Downham Rural District

Position within Norfolk, 1894
Position within Norfolk, 1894

Boundaries in 1894. 1930 extension in yellow.
Position within Norfolk, 1935
Position within Norfolk, 1935

Boundaries in 1935

Downham Rural District was a rural district in Norfolk, England from 1894 to 1974.[1]

It was formed under the Local Government Act 1894 based on the Downham rural sanitary district. It completely encircled Downham Market Urban District.

In 1930 a new parish of Nordelph was created in Downham RD, taking land mostly out of the Marshland RD parish of Upwell.[2]

Several changes were made to its boundaries in 1935. In particular, it took in four large (in area terms) parishes from the disbanded Thetford Rural District.

In 1974, the district was abolished under the Local Government Act 1972, and became part of the West Norfolk district, renamed King's Lynn and West Norfolk in 1981.

Welney Rural District

Welney Rural District[3] was (at least nominally) a short-lived entity created in 1894 containing the only parish, West Welney, which had been in Downham RSD but lay in the Isle of Ely rather than Norfolk. Its population at the time was about 500.[4] In 1895 the parish was transferred to Norfolk, and Welney RD was absorbed by Downham RD. There does not appear to be any evidence that it ever actually functioned.[5]

Statistics

Year Area (ha)
[6] 		Population
[7] 		Density
(pop/ha)
1911 33,156 15,527 0.47
1921 14,660 0.44
1931 34,565 15,503 0.45
1951 50,243 24,496 0.49
1961 23,655 0.47

Parishes

Parish From To Notes
Barton Bendish
Bexwell 1935 Added to Ryston
Boughton
Crimplesham
Denver
Downham West
Feltwell 1935 Formerly Thetford RD
Fincham
Fordham
Hilgay
Hockwold cum Wilton 1935 Formerly Thetford RD
Marham
Methwold 1935 Formerly Thetford RD
Nordelph 1930 Created from parts of Denver, Downham West & Stow Bardolph
and from Outwell and Upwell in Marshland RD
Northwold 1935 Formerly Thetford RD
Runcton Holme
Ryston
Ryston with Roxham 1935 Added to Ryston
Shouldham
Shouldham Thorpe
Southery
Stoke Ferry
Stow Bardolph
Stradsett
Tottenhill
Watlington
Welney
Wereham
West Dereham
West Welney 1895 1935 Welney RD 1894-95. Added to Welney 1935
Wiggenhall St Germans As "Wiggenhall St German" before 1935
Wiggenhall St Mary Magdalen
Wiggenhall St Mary the Virgin
Wiggenhall St Peter 1935 Added to Wiggenhall St Germans
Wimbotsham
Wormegay
Wretton

References

  1. ^ "Downham RD through time: Census tables with data for the Local Government District". A Vision of Britain through Time. GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  2. ^ "Upwell CP through time: Population Statistics: Area (acres)". A Vision of Britain through Time. GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth. Shows reduction in Upwell between 1921 & 1931. Note that several other pages on the site fail to report this transfer. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  3. ^ "Welney RD through time: Census tables with data for the Local Government District". A Vision of Britain through Time. GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  4. ^ "West Welney CP through time: Population Statistics: Males and Females". A Vision of Britain through Time. GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  5. ^ "Local Authority Building Plans Survey Report, Pre-1974 Authorities, England". The National Archives. Lines 241-2. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  6. ^ "Downham RD through time: Population Statistics: Area (acres)". A Vision of Britain through Time. GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth.
  7. ^ "Downham RD through time: Population Statistics: Total Population". A Vision of Britain through Time. GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth.

52°35′N 0°26′E / 52.58°N 0.44°E / 52.58; 0.44