Borough status in the United Kingdom

Borough status is granted by royal charter to local government districts in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The status is purely honorary, and does not give any additional powers to the council or inhabitants of the district. In Scotland, similarly chartered communities were known as royal burghs, although the status is no longer granted.

Origins of borough status
Main article: Ancient borough

Until the local government reforms of 1973 and 1974, boroughs were towns possessing charters of incorporation conferring considerable powers, and were governed by a municipal corporation headed by a mayor. The corporations had been reformed by legislation beginning in 1835 (1840 in Ireland). By the time of their abolition there were three types:

Many of the older boroughs could trace their origin to medieval charters or were boroughs by prescription, with Saxon origins. Most of the boroughs created after 1835 were new industrial, resort or suburban towns that had grown up after the industrial revolution. Borough corporations could also have the status of a city.

For pre-1974 boroughs, see Municipal Corporations Act 1835, Boroughs incorporated in England and Wales 1835–1882, Unreformed boroughs in England and Wales 1835–1886, Boroughs incorporated in England and Wales 1882–1974, Municipal Corporations (Ireland) Act 1840

Modern borough status

England and Wales

Borough status no longer implies a town or urban area. Outside Greater London, borough status is granted to metropolitan and non-metropolitan districts under the provisions of section 245 of the Local Government Act 1972. This section allows the council of a district to petition the monarch for a charter granting borough status. The resolution must have the support of at least two-thirds of the councillors. Having received the petition the monarch may, on the advice of the Privy Council, grant a charter whereupon:

  • The district becomes a borough
  • The district council becomes the borough council
  • The chairman and vice-chairman become entitled to the style mayor and deputy mayor of the borough, except in councils that have an elected mayor under the Local Government Act 2000.

Charters granted under the 1972 Act may allow the borough council to appoint "local officers of dignity" previously appointed by an abolished borough corporation. Examples include:

  • Honorary recorder: some borough and city councils have the right to appoint a circuit judge or recorder appointed under the Courts Act 1971 as honorary recorder. Usually this is the senior judge in the council's area.
  • Sheriff: These are appointed in a number of boroughs and cities that were formerly counties corporate.
  • High steward: originally a judicial office, often held by a peer, now entirely ceremonial.

There is no obligation on the council to appoint persons to these positions.

In some boroughs the mayor has the additional title as "Admiral of the Port", recalling an historic jurisdiction. The lord mayors of Chester and Kingston-upon-Hull are admirals of the Dee and the Humber respectively, the Mayor of Medway is Admiral of the River Medway, and the mayors of Poole and Southampton are admirals of those ports.[1][2][3][4][5]

Privileges or rights belonging to citizens or burgesses of a former borough can be transferred to the inhabitants of the new borough.

Borough councils are permitted to pass a resolution admitting "persons of distinction" and persons who have "rendered eminent service" to be an honorary freeman of the borough. This power has been used to grant honorary freedom not only to individuals, but to units and ships of the armed forces.

England

Borough charters granted under section 245 of the Local Government Act 1972 to metropolitan and non-metropolitan districts of England

District Year of charter Previous boroughs Notes
Allerdale 4 June 1992[6] Workington (1883) Charter trustees for Workington had existed 1974 to 1982
Amber Valley 17 May 1989[7] None
Ashford 1 April 1974[8][9] Tenterden (reformed 1835) Tenterden formed a town council in 1974
Barnsley 1 April 1974[8][9] Barnsley (1869)
Barrow-in-Furness 1 April 1974[8][9] Barrow-in-Furness (1867)
Basildon 26 October 2010[10][11] None
Basingstoke and Deane 20 January 1978[12] Basingstoke (reformed 1835) Basingstoke had charter trustees 1974–1978
Bath 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) Bath (reformed 1835) Abolished 1996
Bedford See North Bedfordshire
Berwick-upon-Tweed 1 April 1974[8][9] Berwick-upon-Tweed (reformed 1835) Abolished in April 2009. Civic functions transferred to Berwick-upon-Tweed Town Council.[13]
Beverley 1 April 1974[8][9] Beverley (reformed 1835) Renamed East Yorkshire Borough of Beverley 1981. Abolished 1996.
Birmingham 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) Birmingham (1838), Sutton Coldfield (1885)[14]
Blackburn 1 April 1974[8][9] Blackburn (1851), Darwen (1878) Renamed Blackburn with Darwen 1997
Blackpool 1 April 1974[8][9] Blackpool (1876)
Blyth Valley 1 April 1974[8][9] Blyth (1922) Abolished in April 2009.[13]
Bolton 1 April 1974[8][9] Bolton (1838)
Boothferry 28 April 1978[15] Goole (1933) Goole had charter trustees 1974–1978. Abolished 1996.
Boston 1 April 1974[8][9] Boston (reformed 1835)
Bournemouth 1 April 1974[8][9] Bournemouth (1890) Abolished April 2019
Bracknell Forest 27 April 1988[16] None
Bradford 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) Bradford (1847)
Brentwood 10 March 1993[17] None
Brighton 1 April 1974[8][9] Brighton (1854) Abolished 1997.
Brighton & Hove 1 April 1997[18] (granted city status in 2000) Formed from Brighton, Hove districts
Bristol 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) Bristol (reformed 1835)
Broxbourne 1 April 1974[8][9] None
Broxtowe 10 November 1977[12] None
Burnley 1 April 1974[8][9] Burnley (1861)
Bury 1 April 1974[8][9] Bury (1876)
Calderdale 1 April 1974[8][9] Halifax (1848), Brighouse (1893), Todmorden (1896)
Cambridge 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) Cambridge (reformed 1835)
Canterbury 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) Canterbury (reformed 1835)
Carlisle 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) Carlisle (reformed 1835)
Castle Morpeth 1 April 1974[8][9] Morpeth (reformed 1835) Abolished in April 2009.[13][19]
Castle Point 1992[20] None
Charnwood 1 April 1974[8][9] Loughborough (1888)
Chelmsford 10 November 1977[12] Chelmsford (1888) Chelmsford had charter trustees 1974–1977

Granted city status in 2012

Cheltenham 1 April 1974[8][9] Cheltenham (1876)
Cheshire East 2009[21] Congleton, Crewe and Nantwich, Macclesfield Created April 2009
Cheshire West and Chester 2009[21] Chester, Ellesmere Port and Neston, Vale Royal Created April 2009
Chester 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) Chester (reformed 1835) Abolished April 2009
Chesterfield 1 April 1974[8][9] Chesterfield (reformed 1835)
Chorley 1 April 1974[8][9] Chorley (1881)
Christchurch 1 April 1974[8][9] Christchurch (reformed 1886) Abolished April 2019
Cleethorpes 11 September 1975[22] Cleethorpes (1936) Cleethorpes had charter trustees 1974–1975. Borough abolished 1996
Colchester 1 April 1974[8][9] Colchester (reformed 1835)
Congleton 1 April 1974[8][9] Congleton (reformed 1835) Abolished April 2009
Copeland 1 April 1974[8][9] Whitehaven (1894)
Corby 28 October 1992[17] None
Coventry 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) Coventry (reformed 1835)
Crawley 1 April 1974[8][9] None
Crewe and Nantwich 1 April 1974[8][9] Crewe (1877) Abolished April 2009
Dacorum 10 October 1984[23] Hemel Hempstead (1898) Hemel Hempstead had charter trustees 1974–1984
Darlington 1 April 1974[8][9] Darlington (1867)
Dartford 22 April 1977[24] Dartford (1933) Dartford had charter trustees 1974–1977
Derby 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status in 1977) Derby (reformed 1835)
Doncaster 1 April 1974[8][9] Doncaster (reformed 1835)
Dudley 1 April 1974[8][9] Dudley (1865), Stourbridge (1914), Halesowen (1936)
Durham 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) Durham and Framwellgate (reformed 1835) Abolished April 2009. Charter Trustees established.[25]
East Staffordshire 11 May 1992[17] Burton upon Trent (1878) Charter trustees for Burton functioned 1974–1992.
They were formally abolished in 2003.
East Yorkshire See North Wolds
East Yorkshire Borough of Beverley See Beverley
Eastbourne 1 April 1974[8][9] Eastbourne (1883)
Eastleigh 1 April 1974[8][9] Eastleigh (1936)
Ellesmere Port 1 April 1974[8][9] Ellesmere Port (1955) renamed Ellesmere Port and Neston 1976. Abolished April 2009.
Elmbridge 1 April 1974[8][9] None
Epsom and Ewell 1 April 1974[8][9] Epsom and Ewell (1937)
Erewash 1975 Ilkeston (1887) Ilkeston had charter trustees 1974–1975
Exeter 1 April 1974[8][9](and city status) Exeter (reformed 1835)
Fareham 1 April 1974[8][9] None
Fylde 1 April 1974[8][9] Lytham St. Annes (1922)
Gateshead 1 April 1974[8][9] Gateshead (reformed 1835)
Gedling 1 April 1974[8][9] None
Gillingham 1 April 1974[8][9] Gillingham (1903) Abolished 1996
Glanford 1 April 1974[8][9] None Abolished 1996
Gloucester 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) Gloucester (reformed 1835)
Gosport 1 April 1974[8][9] Gosport (1922)
Gravesham 1 April 1974[8][9] Gravesend (reformed 1835)
Great Yarmouth 1 April 1974[8][9] Great Yarmouth (reformed 1835)
Grimsby 1 April 1974[8][9] Grimsby (reformed 1835) Renamed Great Grimsby 1979, abolished 1996.
Guildford 1 April 1974[8][9] Guildford (reformed 1835)
Halton 1 April 1974[8][9] Widnes (1892)
Harrogate 1 April 1974[8][9] Harrogate (1884)
Hartlepool 1 April 1974[8][9] Hartlepool formed 1967 from Hartlepool (1850), West Hartlepool (1887)
Hastings 1 April 1974[8][9] Hastings (reformed 1835)
Havant 1 April 1974[8][9] None
Hereford 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) Hereford (reformed 1835) Abolished 1998
Hertsmere 15 April 1977[24] None
High Peak 1 April 1974[8][9] Glossop (1866), Buxton (1917)
Hinckley and Bosworth 1 April 1974[8][9] None
Holderness 21 June 1977[26] Hedon (1861) (formed a town council in 1974) Abolished 1996
Hove 1 April 1974[8][9] Hove (1898) Abolished 1997
Hyndburn 1 April 1974[8][9] Accrington (1878)
Ipswich 1 April 1974[8][9] Ipswich (reformed 1835)
Kettering 1 April 1974[8][9] Kettering (1938)
King's Lynn and West Norfolk See West Norfolk
Kingston upon Hull 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) Kingston upon Hull (reformed 1835)
Kingswood 20 May 1987[7] None Abolished 1996
Kirklees 1 April 1974[8][9] Dewsbury (1862), |Huddersfield (1868), Batley (1868), Spenborough (1955)
Knowsley 1 April 1974[8][9] None
Lancaster 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) Lancaster (reformed 1835)
Langbaurgh 1 April 1974[8][9] Formed from part of Teesside county borough, created in 1967, and including Redcar (incorporated in 1921) Renamed Langbaurgh on Tees 1988

Renamed Redcar and Cleveland 1996

Leeds 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) Leeds (reformed 1835), Pudsey(1889)
Leicester 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) Leicester (reformed 1835)
Lincoln 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) Lincoln (reformed 1835)
Liverpool 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) Liverpool (reformed 1835)
Luton 1 April 1974[8][9] Luton (1876)
Macclesfield 1 April 1974[8][9] Macclesfield (reformed 1835) Abolished April 2009
Maidstone 1 April 1974[8][9] Maidstone (reformed 1835)
Manchester 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) Manchester (1838)
Medina 1 April 1974[8][9] Newport (reformed 1835), Ryde (1868) Abolished 1995
Medway (1) 1 April 1974[8][9] Rochester (reformed 1835), Chatham (1890) Renamed Rochester-upon-Medway 1979, and awarded city status.

Abolished 1998

Medway (2) 1998 From Rochester upon Medway, Gillingham boroughs (q.v.)
Melton 1 April 1974[8][9] None
Middlesbrough 1 April 1974[8][9] Formed from part of Teesside county borough, created in 1967, and including Middlesbrough (incorporated in 1853)
Milton Keynes 1 April 1974[8][9] None
Newcastle-under-Lyme 1 April 1974[8][9] Newcastle-under-Lyme (reformed 1835)
Newcastle upon Tyne 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) Newcastle upon Tyne (reformed 1835)
Northampton[27] 1 April 1974[8][9] Northampton (reformed 1835)
North Bedfordshire 1975 Bedford (reformed 1835) Renamed Bedford 1992
North East Lincolnshire 1996 From Cleethorpes, Great Grimsby boroughs (q.v.) Both former boroughs formed charter trustees
North Lincolnshire 1998 Formed from Boothferry, Glanford, and Scunthorpe boroughs (q.v.) Scunthorpe's mayoralty is continued by charter trustees
North Tyneside 1 April 1974[8][9] Tynemouth (1849), Wallsend (1901)
North Warwickshire 1 April 1974[8][9] None
North Wolds 1 April 1974[8][9] Bridlington (1899) Renamed East Yorkshire 1981.

Abolished 1996

Norwich 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) Norwich (reformed 1835)
Nottingham 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) Nottingham (reformed 1835)
Nuneaton 1 April 1974[8][9] Nuneaton (1907) Renamed Nuneaton and Bedworth 1980
Oadby and Wigston 1 April 1974[8][9] None
Oldham 1 April 1974[8][9] Oldham (1849)
Oswestry 1 April 1974[8][9] Oswestry Rural Borough (reformed 1835) Abolished in April 2009.
Oxford 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) Oxford (reformed 1835)
Pendle 15 September 1976[22] Nelson (1890), Colne (1895)
Peterborough 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) Peterborough (1874)
Plymouth 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) Plymouth (reformed 1835)
Poole 1 April 1974[8][9] Poole (reformed 1835) Abolished April 2019
Portsmouth 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) Portsmouth (reformed 1835)
Preston 1 April 1974[8][9] (granted city status in 2002) Preston (reformed 1835)
Reading 1 April 1974[8][9] Reading (reformed 1835)
Redcar and Cleveland See Langbaurgh
Redditch 15 May 1980[28] None
Reigate and Banstead 1 April 1974[8][9] Reigate (reformed (1863)
Restormel 1 April 1974[8][9] St. Austell with Fowey (formed 1968, including Fowey 1913) Abolished in April 2009.
Ribble Valley 1 April 1974[8][9] Clitheroe (reformed 1835)
Rochdale 1 April 1974[8][9] Rochdale (1856), Heywood (1881), Middleton (1886)
Rochester upon Medway See Medway (1)
Rossendale 1 April 1974[8][9] Bacup (1882), Haslingden (1891), Rawtenstall (1891)
Rotherham 1 April 1974[8][9] Rotherham, (1871)
Rugby 1 April 1974[8][9] Rugby (1932)
Runnymede 20 January 1978[12] None
Rushcliffe 1 April 1974[8][9] None
Rushmoor 1 April 1974[8][9] Aldershot (1922)
St Albans 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) St Albans (reformed 1835)
St Edmundsbury 1 April 1974[8][9] Bury St Edmunds (reformed 1835) Abolished April 2019
St Helens 1 April 1974[8][9] St Helens (1868)
Salford 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) Salford (1844), Eccles (1892), Swinton and Pendlebury (1934)
Sandwell 1 April 1974[8][9] West Bromwich (1882), including since 1966 the former boroughs of Tipton (1938) and Wednesbury (1886);[29] Warley (1966), including the former boroughs of Smethwick (1899), Rowley Regis (1933), and Oldbury(1935)
Scarborough 1 April 1974[8][9] Scarborough (reformed 1835)
Scunthorpe 1 April 1974[8][9] Scunthorpe (1936) Abolished 1996
Sedgefield 1996 None Abolished April 2009. Mayoralty continued by Sedgefield Town Council[25]
Sefton 1975 Southport (1866), Bootle (1868), Crosby (1937) All three towns formed charter trustees 1974–1975
Sheffield 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) Sheffield (1843)
Shrewsbury and Atcham 1 April 1974[8][9] Shrewsbury (reformed 1835) Abolished in April 2009.[30]
Slough 1 April 1974[8][9] Slough (1938)
Solihull 1 April 1974[8][9] Solihull (1954)
Southampton 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) Southampton (reformed 1835)
Southend-on-Sea 1 April 1974[8][9] Southend-on-Sea (1892)
South Ribble 1 April 1974[8][9] None
South Tyneside 1 April 1974[8][9] South Shields (1850), Jarrow (1875)
South Wight 1974? None Abolished 1995
Spelthorne 1 April 1974[8][9] None
Stafford 1 April 1974[8][9] Stafford (reformed 1835)
Stevenage 1 April 1974[8][9] None
Stockport 1 April 1974[8][9] Stockport (reformed 1835)
Stockton-on-Tees 1 April 1974[8][9] Formed from part of Teesside county borough, created in 1967, and including Stockton-on-Tees (reformed 1835) and Thornaby-on-Tees (incorporated in 1892)
Stoke-on-Trent 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) Stoke-on-Trent formed 1910, including boroughs of Hanley (incorporated in 1857), Longton (1865), Burslem (1878), Stoke-upon-Trent (1874).
Sunderland 1 April 1974[8][9] (granted city status in 1992) Sunderland (reformed 1835)
Surrey Heath 1 April 1974[8][9] None
Swale 20 January 1978[12] Faversham (reformed 1835), Queenborough-in-Sheppey (created 1968, including borough of Queenborough, reformed in 1885) Queenborough-in-Sheppey formed charter trustees 1974–1977
Swindon See Thamesdown
Tameside 1 April 1974[8][9] Ashton-under-Lyne (1847), Stalybridge (1857), Hyde (1881), Mossley (1885), Dukinfield (1899)
Tamworth 1 April 1974[8][9] Tamworth (reformed 1835)
Taunton Deane 1975 Taunton (1885) Taunton had charter trustees 1974–1975, Abolished April 2019
Telford and Wrekin 2002 None
Test Valley 22 October 1976[22] Andover, Romsey, both reformed 1835 Andover had charter trustees 1974–1976. Romsey formed a town council.
Tewkesbury 1 April 1974[8][9] Tewkesbury (reformed 1835)
Thamesdown 1 April 1974[8][9] Swindon (1900) Renamed Swindon 1997
Thurrock 1 April 1974[8][9] None
Tonbridge and Malling 12 December 1983[31] None
Torbay 1 April 1974[8][9] County borough of Torbay – created 1968, and including the borough of Torquay incorporated in 1892
Trafford 1 April 1974[8][9] Stretford (1933), Sale (1935), Altrincham (1937)
Tunbridge Wells 1 April 1974[8][9] Royal Tunbridge Wells (1888) Charter trustees for Royal Tunbridge Wells existed from 1 April to 20 December 1974
Vale Royal 5 May 1988[16] None Abolished April 2009
Wakefield 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) Pontefract (reformed 1835), Wakefield (1848), Ossett (1890), Castleford (1955)
Walsall 1 April 1974[8][9][32] Walsall (reformed 1835)
Warrington 1 April 1974[8][9] Warrington (1847)
Watford 1 April 1974[8][9] Watford (1922)
Waverley 21 February 1984[31] Godalming (reformed 1835) Godalming formed a town council in 1974
Wellingborough 1 April 1974[8][9] None
Welwyn Hatfield 2006 None
West Devon 27 April 1982[33] Okehampton (reformed 1885) Okehampton formed a town council in 1974
West Norfolk 30 June 1981[28] King's Lynn (reformed 1835) Renamed King's Lynn and West Norfolk 14 May 1981[28]
West Lancashire 2009[34] None
Weymouth and Portland 1 April 1974[8][9] Weymouth and Melcombe Regis (reformed 1835) Abolished April 2019
Wigan 1 April 1974[8][9] Wigan (reformed 1835), Leigh (1899) Leigh Abolished 1972
Winchester 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) Winchester (reformed 1835)
Windsor and Maidenhead 1 April 1974[8][9] (Royal Borough) Windsor, Maidenhead, both reformed 1835
Wirral 1 April 1974[8][9] Birkenhead (1877), Wallasey (1910), Bebington (1937)
Woking 1 April 1974[8][9] none
Wokingham 2007[35] Wokingham (reformed 1883) Wokingham formed a town council in 1974
Wolverhampton 1 April 1974.[8][9] Granted city status 2000 Wolverhampton (1848). Had absorbed the borough of Bilston in 1967 (incorporated in 1938).
Worcester 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) Worcester (reformed 1835)
Worthing 1 April 1974[8][9] Worthing, 1890
Wyre 1 April 1974[8][9] Fleetwood (1933)
York (1) 1 April 1974[8][9] (and city status) York (reformed 1835) The District was abolished and replaced with a larger unitary authority in 1996
York (2) 1996 (and city status) Created in 1996. Inherited traditions from the smaller York district.

Greater London is divided into thirty-two London boroughs. Their borough status dates from 1965, although each of them had previously included municipal, county or metropolitan boroughs:

London borough Previous boroughs Notes
Barking Barking (1931), Dagenham (1938) Renamed Barking and Dagenham 1981
Barnet Hendon (1932), Finchley (1933)
Bexley Bexley (1937), Erith (1938)
Brent Willesden (1933), Wembley (1937)
Bromley Bromley (1903), Beckenham (1935)
Camden Hampstead, Holborn, St Pancras all created 1900
Croydon Croydon (1883)
Ealing Ealing (1901), Acton (1921), Southall (1936)
Enfield Southgate (1933), Edmonton (1937), Enfield (1955)
Greenwich (Royal Borough) Greenwich, Woolwich both created 1900
Hackney Hackney, Shoreditch, Stoke Newington all created 1900
Hammersmith Hammersmith, Fulham both created 1900 Renamed Hammersmith and Fulham 1981
Haringey Hornsey (1903), Wood Green (1933), Tottenham (1934)
Harrow Harrow (1954)
Havering Romford (1937)
Hillingdon Uxbridge (1955)
Hounslow Brentford and Chiswick, Heston and Isleworth both incorporated in 1932
Islington Islington, Finsbury both created 1900
Kensington and Chelsea (Royal Borough) Kensington, Chelsea both created 1900
Kingston upon Thames (Royal Borough) Kingston upon Thames (reformed 1835), Malden and Coombe (1936), Surbiton (1936)
Lambeth Lambeth created 1900
Lewisham Lewisham, Deptford both created 1900
Merton Wimbledon (1905), Mitcham (1934)
Newham West Ham (1886), East Ham (1904)
Redbridge Ilford (1926), Wanstead and Woodford (1937)
Richmond upon Thames Richmond (1890), Twickenham (1926), Barnes (1932)
Southwark Bermondsey, Camberwell, Southwark all created 1900
Sutton Sutton and Cheam (1934), Beddington and Wallington (1937)
Tower Hamlets Bethnal Green, Poplar, Stepney all created 1900
Waltham Forest Leyton (1926), Walthamstow (1929), Chingford (1938)
Wandsworth Battersea, Wandsworth both created 1900
Westminster (and city status) Paddington, St Marylebone, Westminster all created 1900

Wales

Borough charters granted under section 245 of the Local Government Act 1972 to Welsh districts

District Year of charter Previous boroughs Notes
Aberconwy 1974 Conway (1885)
Afan 1974 Port Talbot (formed 1921, including borough of Aberavon, reformed 1861) Renamed Port Talbot 1986
Arfon 1974 Caernarvon (reformed 1835), Bangor (reformed 1883) Bangor and Caernarfon formed town councils
Blaenau Gwent 1975 None
Brecknock 1974 Brecon (reformed 1835) Brecon formed a town council
Cardiff 1974 (and city status) Cardiff (reformed 1835)
Colwyn 1974 Colwyn Bay (1934)
Cynon Valley By November 1974 None
Delyn 1974 Flint (reformed 1835) Flint formed a town council
Dinefwr 1974 Llandovery (reformed 1835) Llandovery formed a town council
Islwyn 1974 None
Llanelli 1974 Kidwelly (reformed 1885), Llanelli (1913) Kidwelly and Llanelli formed town councils
Lliw Valley 1974 None
Merthyr Tydfil 1974 Merthyr Tydfil (1905)
Monmouth 1988 Monmouth (reformed 1835), Abergavenny (1899) Abergavenny and Monmouth formed town councils
Neath 1974 Neath (reformed 1835) Neath formed a town council
Newport 1974 (granted city

status in 2002)

 Newport (reformed 1835)
Ogwr 1974 None
Port Talbot See Afan
Rhondda 1974 Rhondda (1955)
Rhuddlan 1974 None
Swansea 1974 (and city status) Swansea (reformed 1835)
Taff-Ely 1974 None
Torfaen 1974 None
Vale of Glamorgan 1974 Cowbridge (1887), Barry (1938) Cowbridge and Barry formed town councils
Wrexham Maelor 1974 Wrexham (1857)
Ynys Mon – Isle of Anglesey 1974 Beaumaris (reformed 1835) Beaumaris formed a town council

The districts created in 1974 were abolished in 1996 by the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994. The 1994 Act amended section 245 of the Local Government Act 1972, allowing for the new unitary county councils established by the Act to apply for a charter in a similar manner to the old district councils. On receiving a charter a county became a "county borough".

Welsh unitary authorities granted a charter in 1996 bestowing county borough status

County borough Previous boroughs Notes
Aberconwy and Colwyn Aberconwy, Colwyn Renamed Conwy 1996
Blaenau Gwent Blaenau Gwent
Bridgend Ogwr
Caerphilly Islwyn
Cardiff Cardiff has the status of a "city and county" by letters patent
Conwy See Aberconwy and Colwyn
Merthyr Tydfil Merthyr Tydfil
Neath and Port Talbot Neath, Port Talbot Renamed Neath Port Talbot 1996
Newport Newport Became "city and county" in 2002
Rhondda Cynon Taff Cynon Valley, Rhondda, Taff-Ely
Swansea Swansea has the status of a "city and county" by letters patent
Torfaen Torfaen
Vale of Glamorgan Vale of Glamorgan
Wrexham Wrexham Maelor

Northern Ireland

The privileges of borough status are that the council chairperson is called "mayor" and up to one quarter of councillors can be called "alderman", and the council can award freedom of the borough.[36][37] The Municipal Corporations (Ireland) Act 1840 extinguished all the boroughs in Ireland except for ten. In what would in 1921 become Northern Ireland, there were two remaining municipal boroughs in 1840: Belfast (made a city in 1888) and Derry (officially Londonderry, and a city since 1604). Five towns with abolished corporations remained parliamentary boroughs until 1885 (Armagh, Carrickfergus, Coleraine, Dungannon, and Enniskillen) as did three (Downpatrick, Lisburn, and Newry)[38] where any corporation was defunct by 1801. Several of the urban districts in Northern Ireland created under the Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898 later received charters granting borough status. The Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 1972 replaced the multi-tier local government system with 26 unitary districts whose councils could retain the charter of a borough within the district; other districts later received borough charters in their own right. The 2015 local government reforms replaced the 26 districts with 11 larger districts. The "statutory transition committee" handling each council merger had the right to request transfer of borough status as in 1972,[39][40][41] and unionist-majority councils did so, while nationalist-majority councils chose not to apply.[42] There were complications where places had city status;[43][44] therefore Belfast, Derry and Lisburn's borough charters carried over automatically, without the need for the council to pass a resolution.[45] Although Newry received city status in 2002, Newry and Mourne District Council did not receive borough status. In 2015 its successor Newry, Mourne and Down District Council voted not to request borough status, the required two-thirds majority failing after opposition from Sinn Féin.[46]

Northern Ireland boroughs since 1840
2015 borough1972–2015 boroughpre-1972 boroughYear of charterNotes
Antrim and Newtownabbey[47] Antrim 1977 Antrim town's borough status was extinguished in 1840. It was Antrim's borough charter which the merged council opted to preserve in 2015.[47]
Antrim and Newtownabbey Newtownabbey 1977
Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon[48] Armagh 1997[49] Armagh town already had city status granted by letters patent in 1994. Its previous borough status was extinguished in 1840. It was Armagh's borough charter which the merged council opted to preserve in 2015.[48]
Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon Craigavon Portadown, Lurgan 1947,[50] 1949
Belfast[45] Belfast Belfast 1613[51] Charter reformed 1840. City status by letters patent of 1888.
Causeway Coast and Glens[52] Ballymoney 1977
Causeway Coast and Glens Coleraine Coleraine 1928 Coleraine's previous borough status was extinguished in 1840. It was Coleraine's borough charter which the merged council opted to preserve in 2015.[52]
Causeway Coast and Glens Limavady 1989
Derry and Strabane[45] Derry Londonderry 1604[53] Charter reformed 1840. District and borough renamed Derry 1984; name of city remains Londonderry (see Derry/Londonderry name dispute).[54]
Lisburn and Castlereagh[45] Castlereagh 1977 The new district council is called Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council.[55]
Lisburn and Castlereagh Lisburn Lisburn 1964. Lisburn was granted city status by letters patent in 2002.
Mid and East Antrim[56] Ballymena Ballymena 1937
Mid and East Antrim Carrickfergus Carrickfergus 1939 Carrickfergus's previous borough status was extinguished in 1840. It was Carrickfergus's borough charter which the merged council opted to preserve in 2015.[56]
Mid and East Antrim Larne Larne 1938
Ards and North Down Ards Newtownards 1927 Newtownards' previous borough status was extinguished in 1840. The "North Down and Ards" statutory transition committee voted in 2014 to apply for borough status for the merged district council under the name "East Coast Borough Council",[57] but negative public reaction prompted a rethink,[58] and the name "Ards and North Down" was not finalised until 2016.[59] The charter transfer was delayed until after this.[60]
Ards and North Down North Down Bangor 1927 Bangor's previous borough status was extinguished in 1840. It was North Down's borough charter which the merged council opted to preserve in 2016.[60]
Dungannon and South Tyrone 1999 Borough status was simultaneous with 1999 renaming the district from "Dungannon".[61][62] Dungannon town's borough status was extinguished in 1840. Now in Mid-Ulster District.
Enniskillen 1949[63] Previous borough status was extinguished in 1840. In 1967, Enniskillen Borough Council lost its administrative functions to Fermanagh County Council, but retained its ceremonial role.[64] The post-1972 Fermanagh District Council did not inherit Enniskillen's borough status. Since 2015 in Fermanagh and Omagh District.
gollark: Denying the existence of Eric is antiEric.
gollark: You're going around spreading your belief that Eric isn't real. That's antiEric heresy.
gollark: Or, well, the explicit belief that Eric doesn't exist is.
gollark: Not believing in Eric is an antiEric belief.
gollark: No, antiEric beliefs are antiEric heresy, simple.

See also

References

Citations
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Sources
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