List of places
A map of Bedfordshire , showing the districts: (1) Bedford ; (2) Central Bedfordshire ; and (3) Luton A civil parish is a country subdivision, 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, which accounted 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 (2001 census) District Former local authority[ 12] Refs Bedford Unparished area 69,271 Bedford Bedford Municipal Borough [ 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 Municipal Borough [ 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] Cotton End Civil parish Bedford Bedford [ 15] [ 17] Dean and Shelton Civil parish 386 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 Urban District [ 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] Shortstown Civil parish 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] Wixams Civil parish Bedford Bedford [ 24] 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 Urban District [ 25] [ 26] Arlesey Town 4,741 Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade [ 27] [ 26] Aspley Guise Civil parish 2,185 Central Bedfordshire Ampthill [ 28] [ 26] Aspley Heath Civil parish 573 Central Bedfordshire Ampthill [ 28] [ 26] Astwick Civil parish 24 Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade [ 27] [ 26] Barton-le-Clay Civil parish 4,793 Central Bedfordshire Luton [ 29] [ 30] Battlesden Civil parish 37 Central Bedfordshire Ampthill [ 28] [ 26] Biggleswade Town 15,383 Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade Urban District [ 31] [ 26] Billington [ 32] Civil parish 632 Central Bedfordshire Luton [ 29] [ 30] Blunham Civil parish 926 Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade [ 27] [ 26] Brogborough Civil parish 343 Central Bedfordshire Ampthill [ 28] [ 26] Caddington Civil parish 3,673 Central Bedfordshire Luton [ 29] [ 30] Campton and Chicksands Civil parish 1,388 Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade [ 27] [ 26] Chalgrave Civil parish 480 Central Bedfordshire Luton [ 29] [ 30] Chalton Civil parish 549 Central Bedfordshire Luton [ 29] [ 30] Clifton Civil parish 2,730 Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade [ 27] [ 26] Clophill Civil parish 1,702 Central Bedfordshire Ampthill [ 28] [ 26] Cranfield Civil parish 4,909 Central Bedfordshire Ampthill [ 28] [ 26] Dunstable Town 33,805 Central Bedfordshire Dunstable Municipal Borough [ 33] [ 30] Dunton Civil parish 653 Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade [ 27] [ 26] Eaton Bray Civil parish 2,591 Central Bedfordshire Luton [ 29] [ 30] Edworth Civil parish 69 Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade [ 27] [ 26] Eggington Civil parish 288 Central Bedfordshire Luton [ 29] [ 30] Eversholt Civil parish 387 Central Bedfordshire Ampthill [ 28] [ 26] Everton Civil parish 525 Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade [ 27] [ 26] Eyeworth Civil parish 86 Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade [ 27] [ 26] Fairfield Civil parish Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade [ 34] Flitton and Greenfield Civil parish 1,212 Central Bedfordshire Ampthill [ 28] [ 26] Flitwick Town 12,700 Central Bedfordshire Ampthill [ 28] [ 26] Gravenhurst Civil parish 581 Central Bedfordshire Ampthill [ 28] [ 26] Harlington Civil parish 2,322 Central Bedfordshire Ampthill [ 28] [ 26] Haynes Civil parish 1,122 Central Bedfordshire Ampthill [ 28] [ 26] Heath and Reach Civil parish 1,285 Central Bedfordshire Luton [ 29] [ 30] Henlow Civil parish 3,084 Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade [ 27] [ 26] Hockliffe Civil parish 730 Central Bedfordshire Luton [ 29] [ 30] Houghton Conquest Civil parish 1,299 Central Bedfordshire Ampthill [ 28] [ 26] Houghton Regis Town 16,970 Central Bedfordshire Luton [ 29] [ 30] Hulcote and Salford Civil parish 186 Central Bedfordshire Ampthill [ 28] [ 26] Husborne Crawley Civil parish 217 Central Bedfordshire Ampthill [ 28] [ 26] Hyde Civil parish 402 Central Bedfordshire Luton [ 29] [ 30] Kensworth Civil parish 1,504 Central Bedfordshire Luton [ 29] [ 30] Langford Civil parish 2,882 Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade [ 27] [ 26] Leighton–Linslade Town 32,417 Central Bedfordshire Leighton–Linslade Urban District [ 35] [ 30] Lidlington Civil parish 1,145 Central Bedfordshire Ampthill [ 28] [ 26] Marston Moreteyne Civil parish 3,684 Central Bedfordshire Ampthill [ 28] [ 26] Maulden Civil parish 2,900 Central Bedfordshire Ampthill [ 28] [ 26] Meppershall Civil parish 1,549 Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade [ 27] [ 26] Millbrook Civil parish 130 Central Bedfordshire Ampthill [ 28] [ 26] Milton Bryan Civil parish 144 Central Bedfordshire Ampthill [ 28] [ 26] Moggerhanger Civil parish 636 Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade [ 27] [ 26] Northill Civil parish 2,288 Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade [ 27] [ 26] Old Warden Civil parish 275 Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade [ 27] [ 26] Potsgrove Civil parish 44 Central Bedfordshire Ampthill [ 28] [ 26] Potton Town 4,473 Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade [ 27] [ 26] Pulloxhill Civil parish 850 Central Bedfordshire Ampthill [ 28] [ 26] Ridgmont Civil parish 418 Central Bedfordshire Ampthill [ 28] [ 26] Sandy Town 10,887 Central Bedfordshire Sandy Urban District [ 36] [ 26] Shefford Town 4,928 Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade [ 27] [ 26] Shillington Civil parish 1,831 Central Bedfordshire Ampthill [ 28] [ 26] Silsoe Civil parish 1,729 Central Bedfordshire Ampthill [ 28] [ 26] Slip End Civil parish 1,976 Central Bedfordshire Luton [ 29] [ 30] Southill Civil parish 1,141 Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade [ 27] [ 26] Stanbridge Civil parish 747 Central Bedfordshire Luton [ 29] [ 30] Steppingley Civil parish 233 Central Bedfordshire Ampthill [ 28] [ 26] Stondon Civil parish 1,821 Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade [ 27] [ 26] Stotfold Town 6,190 Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade [ 27] [ 26] Streatley Civil parish 1,707 Central Bedfordshire Luton [ 29] [ 30] Studham Civil parish 1,125 Central Bedfordshire Luton [ 29] [ 30] Sundon Civil parish 507 Central Bedfordshire Luton [ 29] [ 30] Sutton Civil parish 299 Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade [ 27] [ 26] Tempsford Civil parish 564 Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade [ 27] [ 26] Tilsworth Civil parish 360 Central Bedfordshire Luton [ 29] [ 30] Tingrith Civil parish 149 Central Bedfordshire Ampthill [ 28] [ 26] Toddington Civil parish 4,459 Central Bedfordshire Luton [ 29] [ 30] Totternhoe Civil parish 1,180 Central Bedfordshire Luton [ 29] [ 30] Westoning Civil parish 2,001 Central Bedfordshire Ampthill [ 28] [ 26] Whipsnade Civil parish 457 Central Bedfordshire Luton [ 29] [ 30] Woburn Civil parish 945 Central Bedfordshire Ampthill [ 28] [ 26] Wrestlingworth and Cockayne Hatley Civil parish 737 Central Bedfordshire Biggleswade [ 27] [ 26] Luton Unparished area 184,371 Luton Luton County Borough [ 37] [ 38]
^ Angus Winchester, 2000, Discovering Parish Boundaries . Shire Publications. Princes Risborough, 96 pages ISBN 978-0-7478-0470-3 ^ RAC Foundation : What Went Wrong? British Highway Development Before Motorways [permanent dead link ^ The Victorian Web : The Poor Law : Introduction Retrieved 22 August 2009^ Staffordshire University : Poor Law Unions and Registration Districts Archived 14 September 2012 at archive.today 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 978-0-19-820718-4 ^ a b Modern British Surnames : Selected Events in the History of Civil Registration and Boundary Changes 1801-1996 Archived 1 August 2010 at the Wayback Machine 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 Archived 5 December 2012 at archive.today Retrieved 22 August 2009^ Office of Public Sector Information : Local Government and Rating Act 1997 Archived 5 August 2012 at archive.today Retrieved 22 August 2009^ Office of Public Sector Information : Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 Archived 5 August 2012 at archive.today 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 Archived 22 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine 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 at A Vision of Britain Through Time : Bedford Rural District Archived 14 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 15 October 2010^ Office for National Statistics : Census 2001 : Table KS01 : Usual Resident Population Archived 22 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine 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 aq Office for National Statistics : Census 2001 : Parish Headcounts : Bedford Archived 12 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 15 October 2010^ Office for National Statistics : Census 2001 : Table KS01 : Usual Resident Population Archived 22 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine Brickhill ward. Retrieved 15 October 2010^ The Bedford (Parish) Order 2004 Archived 19 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 15 October 2010^ Office for National Statistics : Census 2001 : Table KS01 : Usual Resident Population Archived 22 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine 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 Archived 22 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine Roxton (part) ward. Retrieved 15 October 2010^ "Wilstead-Wixams" . Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 12 April 2015 .^ 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 Archived 26 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine 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 Archived 14 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine 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 Archived 1 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine 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 Archived 12 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 15 October 2010^ A Vision of Britain Through Time : Biggleswade Urban District Retrieved 15 October 2010^ "Billington" . Mapit. Retrieved 16 July 2019 .^ A Vision of Britain Through Time : Dunstable Municipal Borough Retrieved 15 October 2010^ "Historic moment for community's parish council - Biggleswade Today" . Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2013 .^ 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 Archived 22 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine 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
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