and have at least one child aged 0-16 living with them, form around ½ of the entire population. Havering.  Havering is an area situated in the London Borough of Redbridge, England.

Its name is believed to have derived from Heafungas meaning high grounds. Early inhabitants were the Romano-British who inhabited the region between the rivers Roding and Thames, giving Havering its early heritage as a Romano-British settlement. This suburb is known for its top schools and excellent shopping facilities.  Havering Town Centre is the main town within Havering and is noted for its range of shops and restaurants. Harrow is in North West London, England. It is formed from the following settlements:  Harrow Garden Village, Sudbury Town, Harrow and Wealdstone.

Hounslow

Hounslow is a borough of the city of London with about 200,000 residents at present. The name Hounslow not a pure English word but comes from a pre-Greece tribe known as Hounsloefa which means the manor of Hundeslaw. In 1315, it was mentioned in historical documents by the name Trilleck and Gate Fulham Manor and later it came to be known as Queenhythe. Whatever your definition of London is, Hounslow has for long been part of the equation.

There are numerous past and present figures to associate the town with such as William Tyndale who worked as a papal chaplain here in 1532 and was subsequently tried for heresy. But more recently we are more familiar with the likes of. Hounslow, historically known as Oatlands, was so named in 1703 when it was recorded that there were oats and meadows in the area. Now, a lot of people think this simply means ‘the land of the oat’ but in fact, the word ‘oats’ derived from Hounslow Heath which was known to contain wild oats – hence the name.

Hounslow. It is a district in London, England. Hounslow railway station is in the south west of the district with diesel services to Southall, radial services through central London to Uxbridge and Heathrow Airport, and electric services through central London to Streatham, Crystal Palace and Sutton. I grew up in Brentford within the borough of Hounslow. I remember back in 1989 when businesses were established in the commercial center; it was nothing like it is now.

Lewisham

Lewisham is about nine miles south east of central London and single-handedly dominates the entirety of inner London, as well as by the way being the most populous borough in London. Although the Borough of Lewisham has ceded much its own area to Greater London, it still has a population larger than that of many small European countries. It is hard to think of a poorer area anywhere in England, and within walking distance of New Cross Gate (site of a modernised station) you will find some of the most deprived communities this side of inner city Birmingham.

The Borough is also home to two significant Royal Parks and caters for a variety of visitors with places like Lewisham Arboretum Festival Gardens, where you can see woodland. The London Borough of Lewisham is a London Borough in South-East Greater London England, and forms part of Inner London. It is located mainly on the south bank of the River Thames and on both sides of the A2. Despite being part of Inner London and lying adjacent to two other boroughs, Lewisham has a semi-rural aspect when viewing from the north, an urban one when viewed from the south.

Kingsdown which lies on its Western border is almost engulfed by Deptford, and Ladywell which lies on its Eastern border (with Catford) is almost engulfed by New Cross & Brockley. Elected mayors have been a feature of local government in England since 2002. Peter Bradley, former leader of Greenwich Council and former leader of the Labour Party on the Greater London Assembly (GLA), is currently serving as the Mayor. The first elected mayor was Steve Bullock, who holds the position since May 2002.

 Lewisham borough includes Lewisham itself and major districts such as Catford, Downham, Forest Hill, Southwark, and Sydenham. Overall, Lewisham is a very multicultural area with people from all over the globe living and working in the borough. There are also several old churches and monuments to visit if you’re interested in some culture. Also, there are plenty of parks around the area where you can jog or go for a stroll. The regeneration of the borough has taken place in phases.

The first phase was between 1980-1995, which included the development of New Cross, Bellingham, and Crystal Palace as large scale housing estates, as well as significant home improvements in Lewisham itself. Now, Hounslow is a busy town with a lot of people and traffic. Hounslow.  A West London borough, Hounslow was formed in 1965 and covers three former Middlesex council areas. The London Borough of Hounslow comprises of five major towns: Chiswick, Brentford, Isleworth, Hounslow and Feltham.

Merton

Merton is a large borough of south London, England. It is the largest London Borough by population with nearly 230,000 residents and spans 26 London Borough Council electoral wards. The commercial heart of Merton is the well-known and prosperous high street Wimbledon Village which contains a shopping centre, bus station, and needed amenities including parks, cafes and restaurants. Mitcham town centre is focused on Bell Street and the Market Square. 2Merton Council offices 2  The name Merton was chosen for the borough after a dispute between Wimbledon and Mitcham when they merged in 1965; the name coming from the historic parish of Merton which was situated in what is now South Wimbledon.

Redbridge

Redbridge's history dates back to the Roman era. A part of the district was once a farming area belonging to Barking Abbey. The earliest written record of the borough's name was in 1456, when it was recorded as red bregge. The local town of Redbridge is Ilford, which suffered heavy bombing during the Second World War, with over 1,000 fatalities and much damage to property. Despite this, Ilford has seen a big growth in its population.

The borough has many areas where old buildings have been demolished and replaced with modern housing estates. Redbridge is a borough that is part of Outer London. The borough was formed in 1965 and has around 229,000 residents. In the last census in 2011 the population was 224,981. Redbridge is around 11 square miles in area and the most southerly of London’s 32 boroughs. It is just east of London Heathrow Airport and also borders Essex to its east and south-east.

Redbridge has an eclectic mix of people from different backgrounds with just under half being white British or Irish and around 40% being Black, Asian or Mixed Race Non-White British. Redbridge is one of the six districts of London within the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. This borough is extremely cosmopolitan with a large East-end population. The majority of this population is highly concentrated in the close suburban areas to central London. This makes it easier for Redbridge to maintain its own identity against other urban areas in London, but also merge onto the larger scale at the same time.

The London Borough of Redbridge, with Ilford as its main town, is based in East London. The name comes from a bridge that used to be over the River Roding made with red bricks, unlike other bridges that were constructed using white stone at the time. The bridge no longer exists as it was demolished in 1921. There are 12 wards in London Borough of Redbridge, which is in the East London region of the British capital city.

It is an area that has a lot of natural scenic beauty, which includes meadows and woodlands. The borough was formed in 1965 as part of the London local government reform 1971. Redbridge was also commonly called Redbrig or Redbrik in the past, not to be confused with Redbridge in Wales. It united together with other boroughs in 1998 to form the London Borough of Newham. The name Merton was chosen for the borough after a dispute between Wimbledon and Mitcham when they merged in 1965; the name coming from the historic parish of Merton which was situated in what is now South Wimbledon.

Sutton

The London Borough of Sutton is a borough in South London, England and forms part of Inner London. It covers an area of 43 km² [16 sq. miles] and is the 80th largest local authority in England by population.  It is one of the southern most local authorities in London. It borders the London Boroughs of Merton, Wandsworth,  Croydon and Bromley. North of the borough are Carshalton, Wallington, Banstead and Belmont which is in Surrey.

Croydon Airport, London Heliport and Duppas Hill all fall within the borough which also has two conservation areas, Sutton Court Wood and Old Town, both of which are Grade II listed. Sutton has a lot to offer; it is home to some of the most beautiful parks and open spaces in London, a bustling town centre, award winning schools and the famous eco-friendly development, BedZED. Sutton is ideal for families as there are lots of excellent schools and plenty of green space like Carshalton Park and woodland walks around St Nicholas Playground.

There are many famous people that came from Sutton such as Richard Blackwood Cockney Rhyming Slang expert and presenter of Channel 4's hit show 'Fifth Gear'. Sutton is a district in London. It was created on 1 April 1965 by the merger of the former area of the municipal borough of Beddington and Sutton with Carshalton Urban District (including the former area of Banstead Urban District) and part of Mitcham parish. The London Borough of Sutton is located in the south-eastern outskirts of London, not far from the city itself.

It covers an extensive area of 65 square miles and has a population of nearly 300,000, representing one of the largest boroughs in the UK. But what is it like to live there? To find out, I’ve reached out to some Sutton residents. Here are eight things they have to say about living in the London Borough of Sutton which has an estimated population of more than 306,000 people. Merton has a population of about 109,000 with its administrative centre in the Wimbledon Chase business district.

Waltham Forest

From the beginning of recorded history, the area now known as Waltham Forest has been home to various groups including the Celtic tribe of Trinovantes, who were conquered by the Roman Empire under the Emperor Claudius in AD 43. The area then became part of the Kingdom of Essex and was a frequent battleground between warring Celts and Romans. In mediaeval times, the area now known as Waltham Forest was forested by monks from St Bartholomew's Priory in Smithfield, before being converted to grazing pasture land by Earls Edwin and Morcar back in 1016.

Waltham Forest sits beside the City of London to the east and is part of Outer London. The Lea Valley or River Lea forms the borough's southern boundary, separating it from Epping Forest in Essex. The River Lea also forms part of the boundary with Newham in the east, while Redbridge and Haringey are located to the north-east. To the west lie the towns of Woodford and Loughton with neighbouring Epping Forest and Buckhurst Hill and Chigwell lie on part of its northern edges.

The Waltham Forest borough is a territorial unit. It has a local government which is responsible for all the various tasks that are related to the local administration of the region. The district council is also in charge of education, housing, urban planning, and so on. The district was established in 1965 as a merger of the former Walthamstow and Leyton urban districts. Chingford urban district was merged into it in 1974. Waltham Forest is a London borough located in north-east London, England.

It borders Walthamstow, Leyton, Chingford and Enfield. In the south of the borough are Epping Forest and the town of Chingford. There are seven areas for which Waltham Forest is split into: Leyton, Highams Park, Chingford, Walthamstow Village, Grove Green, Forest Town and Walthamstow. The borough was formed from the former Municipal Borough of Leyton, Municipal Borough of Walthamstow and Municipal Borough of Chingford. These were all former districts within the county of Essex. The district was named after Leyton due to that area being the largest in the new borough and has continued to be its biggest ever since.

Creation

Metropolitan boroughs were similar to county boroughs and were the level of local government above the districts. They too held the powers usually invested in county councils, but were more closely linked to the London County Council. They covered a smaller area than counties. Municipal boroughs provided some local services, while rural districts consisted of unparished areas with no municipal corporation of their own. Urban districts and rural districts had less status but nevertheless retained vestiges of their former identities, for example as general purpose authorities or as sanitary authorities.

The London Government Act 1899 created urban districts and Metropolitan boroughs, which corresponded to the Metropolitan Police District created in 1829, The London NET (thelondonnet.co.uk). In 1900, there were seven such districts, and by 1965 there were 32. Each had a separate council (one of the few differences between them was the number of councillors: metropolitan boroughs had 60 but the smaller districts only 30) which initially controlled local services such as housing, transport, sewage and social services.

The metropolitan boroughs were based on the same boundaries as the metropolitan police districts. Since 1965 the Greater London area has been divided for local government purposes into 32 London Boroughs. Each of these is a unitary authority, with the powers and functions previously divided among the county councils now vested exclusively in them. Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea are examples of vestry authorities that are not London boroughs, while Newham was transferred from Essex to Greater London in 1965.

Each of the others had differing responsibilities and geographical extents. Some important functions, such as firefighting, were entrusted to all-purpose units known as county boroughs, rather than to borough councils. These county boroughs were sometimes called "proto-cities", but they should not be confused with the concept of a city council in the modern sense. The  Richmond Bridge was built in the 1770s and is the oldest surviving bridges of London (after the removal of the original London Bridge structure to Arizona, built around 1300 and taken down in 1968).

Former Authorities

There are seven boroughs in Greater London. For the purposes of this list, the current borough will be identified by its official name even if it has acquired or lost a different name in common usage. For example, the City of Westminster is referred to as such despite being commonly known as Westminster. The 1965 Act did not affect City status; consequently the 28 City of London parishes are no longer within the administrative area of the City of London.

BENSON. From the 1st April 1965 the former borough of South Bermondsey (which see) was abolished and its area redistributed. South Bermondsey Parish District and Bermondsey Burial Board became part of the new Borough of Southwark. That part of Rotherhithe County Borough in the borough became part of Bermondsey Urban District Rural District. The northern half of Millwall Parish was added to the new borough. 3 March 1965 – The London Government Act 1963 introduced the concept of boroughs to replace the 34 metropolitan boroughs and the City of London.

 There were six metropolitan boroughs in Inner London, six in Outer London, and eleven new ones in an enlarged Greater London. The existing LCC housing transfer boards became metropolitan borough councils. The boroughs were created as follows. Some relatively minor changes have been made to the boundaries of boroughs since 1965, and two have changed their names. Seven of the boroughs were created by the London Government Act 1963. They are, with the year they received borough status and their present populations.

Greater London Authority

The London Fire Brigade, the National Health Service, Transport for London, and the Metropolitan Police have many roles. There are Graffiti Removal Teams and Roads Task Forces, established by Transport for London. There is also a Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime, which includes the Metropolitan Police Service and the City of London Police. [/edit]. The Mayor of London is the chief officer of the Corporation of London's municipal government and chairman of its governing body (commonly called the London Assembly).

The office exercises various statutory and ceremonial functions, and those powers vested in the Corporation's mayoralty, such as the conduct of elections, are exercised by the mayor. In 2000 the Greater London Authority was created, comprising the Mayor of London and the London Assembly. As a strategic authority, it absorbed only limited powers, such as major highways and planning strategy, from the borough councils. The mayor of London exercised those powers (and others) through the Office of the Mayor of London.

The Greater London Authority (GLA) is a top-tier administrative division of the government of Greater London, England. It consists of an elected mayor and assembly. The GLA was created in 2000 by the Greater London Authority Act 1999, and replaced the much larger Greater London Council which had been abolished in 1986. The new body was unveiled under the GLA Act 2000, which established executive bodies to take over powers from elected councils in certain areas.

The name of the new body at that time was the "Greater London Authority". The Greater London Authority is not to be confused with the Greater London official region, set up by the Regional Development Agencies and used for planning purposes. This bridge appears on a number of album covers and posters, including by blues icon Eric Clapton. Capacity is limited so get your tickets early. Here's what's popping up in the next few weeks.

History

Each authority was further divided into electoral wards. This was given formal recognition in the London Government Bill of 1937, which introduced elected borough councils to London for the first time since the county councils were abolished. The metropolitan boroughs of Croydon, Hackney, Lewisham, Paddington and Shoreditch were created to cover parts of the County of London and became the first metropolitan boroughs to be created in England since those created under the Local Government Act 1894.

They were soon followed by many others that were created by a number of local acts. New municipal boroughs were formed around most major towns, and two new counties replaced the former area of Middlesex: Buckinghamshire,[18. The 1972 act disbanded the county boroughs and created a new system of larger metropolitan boroughs instead. The former county boroughs were abolished and their area was transferred to Greater London. Urban district councils became districts within the new metropolitan counties, with responsibility for some local services such as planning, libraries, social services and roads.

This arrangement lasted until 1986 when urban district councils, as well as district councils, gained responsibility for some services that had been provided by county councils. Despite a previous reform of local government in which the metropolitan county councils were intended to become "metropolitan district councils", they remained as a tier of administration between the municipal boroughs and urban districts. The London Government Act 1963 established the Inner London Education Authority to provide all local government services except police, fire and ambulance services in Greater London.

Name And Boundary Changes

London local authorities had been permitted to change their name and boundary under the Local Government Act 1958, but only for a town or parish. Under the 1972 legislation, an area designated a “new town” could be renamed: thus Harlow in Essex was created by merging the existing districts of Bishop's Stortford and Harlow. The 1974 reorganisation followed a review of local government boundaries and population levels; it was the first such comprehensive exercise since the 1880s.

The boroughs of Croydon and Southwark were united as Greater London Borough of Croydon, with boundaries that continued south into Bromley and west into Lambeth, taking over some areas from Surrey and Kent. The Local Government Act 1985 was passed with the intention of making the borough system into a two tier structure, where most of the councils would be smaller in size. This was opposed by several London Borough councils and in April 1985 they were given permission to retain their current boundaries.

To signify a change of status, most boroughs whose area was affected were on 1 April 1986 renamed by the addition of "Wards" to become Wards Boroughs. This was implemented differently in each borough, but most commonly they took the name of the principal town or district centre or a combination of both. The Local Government Act 1972 was largely replaced by the Local Government Act 1985. The new Act made no provision for any change of name following a borough or metropolitan district becoming a unitary authority.

However, such changes could be made under s. 40 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, which allowed changes to be made at royal discretion, on application by a unitary authority to central government applied for in most cases by the relevant county council on behalf of the unitary authority. The Local Government Act 1983 also allowed for the unification of area, name and administration of two or more districts, one being a non-county borough.

A referendum was held on 1 March 1986 under this legislation to decide on the name and area of the Metropolitan Borough of Wandsworth, a local government district in the London Borough of Wandsworth. The borough was renamed as the London Borough of Wandsworth when its council replaced that of the Metropolitan Borough of Wandsworth. The 1981 census recorded Barking's population as 194,995, up from 138,559 recorded in the 1971 census. ] In 1931 the borough council established a Housing Committee to build new homes for the borough's expanding population.

However, it was not until after the Second World War that Barking really began to expand: between 1946 and 1948 the population increased by 86,000 people (see table at right). By 1951 it had reached 174,943 and by 1956 219,258. There were six county boroughs: the City of London, covering the Square Mile (except for the City of London Corporation jurisdiction) and most of the Inner Ring; the City of Westminster, covering The Hyde, Belgravia, Pimlico, much of Knightsbridge and Belgravia; the County Borough of Croydon and parts of Norwood and Sydenham;  the County Borough of Brighton and Hove; the County Borough of Southwark; and West Ham.