Municipal Borough of Bexley
Encyclopedia
Bexley was a local government district in north west Kent
from 1879 to 1965 around the town of Old Bexley.
of Bexley adopted the Local Government Act 1858 in 1879, and a local board
of 15 members was formed to govern the area. The local board established offices at Oxford Place, High Street, Bexley.
The Local Government Act 1894
reconstituted the local board's area as an urban district
. Bexley Urban District Council replaced the board. In 1902 the urban district was enlarged by absorbing the neighbouring parish of East Wickham
, formerly in Dartford Rural District
. The enlarged urban district was divided into three wards: Christ Church (returning 8 councillors), St Mary's (5) and East Whickham (2). The Council offices moved to Broadway, Bexleyheath
. The urban district council ran its own tram
services until they became the responsibility of the London Passenger Transport Board
in 1933.
The town was incorporated as a municipal borough
in 1935. The royal charter
was presented by the Lord Lieutenant of Kent
in a ceremony held in Danson Park on September 30. A corporation consisting of a mayor, 6 aldermen
and 18 councillors replaced the UDC, with the first elections being held on November 1.
In 1965 the municipal borough was abolished by the London Government Act 1963
and its former area transferred to Greater London
from Kent. Its former area was combined with that of other districts to form the present-day London Borough of Bexley
.
gained a majority. The Conservative Party
took control in 1950, which they held until 1958. The size of the council had been increased to 24 councillors and 8 aldermen in 1954, and in 1958 the council was evenly divided between Labour and Conservatives. The Conservatives regained control in 1959, holding it until 1963. At the final election before the borough's abolition in 1963, Labour took control.
was granted to the Bexley UDC on October 16, 1937 and inherited by the borough. The blazon
was as follows:
Per fesse vert and Or a fesse wavy barry wavy of four argent and azure in chief an eagle displayed between two apples leaved and slipped of the second and in base an oak tree eradicated proper. Crest: Upon heather proper within a coronet of four fleur-de-lis set upon a rim Or a horse forcene argent.
The green and gold colouring of the arms represented the cornfields and grasslands which covered the area before the town grew up. The oak tree continued this theme, and also depicted the town's parks. The blue and silver waves or "becks" referred to the name "Bexley". Gold apples stood for traditional fruit-growing and the eagle came from the arms of Nicholas Vansittart, 1st Baron Bexley
, one time chancellor of the exchequer
. The crown was included in the crest as the arms were granted in the coronation year of George VI
. The crest was the white horse of Kent on a mound of heather for former heath lands of Bexleyheath.
The latin
motto
was Non Nobis Sed Communitati or "Not for ourselves but for the community".
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
from 1879 to 1965 around the town of Old Bexley.
History
The parishCivil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
of Bexley adopted the Local Government Act 1858 in 1879, and a local board
Local board of health
Local Boards or Local Boards of Health were local authorities in urban areas of England and Wales from 1848 to 1894. They were formed in response to cholera epidemics and were given powers to control sewers, clean the streets, regulate slaughterhouses and ensure the proper supply of water to their...
of 15 members was formed to govern the area. The local board established offices at Oxford Place, High Street, Bexley.
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...
reconstituted the local board's area as an 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....
. Bexley Urban District Council replaced the board. In 1902 the urban district was enlarged by absorbing the neighbouring parish of East Wickham
East Wickham
East Wickham is a place and electoral ward in the London Borough of Bexley. It is a part of the Welling post town.-History:Welling originally formed part of the ancient manor of East Wickham, which was centred on St Michael’s Church, Upper Wickham Lane, built in the 13th century...
, formerly in Dartford Rural District
Dartford Rural District
Dartford Rural District was a rural district with an area of in the county of Kent, England. In 1971 it had a population of 64,561 and an electorate of 43,911...
. The enlarged urban district was divided into three wards: Christ Church (returning 8 councillors), St Mary's (5) and East Whickham (2). The Council offices moved to Broadway, Bexleyheath
Bexleyheath
Bexleyheath is a main suburban district of Southeast London, England, in the London Borough of Bexley with a small percentage of the district itself being in the London Borough of Greenwich. Bexleyheath is located on the border of Inner London and Outer London. It is east south-east of Charing Cross...
. The urban district council ran its own tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
services until they became the responsibility of the London Passenger Transport Board
London Passenger Transport Board
The London Passenger Transport Board was the organisation responsible for public transport in London, UK, and its environs from 1933 to 1948...
in 1933.
The town was incorporated as a municipal borough
Municipal 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...
in 1935. The royal charter
Royal Charter
A royal charter is a formal document issued by a monarch as letters patent, granting a right or power to an individual or a body corporate. They were, and are still, used to establish significant organizations such as cities or universities. Charters should be distinguished from warrants and...
was presented by the Lord Lieutenant of Kent
Lord Lieutenant of Kent
This is a list of people who have served as Lord-Lieutenant of Kent. Since 1746, all Lords Lieutenant have also been Custos Rotulorum of Kent.-Lords Lieutenant of Kent:*Sir Thomas Cheney 1551–?*William Brooke, 10th Baron Cobham 3 July 1585 – 6 March 1597...
in a ceremony held in Danson Park on September 30. A corporation consisting of a mayor, 6 aldermen
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
and 18 councillors replaced the UDC, with the first elections being held on November 1.
In 1965 the municipal borough was abolished 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 former area transferred to 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...
from Kent. Its former area was combined with that of other districts to form the present-day London Borough of Bexley
London Borough of Bexley
The London Borough of Bexley lies in south east Greater London, and is a borough referred to as part of Outer London. It has common borders with the London Borough of Bromley to the south, the London Borough of Greenwich to the west, across the River Thames to the north it borders the London...
.
Borough council
The borough council was initially controlled by independents. In 1945 the Labour PartyLabour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
gained a majority. The Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
took control in 1950, which they held until 1958. The size of the council had been increased to 24 councillors and 8 aldermen in 1954, and in 1958 the council was evenly divided between Labour and Conservatives. The Conservatives regained control in 1959, holding it until 1963. At the final election before the borough's abolition in 1963, Labour took control.
Coat of arms
A 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...
was granted to the Bexley UDC on October 16, 1937 and inherited by the borough. The blazon
Blazon
In heraldry and heraldic vexillology, a blazon is a formal description of a coat of arms, flag or similar emblem, from which the reader can reconstruct the appropriate image...
was as follows:
Per fesse vert and Or a fesse wavy barry wavy of four argent and azure in chief an eagle displayed between two apples leaved and slipped of the second and in base an oak tree eradicated proper. Crest: Upon heather proper within a coronet of four fleur-de-lis set upon a rim Or a horse forcene argent.
The green and gold colouring of the arms represented the cornfields and grasslands which covered the area before the town grew up. The oak tree continued this theme, and also depicted the town's parks. The blue and silver waves or "becks" referred to the name "Bexley". Gold apples stood for traditional fruit-growing and the eagle came from the arms of Nicholas Vansittart, 1st Baron Bexley
Nicholas Vansittart, 1st Baron Bexley
Nicholas Vansittart, 1st Baron Bexley PC, FRS, FSA was an English politician, and one of the longest-serving Chancellors of the Exchequer in British history.-Background and education:...
, one time chancellor of the exchequer
Chancellor of the Exchequer
The Chancellor of the Exchequer is the title held by the British Cabinet minister who is responsible for all economic and financial matters. Often simply called the Chancellor, the office-holder controls HM Treasury and plays a role akin to the posts of Minister of Finance or Secretary of the...
. The crown was included in the crest as the arms were granted in the coronation year of George VI
George VI of the United Kingdom
George VI was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death...
. The crest was the white horse of Kent on a mound of heather for former heath lands of Bexleyheath.
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...
was Non Nobis Sed Communitati or "Not for ourselves but for the community".