Huntingdon and Peterborough
Encyclopedia
Huntingdon and Peterborough was a short-lived administrative county
in East Anglia
in the United Kingdom
. It existed from 1965 to 1974, when it became part of Cambridgeshire
.
created four small neighbouring administrative counties in the east of England: Cambridgeshire, Isle of Ely
, Huntingdonshire
and the Soke of Peterborough
. Following the Second World War, a Local Government Boundary Commission
was formed to review county-level administration in England and Wales. The commission was of the opinion that counties needed to have a population of between 200,000 and one million in order to provide effective services. Accordingly, they recommended the amalgamation of all four counties into a single entity. The commission's recommendations were not carried out, however.
The reform of local government was returned to in 1958, with the appointment of a Local Government Commission for England. The four counties were included in the East Midlands General Review Area, and the LGCE made its draft proposals in 1960. The commission identified particular problems in the administration of the Soke of Peterborough, where 80% of the population of the county lay within the City of Peterborough, which was itself seeking county borough
status. The LGCE concluded that the Soke was too small to continue as a separate county, and needed to become part of a larger authority. Accordingly, the draft proposals were to combine the Isle of Ely, Huntingdonshire and the Soke of Peterborough with Cambridgeshire (less the City of Cambridge).
There was considerable opposition to the draft proposals, and the LGCE instead opted in its final report in 1961 to create two counties: Huntingdon
and Peterborough, and Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely
. The Huntingdon and Peterborough Order was made on 14 February 1964, and placed before the House of Commons on 9 March 1964. The amalgamation was welcomed by David Renton, MP
for Huntingdonshire
, who felt that "The new county will have very good communications and a great community of interest. It will be a compact and convenient local government unit." The order was approved by 143 votes to 83.
The new county was formed on 1 April 1965 from the areas of the administrative counties of Huntingdonshire and Soke of Peterborough (with minor boundary changes) and Thorney Rural District
from the Isle of Ely
. As well as becoming an administrative county, Huntingdon and Peterborough also became a county for other statutory purposes. Accordingly the Lord Lieutenant of Huntingdonshire
became Lord Lieutenant of Huntingdon and Peterborough
, with Peterborough ceasing to be part of the geographical county of Northamptonshire. A High Sheriff
was also appointed to the new county, and a single commission of peace and court of quarter sessions established.
The county's population, as recorded at the ten-yearly census, was 202,622 in 1971.
came into force creating the Mid-Anglia Constabulary by merging the Cambridge City Police, Cambridgeshire County Constabulary, Isle of Ely Constabulary, Huntingdonshire Constabulary, and the Peterborough Combined Police Force (created in 1947 from the Liberty of Peterborough Constabulary and the City of Peterborough Constabulary). On further local government reform in 1974, the present Cambridgeshire Constabulary
was formed with the same boundaries.
The Huntingdon and Peterborough Fire Brigade was formed on the same date by the merger of Huntingdonshire Fire Brigade and the Soke of Peterborough Fire Brigade. Since 1974 this has formed part of Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service
.
s, three urban district
s and seven rural district
s. Each of these existed as subdivisions of the predecessor counties.
† Formerly in Huntingdonshire
‡ Formerly in Soke of Peterborough
¶ Formerly in Isle of Ely
Source: Vision of Britain
by the College of Arms
on 3 April 1965. The blazon was as follows:
Barry argent and azure on a fess embattled vert a cornucopia between two garbs or; and for a crest issuant from a mural crown or a demi lion gules gorged with a collar flory counterflory and supporting a staff or, flying therefrom a banner vert charged with two keys in saltire or; mantled azure, doubled argent. And for supporters on the dexter side a pikeman of the New Model Army
supporting with the exterior hand a pike, and on the sinister side a nitred abbot in processional vestments for st Peter's Day supporting with the exterior hand a crosier and sudarium all proper. Badge: Two keys in saltire surmounted by a buglehorn or the strings azure interlaced with the keys.
The arms and crest were a combination of the arms previously used by Huntingdonshire and Soke of Peterborough County Councils. To these were added supporters
: a pikeman of the New Model Army for the Cromwellian
associations of Huntingdonshire, and a mitred abbot for the origins of the Soke as territory administered by Peterborough Abbey
.
The Latin
motto
adopted by the council Cor Unum, or One Heart, was formerly that of the Soke.
completely reformed administrative structures throughout England and Wales excluding Greater London
. A system of metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties, each divided into districts was introduced. Huntingdon and Peterborough was merged with neighbouring Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely to form the new enlarged non-metropolitan county (and lieutenancy) of Cambridgeshire, first proposed in 1947. Peterborough
and Huntingdon
became two of the county's six districts and in 1984, following a resolution of the council, the latter district was renamed Huntingdonshire.
that takes all the teams from each area and has representative teams for Youth rugby. The teams also partake in a county cup competition every year at senior level.
Administrative county
An administrative county was an administrative division in England and Wales and Ireland used for the purposes of local government. They are now abolished, although in Northern Ireland their former areas are used as the basis for lieutenancy....
in East Anglia
East Anglia
East Anglia is a traditional name for a region of eastern England, named after an ancient Anglo-Saxon kingdom, the Kingdom of the East Angles. The Angles took their name from their homeland Angeln, in northern Germany. East Anglia initially consisted of Norfolk and Suffolk, but upon the marriage of...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It existed from 1965 to 1974, when it became part of Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire is a county in England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the northeast, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the west...
.
Formation
The Local Government Act 1888Local Government Act 1888
The Local Government Act 1888 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which established county councils and county borough councils in England and Wales...
created four small neighbouring administrative counties in the east of England: Cambridgeshire, Isle of Ely
Isle of Ely
The Isle of Ely is a historic region around the city of Ely now in Cambridgeshire, England but previously a county in its own right.-Etymology:...
, Huntingdonshire
Huntingdonshire
Huntingdonshire is a local government district of Cambridgeshire, covering the area around Huntingdon. Traditionally it is a county in its own right...
and the Soke of Peterborough
Soke of Peterborough
The Soke of Peterborough is an historic area of England that is traditionally associated with the City and Diocese of Peterborough, but considered part of Northamptonshire...
. Following the Second World War, a Local Government Boundary Commission
Local Government Boundary Commission (1945 - 1949)
The Local Government Boundary Commission was established in 1945 to review the boundaries of local authority areas in England and Wales outside the Counties of London and Middlesex. The Commission produced its report in 1948 which proposed large changes to county-level areas of local government and...
was formed to review county-level administration in England and Wales. The commission was of the opinion that counties needed to have a population of between 200,000 and one million in order to provide effective services. Accordingly, they recommended the amalgamation of all four counties into a single entity. The commission's recommendations were not carried out, however.
The reform of local government was returned to in 1958, with the appointment of a Local Government Commission for England. The four counties were included in the East Midlands General Review Area, and the LGCE made its draft proposals in 1960. The commission identified particular problems in the administration of the Soke of Peterborough, where 80% of the population of the county lay within the City of Peterborough, which was itself seeking county borough
County borough
County borough is a term introduced in 1889 in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland , to refer to a borough or a city independent of county council control. They were abolished by the Local Government Act 1972 in England and Wales, but continue in use for lieutenancy and shrievalty in...
status. The LGCE concluded that the Soke was too small to continue as a separate county, and needed to become part of a larger authority. Accordingly, the draft proposals were to combine the Isle of Ely, Huntingdonshire and the Soke of Peterborough with Cambridgeshire (less the City of Cambridge).
There was considerable opposition to the draft proposals, and the LGCE instead opted in its final report in 1961 to create two counties: Huntingdon
Huntingdon
Huntingdon is a market town in Cambridgeshire, England. The town was chartered by King John in 1205. It is the traditional county town of Huntingdonshire, and is currently the seat of the Huntingdonshire district council. It is known as the birthplace in 1599 of Oliver Cromwell.-History:Huntingdon...
and Peterborough, and Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely
Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely
Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely was, from 1965 to 1974, an administrative county of England. In 1974 it became part of an enlarged Cambridgeshire.-Formation:...
. The Huntingdon and Peterborough Order was made on 14 February 1964, and placed before the House of Commons on 9 March 1964. The amalgamation was welcomed by David Renton, MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Huntingdonshire
Huntingdonshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Huntingdonshire was a Parliamentary constituency covering the county of Huntingdonshire in England. It was represented in the House of Commons of England until 1707, then in the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800, and then in the House of Commons the Parliament of the United...
, who felt that "The new county will have very good communications and a great community of interest. It will be a compact and convenient local government unit." The order was approved by 143 votes to 83.
The new county was formed on 1 April 1965 from the areas of the administrative counties of Huntingdonshire and Soke of Peterborough (with minor boundary changes) and Thorney Rural District
Thorney Rural District
Thorney was a rural district in England from 1894 to 1974, situated to the east of Peterborough.It was created under the Local Government Act 1894, covering the parishes of Thorney and Stanground. It was considered part of the administrative county of the Isle of Ely...
from the Isle of Ely
Isle of Ely
The Isle of Ely is a historic region around the city of Ely now in Cambridgeshire, England but previously a county in its own right.-Etymology:...
. As well as becoming an administrative county, Huntingdon and Peterborough also became a county for other statutory purposes. Accordingly the Lord Lieutenant of Huntingdonshire
Lord Lieutenant of Huntingdonshire
This is a list of people who served as Lord Lieutenant of Huntingdonshire. Huntingdonshire became part of Huntingdon and Peterborough in 1965; see Lord Lieutenant of Huntingdon and Peterborough...
became Lord Lieutenant of Huntingdon and Peterborough
Lord Lieutenant of Huntingdon and Peterborough
This is a list of those people who served as Lord Lieutenant of Huntingdon and Peterborough during that county's short existence from 1965. The office was preceded by that of the Lord Lieutenant of Huntingdonshire, also taking part of the jurisdiction of the Lord Lieutenant of Northamptonshire,...
, with Peterborough ceasing to be part of the geographical county of Northamptonshire. A High Sheriff
High Sheriff
A high sheriff is, or was, a law enforcement officer in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States.In England and Wales, the office is unpaid and partly ceremonial, appointed by the Crown through a warrant from the Privy Council. In Cornwall, the High Sheriff is appointed by the Duke of...
was also appointed to the new county, and a single commission of peace and court of quarter sessions established.
The county's population, as recorded at the ten-yearly census, was 202,622 in 1971.
Emergency services
On the creation of the county an order under the Police Act 1964Police Act 1964
The Police Act 1964 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that updated the legislation governing police forces in England and Wales, constituted new police authorities, gave the Home Secretary new powers to supervise local constabularies, and allowed for the amalgamation of existing...
came into force creating the Mid-Anglia Constabulary by merging the Cambridge City Police, Cambridgeshire County Constabulary, Isle of Ely Constabulary, Huntingdonshire Constabulary, and the Peterborough Combined Police Force (created in 1947 from the Liberty of Peterborough Constabulary and the City of Peterborough Constabulary). On further local government reform in 1974, the present Cambridgeshire Constabulary
Cambridgeshire Constabulary
Cambridgeshire Constabulary is the territorial police force responsible for law enforcement within the ceremonial county of Cambridgeshire in the United Kingdom. In addition to the non-metropolitan county, the Police area includes the city of Peterborough, which became a unitary authority area in...
was formed with the same boundaries.
The Huntingdon and Peterborough Fire Brigade was formed on the same date by the merger of Huntingdonshire Fire Brigade and the Soke of Peterborough Fire Brigade. Since 1974 this has formed part of Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service
Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service
Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service is the statutory fire and rescue service for the non-metropolitan county of Cambridgeshire and the unitary authority of Peterborough....
.
Districts
The county was divided into thirteen local government districts: three municipal boroughMunicipal borough
Municipal boroughs were a type of local government district which existed in England and Wales between 1835 and 1974, in Northern Ireland from 1840 to 1973 and in the Republic of Ireland from 1840 to 2002...
s, three urban district
Urban district
In the England, Wales and Ireland, an urban district was a type of local government district that covered an urbanised area. Urban districts had an elected Urban District Council , which shared local government responsibilities with a county council....
s and seven rural district
Rural district
Rural districts were a type of local government area – now superseded – established at the end of the 19th century in England, Wales, and Ireland for the administration of predominantly rural areas at a level lower than that of the administrative counties.-England and Wales:In England...
s. Each of these existed as subdivisions of the predecessor counties.
| District | Area (acres) 1961 | Population 1961 |
|---|---|---|
| Huntingdon and Godmanchester Huntingdon and Godmanchester Huntingdon and Godmanchester was a municipal borough in Huntingdonshire from 1961 to 1974. It was formed in 1961 by the merger of the boroughs of Huntingdon and Godmanchester... MB† |
7,057 | 8,821 |
| City of Peterborough Peterborough Peterborough is a cathedral city and unitary authority area in the East of England, with an estimated population of in June 2007. For ceremonial purposes it is in the county of Cambridgeshire. Situated north of London, the city stands on the River Nene which flows into the North Sea... MB‡ |
10,023 | 62,340 |
| St Ives St Ives, Cambridgeshire St Ives is a market town in Cambridgeshire, England, around north-west of the city of Cambridge and north of London. It lies within the historic county boundaries of Huntingdonshire.-History:... MB† |
2,326 | 4,082 |
| Old Fletton Old Fletton Old Fletton was an urban district in the county of Huntingdonshire and then Huntingdon and Peterborough. The urban district was abolished under the Local Government Act 1972 and now forms part of the city of Peterborough in Cambridgeshire.... UD† |
3,029 | 11,677 |
| Ramsey Ramsey, Cambridgeshire Ramsey is a small Cambridgeshire market town and parish, north of Huntingdon and St Ives. For local government purposes it lies in the district of Huntingdonshire within the local government county of Cambridgeshire.... UD† |
15,980 | 5,697 |
| St Neots St Neots St Neots is a town and civil parish with a population of 26,356 people. It lies on the River Great Ouse in Huntingdonshire District, approximately north of central London, and is the largest town in Cambridgeshire . The town is named after the Cornish monk St... UD† |
1,390 | 5,554 |
| Barnack RD Barnack Rural District Barnack was a rural district in the Soke of Peterborough and later Huntingdon and Peterborough from 1894 to 1974.It was created in 1894 under the Local Government Act 1894, from that part of the Stamford rural sanitary district which was in the Soke Barnack was a rural district in the Soke of... ‡ |
15,256 | 4,426 |
| Huntingdon RD† | 69,937 | 12,494 |
| Peterborough RD Peterborough Rural District Peterborough was a rural district adjoining the city and municipal borough of Peterborough from 1894 to 1974. The council offices were at 51 Priestgate, in the city of Peterborough.... ‡ |
28,186 | 7,992 |
| Norman Cross RD Norman Cross Rural District Norman Cross was a rural district in Huntingdonshire from 1894 to 1974.It was formed in 1894 under the Local Government Act 1894 from the part of the Peterborough rural sanitary district which was in Huntingdonshire... † |
35,795 | 8,738 |
| St Ives RD† | 45,912 | 15,358 |
| St Neots RD† | 52,559 | 7,503 |
| Thorney Thorney, Cambridgeshire Thorney is a village about 8 miles east of Peterborough in the City of Peterborough unitary authority, England, on the A47. Historically it was part of the Isle of Ely, which was considered part of Cambridgeshire but was transferred into the former county of Huntingdon and Peterborough and... RD¶ |
22,895 | 2,159 |
† Formerly in Huntingdonshire
‡ Formerly in Soke of Peterborough
¶ Formerly in Isle of Ely
Source: Vision of Britain
Coat of arms
Huntingdon and Peterborough County Council was granted armorial bearingsCoat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
by the College of Arms
College of Arms
The College of Arms, or Heralds’ College, is an office regulating heraldry and granting new armorial bearings for England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
on 3 April 1965. The blazon was as follows:
Barry argent and azure on a fess embattled vert a cornucopia between two garbs or; and for a crest issuant from a mural crown or a demi lion gules gorged with a collar flory counterflory and supporting a staff or, flying therefrom a banner vert charged with two keys in saltire or; mantled azure, doubled argent. And for supporters on the dexter side a pikeman of the New Model Army
New Model Army
The New Model Army of England was formed in 1645 by the Parliamentarians in the English Civil War, and was disbanded in 1660 after the Restoration...
supporting with the exterior hand a pike, and on the sinister side a nitred abbot in processional vestments for st Peter's Day supporting with the exterior hand a crosier and sudarium all proper. Badge: Two keys in saltire surmounted by a buglehorn or the strings azure interlaced with the keys.
The arms and crest were a combination of the arms previously used by Huntingdonshire and Soke of Peterborough County Councils. To these were added supporters
Supporters
In heraldry, supporters are figures usually placed on either side of the shield and depicted holding it up. These figures may be real or imaginary animals, human figures, and in rare cases plants or inanimate objects...
: a pikeman of the New Model Army for the Cromwellian
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
associations of Huntingdonshire, and a mitred abbot for the origins of the Soke as territory administered by Peterborough Abbey
Peterborough Cathedral
Peterborough Cathedral, properly the Cathedral Church of St Peter, St Paul and St Andrew – also known as Saint Peter's Cathedral in the United Kingdom – is the seat of the Bishop of Peterborough, dedicated to Saint Peter, Saint Paul and Saint Andrew, whose statues look down from the...
.
The Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
motto
Motto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
adopted by the council Cor Unum, or One Heart, was formerly that of the Soke.
Abolition
The county only had a nine-year existence. In 1974 the Local Government Act 1972Local Government Act 1972
The Local Government Act 1972 is an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales on 1 April 1974....
completely reformed administrative structures throughout England and Wales excluding Greater London
Greater London
Greater London is the top-level administrative division of England covering London. It was created in 1965 and spans the City of London, including Middle Temple and Inner Temple, and the 32 London boroughs. This territory is coterminate with the London Government Office Region and the London...
. A system of metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties, each divided into districts was introduced. Huntingdon and Peterborough was merged with neighbouring Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely to form the new enlarged non-metropolitan county (and lieutenancy) of Cambridgeshire, first proposed in 1947. Peterborough
Peterborough
Peterborough is a cathedral city and unitary authority area in the East of England, with an estimated population of in June 2007. For ceremonial purposes it is in the county of Cambridgeshire. Situated north of London, the city stands on the River Nene which flows into the North Sea...
and Huntingdon
Huntingdon
Huntingdon is a market town in Cambridgeshire, England. The town was chartered by King John in 1205. It is the traditional county town of Huntingdonshire, and is currently the seat of the Huntingdonshire district council. It is known as the birthplace in 1599 of Oliver Cromwell.-History:Huntingdon...
became two of the county's six districts and in 1984, following a resolution of the council, the latter district was renamed Huntingdonshire.
Legacy
There is now a Hunts & Peterborough County Rugby UnionHunts & Peterborough County Rugby Union
Hunts and Peterborough County Rugby Union is an amalgamation of Rugby Union teams from around Peterborough and Huntingdonshire.It is a sub-county of East Midlands Rugby Union and holds its own county cup each season.- Member teams :* * * * * * *...
that takes all the teams from each area and has representative teams for Youth rugby. The teams also partake in a county cup competition every year at senior level.
See also
- Lord Lieutenant of Huntingdon and PeterboroughLord Lieutenant of Huntingdon and PeterboroughThis is a list of those people who served as Lord Lieutenant of Huntingdon and Peterborough during that county's short existence from 1965. The office was preceded by that of the Lord Lieutenant of Huntingdonshire, also taking part of the jurisdiction of the Lord Lieutenant of Northamptonshire,...
- Peterborough (UK Parliament constituency)Peterborough (UK Parliament constituency)Peterborough is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, formally styled The Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past...
- Huntingdonshire (UK Parliament constituency)Huntingdonshire (UK Parliament constituency)Huntingdonshire was a Parliamentary constituency covering the county of Huntingdonshire in England. It was represented in the House of Commons of England until 1707, then in the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800, and then in the House of Commons the Parliament of the United...
- Local government in Peterborough
- Huntingdonshire local electionsHuntingdonshire local electionsOne third of Huntingdonshire District Council in Cambridgeshire, England is elected each year, followed by one year without election. Since the last boundary changes in 2004, 52 councillors have been elected from 29 wards.-Political control:...