51°54′59″N 0°39′42″W / 51.9165°N 0.6617°W / 51.9165; -0.6617

Leighton Buzzard
Urban District
Area
 • 18912,426 acres (9.8 km2)
 • 19612,487 acres (10.1 km2)
Population
 • 18916,704
 • 196111,745[1]
History
 • Created7 July 1891
 • Abolished31 March 1965
 • Succeeded byLeighton-Linslade Urban District
StatusLocal Government District (1891–1894)
Urban District (1894–1965)
 • HQLeighton Buzzard
Contained within
 • County CouncilBedfordshire
Map of boundary as of abolition

The town of Leighton Buzzard in Bedfordshire, England was administered as a Local Government District from 1891 to 1894 and an Urban District from 1894 to 1965.

Formation

Prior to 1891 the town had formed part of the Leighton Buzzard Rural Sanitary District, which had been created under the Public Health Acts of 1872 and 1875 covering the same area as the Leighton Buzzard Poor Law Union.[2] On 7 July 1891 a Local Government District was established for the town, covering the township of Leighton Buzzard (being that part of the ancient parish of Leighton Buzzard excluding the hamlets of Billington, Eggington, Heath and Reach, and Stanbridge), removing the town from the Leighton Buzzard Rural Sanitary District.[3][4]

Old Town Hall, meeting place 1891–1892, converted to a fire station in 1919.[5]

The first meeting of the new Local Board was held on 27 August 1891 at the Old Town Hall in Leighton Buzzard. The first chairman was William Sharp Page, who was also the chairman of the Board of Guardians for the Poor Law Union.[6]

Under the Local Government Act 1894, Local Government Districts became Urban Districts from 31 December 1894. The Urban District Council first met under its new title on 3 January 1895, with William Page continuing to serve as chairman.[7]

Premises

Leighton Buzzard Corn Exchange, meeting place 1892–1905. Demolished c. 1968.[8]

The Local Board initially held its meetings at the Old Town Hall (also known as the Market Hall) in the Market Place in Leighton Buzzard, up until February 1892.[9] From March 1892 until October 1905 meetings were held at the town's Corn Exchange on Lake Street.[10][11]

In 1905 the council took possession of the former Working Men's Institute at 77 North Street in Leighton Buzzard, which was converted to provide offices and a meeting place for the council. Council meetings were held there from November 1905 onwards.[12] The building also accommodated the town's library between 1939 and 1948.[13][14]

White House, 37 Hockliffe Street: the council's offices after 1962.

The council continued to be based at 77 North Street until 1962, when it moved to a large house called the White House at 37 Hockliffe Street.[15][16] The North Street building was demolished shortly afterwards.[17]

Abolition

On 1 April 1965 Leighton Buzzard Urban District merged with the neighbouring Linslade Urban District, which until then had been in Buckinghamshire, to create a new Bedfordshire urban district called Leighton-Linslade.[18] Leighton-Linslade Urban District Council continued to use the White House as its offices.[19][20]

References

  1. ↑ "Leighton Buzzard UD, A Vision of Britain through Time". GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  2. ↑ Higginbotham, Peter (2021). "Leighton Buzzard Poor Law Union". The Workhouse. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  3. ↑ Leighton Buzzard: The Coming Local Board, Leighton Buzzard Observer, 14 July 1891, page 4
  4. ↑ Annual Report of the Local Government Board 1891–1892. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office. 1892. pp. 346–348. Retrieved 13 August 2021. The County of Bedford (Leighton Buzzard) Confirmation Order 1891
  5. ↑ "Leighton Buzzard Market Hall". Bedfordshire Archives. 21 June 2019. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  6. ↑ Local Board: The First Meeting, Leighton Buzzard Observer, 1 September 1891, page 5
  7. ↑ Urban District Council, Leighton Buzzard Observer, 8 January 1895, page 6
  8. ↑ "The Corn Exchange, Leighton Buzzard". Bedfordshire Archives. 21 June 2019. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  9. ↑ Leighton: Meeting of Local Board, Bedfordshire Times and Independent (Bedford), 5 March 1892, page 7
  10. ↑ Leighton Buzzard: Local Board, Bucks Herald (Aylesbury), 2 April 1892, page 8
  11. ↑ Leighton Urban District Council, Bedfordshire Advertiser (Luton), 27 October 1905, page 8
  12. ↑ Leighton Urban Council, Bedfordshire Advertiser (Luton), 1 December 1905, page 8
  13. ↑ "Lecton House". Bedfordshire Archives. 21 June 2019. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  14. ↑ The office at 77 North Street is the tall building on the right hand side of the Kings Arms photograph here."The Kings Arms, North Street, Leighton Buzzard". Bedfordshire Archives. 21 June 2019. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  15. ↑ London Gazette, 7 March 1961, page 1741
  16. ↑ "Records of H.A. Rolls and Partners, Architects, Z889/2/7". Bedfordshire Archives Catalogue. Retrieved 23 August 2021. Leighton Buzzard. Sketch plans, ground and first floor plans entrance details and specification of works for proposed Council Chamber, The White House, Hockliffe Street for Leighton Buzzard Urban District Council, 1961–1962.
  17. ↑ Ordnance Survey 1:2500 Map, 1970 - site of 77 North Street is shown as vacant land.
  18. ↑ "Leighton Buzzard UD". A Vision of Britain through Time. GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 24 August 2021. The Counties of Bedford and Buckingham (Leighton-Linslade) Order, 1965
  19. ↑ London Gazette, 25 February 1966, page 2181
  20. ↑ London Gazette, 6 April 1973, page 4541
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