Boroughs incorporated in England and Wales 1835–1882

The Municipal Corporations Act 1835 reformed 178 existing boroughs. It also allowed for further towns to submit petitions for the grant of a charter of incorporation as a municipal borough. There were 62 such incorporations before the 1835 act was repealed and replaced by the Municipal Corporations Act 1882.

1836 – The 178 reformed boroughs

Municipal borough

County

Created

Abolished

Successor(s)

Beaumaris MB Anglesey 1836 1974 Anglesey - Ynys Môn
Bedford MB Bedfordshire 1836 1974 Bedford
Abingdon MB Berkshire 1836 1974 Vale of White Horse
Maidenhead MB Berkshire 1836 1974 Windsor and Maidenhead
New Windsor MB Berkshire 1836 1974 Windsor and Maidenhead
Newbury MB Berkshire 1836 1974 Newbury
Reading MB Berkshire 1836 1889 Reading CB
Wallingford MB Berkshire 1836 1974 South Oxfordshire
Brecon MB Brecknockshire 1836 1974 Brecknock
Buckingham MB Buckinghamshire 1836 1974 Aylesbury Vale
Chepping Wycombe MB (1836-1946),
High Wycombe MB (1946-74)[1] 		Buckinghamshire 1836 1974 Wycombe
Carnarvon MB Caernarfonshire 1836 1974 Arfon
Pwllheli MB Caernarfonshire 1836 1974 Dwyfor
Cambridge MB Cambridgeshire (1836-1965), Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely (1965-74) 1836 1974 Cambridge
Wisbech MB Cambridgeshire (1836-89), Isle of Ely (1889-1965), Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely (1965-74) 1836 1974 Fenland
Aberystwyth MB Cardiganshire 1836 1974 Ceredigion
Cardigan MB Cardiganshire 1836 1974 Ceredigion
Carmarthen MB Carmarthenshire 1836 1974 Carmarthen
Llandovery MB Carmarthenshire 1836 1974 Dinefwr
Chester MB Cheshire 1836 1889 Chester CB
Congleton MB Cheshire 1836 1974 Congleton
Macclesfield MB Cheshire 1836 1974 Macclesfield
Stockport MB Cheshire and Lancashire 1836 1889 Stockport CB
Bodmin MB Cornwall 1836 1974 North Cornwall
Falmouth MB Cornwall 1836 1974 Carrick
Helston MB Cornwall 1836 1974 Kerrier
Launceston MB, Launceston otherwise Dunheved MB Cornwall 1836 1974 North Cornwall
Liskeard MB Cornwall 1836 1974 Caradon
Penryn MB Cornwall 1836 1974 Carrick
Penzance MB Cornwall 1836 1974 Penwith
St Ives MB Cornwall 1836 1974 Penwith
Truro MB Cornwall 1836 1974 Carrick
Durham MB County Durham 1836 1974 Durham
Gateshead MB County Durham 1836 1889 Gateshead CB
Stockton-on-Tees MB County Durham 1836 1968 Teesside CB
Sunderland MB County Durham 1836 1889 Sunderland CB
Carlisle MB Cumberland 1836 1915 Carlisle CB
Denbigh MB Denbighshire 1836 1974 Glyndŵr
Ruthin MB Denbighshire 1836 1974 Glyndŵr
Chesterfield MB Derbyshire 1836 1974 Chesterfield
Derby MB Derbyshire 1836 1889 Derby CB
Barnstaple MB Devon 1836 1974 North Devon
Bideford MB Devon 1836 1974 Torridge
Dartmouth MB, Clifton-Dartmouth-Hardness MB Devon 1836 1974 South Hams
Exeter MB Devon 1836 1889 Exeter CB
Great Torrington MB Devon 1836 1974 Torridge
Plymouth MB Devon 1836 1889 Plymouth CB
South Molton MB Devon 1836 1968 absorbed by South Molton RD (Rural Borough)
Tiverton MB Devon 1836 1974 Tiverton
Totnes MB Devon 1836 1974 South Hams
Blandford Forum MB Dorset 1836 1974 North Dorset
Bridport MB Dorset 1836 1974 West Dorset
Dorchester MB Dorset 1836 1974 West Dorset
Lyme Regis MB Dorset 1836 1974 West Dorset
Poole MB Dorset 1836 1974 Poole
Shaftesbury MB Dorset 1836 1974 North Dorset
Weymouth and Melcombe Regis MB Dorset 1836 1974 Weymouth and Portland
Colchester MB Essex 1836 1974 Colchester
Harwich MB Essex 1836 1974 Tendring
Maldon MB Essex 1836 1974 Maldon
Saffron Walden MB Essex 1836 1974 Uttlesford
Flint MB Flintshire 1836 1974 Delyn
Cardiff MB Glamorganshire 1836 1889 Cardiff CB
Neath MB Glamorganshire 1836 1974 Neath
Swansea MB Glamorganshire 1836 1889 Swansea CB
Gloucester MB Gloucestershire 1836 1889 Gloucester CB
Tewkesbury MB Gloucestershire 1836 1974 Tewkesbury
Bristol MB Gloucestershire and Somerset 1836 1889 Bristol CB
Andover MB Hampshire 1836 1974 Test Valley
Basingstoke MB Hampshire 1836 1974 Basingstoke
Lymington MB Hampshire 1836 1974 New Forest
Portsmouth MB Hampshire 1836 1889 Portsmouth CB
Romsey MB Hampshire 1836 1974 Test Valley
Southampton MB Hampshire 1836 1889 Southampton CB
Winchester MB Hampshire 1836 1974 Winchester
Newport MB Hampshire (1836-89), Isle of Wight (1889-1974) 1836 1974 Medina
Hereford MB Herefordshire 1836 1974 Hereford
Leominster MB Herefordshire 1836 1974 Leominster
Hertford MB Hertfordshire 1836 1974 East Hertfordshire
St Albans MB Hertfordshire 1836 1974 St Albans
Godmanchester MB Huntingdonshire 1836 1961 Huntingdon and Godmanchester MB
Huntingdon MB Huntingdonshire 1836 1961 Huntingdon and Godmanchester MB
Canterbury MB Kent 1836 1889 Canterbury CB
Deal MB Kent 1836 1974 Dover
Dover MB Kent 1836 1974 Dover
Faversham MB Kent 1836 1974 Swale
Folkestone MB Kent 1836 1974 Shepway
Gravesend MB Kent 1836 1974 Gravesham
Hythe MB Kent 1836 1974 Shepway
Maidstone MB Kent 1836 1974 Maidstone
Rochester MB Kent 1836 1974 Rochester-upon-Medway
Sandwich MB Kent 1836 1974 Dover
Tenterden MB Kent 1836 1974 Ashford
Clitheroe MB Lancashire 1836 1974 Ribble Valley
Lancaster MB Lancashire 1836 1974 Lancaster
Liverpool MB Lancashire 1836 1889 Liverpool CB
Preston MB Lancashire 1836 1889 Preston CB
Wigan MB Lancashire 1836 1889 Wigan CB
Leicester MB Leicestershire 1836 1889 Leicester CB
Boston MB Lincolnshire (1836-89), Lincolnshire, Parts of Holland (1889-1974) 1836 1974 Boston
Grantham MB Lincolnshire (1836-89), Lincolnshire, Parts of Kesteven (1889-1974) 1836 1974 South Kesteven
Stamford MB Lincolnshire (1836-89), Lincolnshire, Parts of Kesteven (1889-1974) 1836 1974 South Kesteven
Great Grimsby MB Lincolnshire (1836-89), Lincolnshire, Parts of Lindsey (1889-91) 1836 1891 Grimsby CB
Lincoln MB Lincolnshire 1836 1889 Lincoln CB
Louth MB Lincolnshire (1836-89), Lincolnshire, Parts of Lindsey (1889-1974) 1836 1974 East Lindsey
Monmouth MB Monmouthshire 1836 1974 Monmouth
Newport MB Monmouthshire 1836 1891 Newport CB
Llanidloes MB Montgomeryshire 1836 1974 Montgomery
Welshpool MB Montgomeryshire 1836 1974 Montgomery
King's Lynn MB, Lynn Regis MB Norfolk 1836 1974 West Norfolk
Norwich MB Norfolk 1836 1889 Norwich CB
Great Yarmouth MB Norfolk and Suffolk 1836 1889 Yarmouth CB
Thetford MB Norfolk and Suffolk (1836-89), Norfolk (1889-1974) 1836 1974 Breckland
Daventry MB Northamptonshire 1836 1974 Daventry
Northampton MB Northamptonshire 1836 1889 Northampton CB
Berwick-upon-Tweed MB Northumberland 1836 1974 Berwick-upon-Tweed
Morpeth MB Northumberland 1836 1974 Castle Morpeth
Newcastle upon Tyne MB Northumberland 1836 1889 Newcastle upon Tyne CB
East Retford MB Nottinghamshire 1836 1974 Bassetlaw
Newark MB Nottinghamshire 1836 1974 Newark
Nottingham MB Nottinghamshire 1836 1889 Nottingham CB
Chipping Norton MB Oxfordshire 1836 1974 West Oxfordshire
Oxford MB Oxfordshire 1836 1889 Oxford CB
Banbury MB Oxfordshire 1836 1974 Cherwell
Haverfordwest MB Pembrokeshire 1836 1974 Preseli
Pembroke MB Pembrokeshire 1836 1974 South Pembrokeshire
Tenby MB Pembrokeshire 1836 1974 South Pembrokeshire
Bridgnorth MB Shropshire 1836 1967 absorbed by Bridgnorth RD (Rural Borough)
Ludlow MB Shropshire 1836 1967 absorbed by Ludlow RD (Rural Borough)
Oswestry MB Shropshire 1836 1967 absorbed by Oswestry RD (Rural Borough)
Shrewsbury MB Shropshire 1836 1974 Shrewsbury
Wenlock MB, Much Wenlock MB Shropshire 1836 1967 absorbed by Bridgnorth RD (Rural Borough)
Bath MB Somerset 1836 1889 Bath CB
Bridgwater MB Somerset 1836 1974 Sedgemoor
Chard MB Somerset 1836 1974 Yeovil
Glastonbury MB Somerset 1836 1974 Mendip
Wells MB Somerset 1836 1974 Mendip
Lichfield MB Staffordshire 1836 1974 Lichfield
Newcastle-under-Lyme MB Staffordshire 1836 1974 Newcastle-under-Lyme
Stafford MB Staffordshire 1836 1974 Stafford
Walsall MB Staffordshire 1836 1889 Walsall CB
Tamworth MB Staffordshire and Warwickshire (1836-89), Staffordshire (1889-1974) 1836 1974 Tamworth
Ipswich MB Suffolk 1836 1889 Ipswich CB
Sudbury MB Suffolk and Essex (1836-89), West Suffolk (1889-1974) 1836 1974 Babergh
Beccles MB Suffolk (1836-89), East Suffolk (1889-1974) 1836 1974 Waveney
Eye MB Suffolk (1836-89), East Suffolk (1889-1974) 1836 1974 Mid Suffolk
Southwold MB Suffolk (1836-89), East Suffolk (1889-1974) 1836 1974 Waveney
Bury St Edmunds MB Suffolk (1836-89), West Suffolk (1889-1974) 1836 1974 St Edmundsbury
Godalming MB Surrey 1836 1974 Waverley
Guildford MB Surrey 1836 1974 Guildford
Kingston upon Thames MB Surrey 1836 1965 Kingston upon Thames
Hastings MB Sussex 1836 1889 Hastings CB
Rye MB Sussex (1836-89), East Sussex (1889-1974) 1836 1974 Rother
Arundel MB Sussex (1836-89), West Sussex (1889-1974) 1836 1974 Arun
Chichester MB Sussex (1836-89), West Sussex (1889-1974) 1836 1974 Chichester
Coventry MB Warwickshire 1836 1889 Coventry CB
Stratford-on-Avon MB Warwickshire 1836 1974 Stratford-on-Avon
Warwick MB Warwickshire 1836 1974 Warwick
Kendal MB Westmorland 1836 1974 South Lakeland
Calne MB Wiltshire 1836 1974 North Wiltshire
Chippenham MB Wiltshire 1836 1974 North Wiltshire
Devizes MB Wiltshire 1836 1974 Kennet
Marlborough MB Wiltshire 1836 1974 Kennet
Salisbury MB, New Sarum MB Wiltshire 1836 1974 Salisbury
Bewdley MB Worcestershire 1836 1974 Wyre Forest
Droitwich MB Worcestershire 1836 1974 Wychavon
Evesham MB Worcestershire 1836 1974 Wychavon
Kidderminster MB Worcestershire 1836 1974 Wyre Forest
Worcester MB Worcestershire 1836 1889 Worcester CB
Beverley MB Yorkshire (1836-89), East Riding of Yorkshire (1889-1974) 1836 1974 Beverley
Kingston upon Hull MB Yorkshire 1836 1889 Kingston upon Hull CB
York MB Yorkshire 1836 1889 York CB
Richmond MB Yorkshire (1836-89), North Riding of Yorkshire (1889-1974) 1836 1974 Richmondshire
Scarborough MB Yorkshire (1836-89), North Riding of Yorkshire (1889-1974) 1836 1974 Scarborough
Doncaster MB Yorkshire (1836-89), West Riding of Yorkshire (1889-1927) 1836 1927 Doncaster CB
Leeds MB Yorkshire 1836 1889 Leeds CB
Pontefract MB Yorkshire (1836-89), West Riding of Yorkshire (1889-1974) 1836 1974 Wakefield
Ripon MB Yorkshire (1836-89), West Riding of Yorkshire (1889-1974) 1836 1974 Harrogate

1837-82

Up to 1851, eighteen boroughs were incorporated: sixteen towns that had been enfranchised by the Reform Act 1832 and two of the boroughs unreformed in 1835 were brought under the act.

In the following years a further seven unreformed boroughs were incorporated and 38 other towns became municipalities. Most of the newly incorporated towns were rapidly growing industrial centres. A number of coastal resorts were created boroughs, reflecting the growth of seaside tourism, and in 1875 Leamington Spa became the first inland spa resort to gain incorporation.

Municipal Borough

County

Created

Abolished

Successor(s)

Devonport MB† Devon 1837[2][3] 1889 Devonport CB
Bolton MB† Lancashire 1838[4] 1889 Bolton CB
Birmingham MB† Warwickshire 1838[5] 1889 Birmingham CB
Manchester MB† Lancashire 1838[6] 1889 Manchester CB
Sheffield MB† Yorkshire 1843[7] 1889 Sheffield CB
Salford MB† Lancashire 1844[8] 1889 Salford CB
Honiton MB‡ Devon 1846 1974 East Devon
Ashton-under-Lyne MB† Lancashire 1847 1974 Tameside
Bradford MB† Yorkshire 1847 1889 Bradford CB
Warrington MB† Lancashire and Cheshire (1847-89), Lancashire (1889-1900) 1847 1900 Warrington CB
Halifax MB† Yorkshire 1848 1889 Halifax CB
Wakefield MB† Yorkshire (1848-89), West Riding of Yorkshire (1889-1915) 1848 1915 Wakefield CB
Wolverhampton MB† Staffordshire 1848 1889 Wolverhampton CB
Oldham MB† Lancashire 1849 1889 Oldham CB
Tynemouth MB† Northumberland 1849 1904 Tynemouth CB
Hartlepool MB‡ County Durham 1850 1967 Hartlepool CB
South Shields MB† County Durham 1850 1889 South Shields CB
Blackburn MB† Lancashire 1851 1889 Blackburn CB
Middlesbrough MB Yorkshire 1853 1889 Middlesbrough CB
Brighton MB† Sussex 1854 1889 Brighton CB
Yeovil MB‡ Somerset 1854 1974 Yeovil
Rochdale MB† Lancashire 1856 1889 Rochdale CB
Hanley MB Staffordshire 1857 1889 Hanley CB
Margate MB Kent 1857 1974 Thanet
Stalybridge MB Cheshire and Lancashire (1857-89), Cheshire (1889-1974) 1857 1974 Tameside
Wrexham MB Denbighshire 1857 1974 Wrexham Maelor
Hedon MB‡ Yorkshire (1861-89), East Riding of Yorkshire (1889-1974) 1861[9] 1974 Holderness
Aberavon MB‡ Glamorganshire 1861 1921 Port Talbot MB
Burnley MB Lancashire 1861 1889 Burnley CB
Dewsbury MB Yorkshire (1862-89), West Riding of Yorkshire (1889-1913) 1862 1913 Dewsbury CB
Reigate MB‡ Surrey 1863 1974 Reigate and Banstead
Dunstable MB‡ Bedfordshire 1864 1974 South Bedfordshire
Dudley MB† Worcestershire 1865 1889 Dudley CB
Longton MB Staffordshire 1865 1910 Stoke on Trent CB
Glossop MB Derbyshire 1866 1974 High Peak
Southport MB Lancashire 1866 1905 Southport CB
Barrow-in-Furness MB Lancashire 1867 1889 Barrow-in-Furness CB
Darlington MB County Durham 1867 1915 Darlington CB
Batley MB Yorkshire (1869-89), West Riding of Yorkshire (1889-1974) 1868 1974 Kirklees
Bootle cum Linacre MB Lancashire 1868 1889 Bootle CB
Huddersfield MB† Yorkshire 1868 1889 Huddersfield CB
Ryde MB Hampshire (1868-89), Isle of Wight (1889-1974) 1868 1974 Medina
St Helens MB Lancashire 1868 1889 St Helens CB
Barnsley MB Yorkshire (1869-89), West Riding of Yorkshire (1889-1913) 1869 1913 Barnsley CB
Rotherham MB Yorkshire (1871-89), West Riding of Yorkshire (1889-1902) 1871 1902 Rotherham CB
Peterborough MB Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire (1874-89),
Soke of Peterborough (1889-1965), Huntingdon and Peterborough (1965-74) 		1874 1974 Peterborough
St Ives MB Huntingdonshire (1874-1965), Huntingdon and Peterborough (1965-74) 1874 1974 Huntingdon
Stoke upon Trent MB† Staffordshire 1874 1910 Stoke on Trent CB
Jarrow MB County Durham 1875 1974 South Tyneside
Royal Leamington Spa MB Warwickshire 1875 1974 Warwick
Blackpool MB Lancashire 1876 1904 Blackpool CB
Bury MB† Lancashire 1876 1889 Bury CB
Cheltenham MB† Gloucestershire 1876 1974 Cheltenham
Luton MB Bedfordshire 1876 1964 Luton CB
Birkenhead MB Cheshire 1877 1889 Birkenhead CB
Conwy MB‡ Caernarfonshire 1877[10] 1974 District of Aberconwy
Crewe MB Cheshire 1877 1974 Crewe and Nantwich
Accrington MB Lancashire 1878 1974 Hyndburn
Burslem MB Staffordshire 1878 1910 Stoke on Trent CB
Burton upon Trent MB Staffordshire and Derbyshire (1878-89), Staffordshire (1889-1901) 1878 1901 Burton upon Trent CB
Darwen MB Lancashire 1878 1974 Blackburn
Chorley MB Lancashire 1881 1974 Chorley
Heywood MB Lancashire 1881 1974 Rochdale
Hyde MB Cheshire 1881 1974 Tameside
Lewes MB‡ Sussex (1881-89), East Sussex (1889-1974) 1881 1974 Lewes

† Boroughs enfranchised 1832 ‡ Borough unreformed in 1835

References

  1. ^ "A Vision of Britain through Time". GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 2014-10-23.
  2. ^ Petition submitted to the Privy Council on 28 January 1837 "No. 19462". The London Gazette. 31 January 1837. pp. 221–222.
  3. ^ Charter granted 20 October 1837 "Incorporation of Devonport". Morning Post. 25 October 1837.
  4. ^ Local Authority Records Archived May 29, 2008, at the Wayback Machine. Bolton Museums and Archive Service. URL accessed 12 July 2008.
  5. ^ "A brief history of the Birmingham City Council". Birmingham Community Safety Partnership. 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-08-19. Retrieved 2008-07-09.
  6. ^ "Manchester Quarter Sessions Records". Access to Archives. The National Archives. Retrieved 2008-07-09.
  7. ^ "History of the Lord Mayor". Sheffield City Council. Archived from the original on 2011-06-12. Retrieved 2008-07-09.
  8. ^ "Townships: Salford". A History of the County of Lancaster, Vol.4. British History Online. 1911. Retrieved 2008-07-09.
  9. ^ The Municipal corporations act was applied to the borough by the Hedon Corporation and Borough Improvement Act 1860 (23 & 24 Vict c.xxxi). The first elections to the reformed borough were held on 1 November 1860. "Municipal Elections". Hull Packet & East Riding Times. 2 November 1860.
  10. ^ "Conway: Its charter and corporation". North Wales Chronicle. Bangor. 17 March 1877. p. 4. Retrieved 9 November 2022.