Merton and Morden Urban District
Encyclopedia
Merton Urban District and Merton and Morden Urban District (1913—1965) was an urban district
in Surrey
, England. It was formed in 1907 from the parish of Merton and was expanded in 1913 to take in Morden. The district was abolished in 1965 and its former area now forms part of the London Borough of Merton
in Greater London
.
and was locally governed by a parish council, that was created by the Local Government Act 1894
. The area of the rural district was within the expanding area of London's southern suburbs and as the population increased it became necessary to reform the local government structures.
Merton was the first parish to be removed from the rural district in 1907. An urban district was formed covering the same area as the parish. In 1913 the parish of Morden
was also removed from the rural district and became part of the urban district, which was renamed to Merton and Morden. The separate parishes continued with nominal existence. The boundaries of the district were subject to a minor revision in 1933.
The urban district was abolished in 1965 by the London Government Act 1963
and its area merged with those of the Municipal Borough of Wimbledon
and the Municipal Borough of Mitcham
to form the London Borough of Merton
of Greater London
.
incorporating Lions from the Garth Family arms and the fret from the arms of Merton Abbey
. The motto, "In Libertate Vis", means "Our Strength is our Freedom".
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....
in Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, England. It was formed in 1907 from the parish of Merton and was expanded in 1913 to take in Morden. The district was abolished in 1965 and its former area now forms part of the London Borough of Merton
London Borough of Merton
The London Borough of Merton is a borough in southwest London, England.The borough was formed under the London Government Act in 1965 by the merger of the Municipal Borough of Mitcham, the Municipal Borough of Wimbledon and the Merton and Morden Urban District, all formerly within Surrey...
in 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...
.
History
The district was created in 1907 to cover the ancient parish of Merton. Since 1894 the parish had been part of Croydon Rural DistrictCroydon Rural District
Croydon was a rural district in north east Surrey, England, from 1894 to 1915. It was created by the Local Government Act 1894 and replaced the Croydon Rural Sanitary District...
and was locally governed by a parish council, that was created by the Local Government Act 1894
Local Government Act 1894
The Local Government Act 1894 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales outside the County of London. The Act followed the reforms carried out at county level under the Local Government Act 1888...
. The area of the rural district was within the expanding area of London's southern suburbs and as the population increased it became necessary to reform the local government structures.
Merton was the first parish to be removed from the rural district in 1907. An urban district was formed covering the same area as the parish. In 1913 the parish of Morden
Morden
Morden is a district in the London Borough of Merton. It is located approximately South-southwest of central London between Merton Park , Mitcham , Sutton and Worcester Park .- Origin of name :...
was also removed from the rural district and became part of the urban district, which was renamed to Merton and Morden. The separate parishes continued with nominal existence. The boundaries of the district were subject to a minor revision in 1933.
The urban district was abolished in 1965 by the London Government Act 1963
London Government Act 1963
The London Government Act 1963 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which recognised officially the conurbation known as Greater London and created a new local government structure for the capital. The Act significantly reduced the number of local government districts in the area,...
and its area merged with those of the Municipal Borough of Wimbledon
Municipal Borough of Wimbledon
Wimbledon was a local government district in north-east Surrey from 1866 to 1965 covering the town of Wimbledon and its surrounding area. It was part of the London postal district and Metropolitan Police District....
and the Municipal Borough of Mitcham
Municipal Borough of Mitcham
Mitcham was a local government district in north east Surrey from 1915 to 1965 around the town of Mitcham.It was created in 1915 as an urban district from part of the abolished Croydon Rural District...
to form the London Borough of Merton
London Borough of Merton
The London Borough of Merton is a borough in southwest London, England.The borough was formed under the London Government Act in 1965 by the merger of the Municipal Borough of Mitcham, the Municipal Borough of Wimbledon and the Merton and Morden Urban District, all formerly within Surrey...
of 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...
.
Population
The population is separately recorded for each parish until 1951. The population peak was in 1951.| Year | 1911 | 1921 | 1931 | 1941 | 1951 | 1961 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merton parish | 12,938 | 16,177 | 16,177 | war | 39,313 | |
| Morden parish | n/a | 1,202 | 12,618 | war | 35,417 | |
| Urban district total | 12,938 | 17,532 | 41,227 | war | 74,730 | 68,011 |
Coat of arms
In 1943, the council was granted a civic coat of armsCoat 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...
incorporating Lions from the Garth Family arms and the fret from the arms of Merton Abbey
Merton Abbey
Merton Abbey may refer to:*Merton Priory, a former Augustinian priory in what is now southwest London, England*Merton Abbey, London, the residential area in southwest London on the site of the former priory...
. The motto, "In Libertate Vis", means "Our Strength is our Freedom".