Civil parishes in Berkshire

A civil parish is a country subdivision, forming the lowest unit of local government in England. There are 104 civil parishes in the ceremonial county of Berkshire, most of the county being parished; Reading is completely unparished; Bracknell Forest, West Berkshire and Wokingham are entirely parished. At the 2001 census, there were 483,882 people living in the 104 parishes, accounting for 60.5 per cent of the county's population.

A map of Berkshire, showing the districts: (1) West Berkshire; (2) Reading; (3) Wokingham; (4) Bracknell Forest; (5) Windsor and Maidenhead; and (6) Slough

History

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] The 19th century saw an increase in the responsibility of parishes, although the Poor Law powers were transferred to Poor Law Unions.[4] The 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] although some 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 civil parishes continued to exist, and were generally coterminous with the 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

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] and a civil parish can also gain city status, but only if that is granted by the Crown.[9] The chairman of a town or city council is called a mayor.[9] The 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
Image Name Status Population District Former local authority Refs
BinfieldCivil parish7,475Bracknell ForestEasthampstead
Rural District		[12]
[13]
BracknellTown50,131Bracknell ForestEasthampstead
Rural District		[12]
[13]
CrowthorneCivil parish6,711Bracknell ForestEasthampstead
Rural District		[12]
[13]
SandhurstTown20,803Bracknell ForestEasthampstead
Rural District		[12]
[13]
WarfieldCivil parish9,226Bracknell ForestEasthampstead
Rural District		[12]
[13]
WinkfieldCivil parish15,271Bracknell ForestEasthampstead
Rural District		[12]
[13]
ReadingUnparished area143,096ReadingReading County Borough[14]
[15]
Colnbrook with PoyleCivil parish5,408SloughEton
Rural District		[16]
[17]
[18]
SloughUnparished area113,659[19]SloughSlough Municipal Borough[20]
[21]
AldermastonCivil parish927West BerkshireBradfield
Rural District		[22]
[23]
AldworthCivil parish308West BerkshireWantage
Rural District		[24]
[23]
AshampsteadCivil parish398West BerkshireBradfield
Rural District		[22]
[23]
BasildonCivil parish1,559West BerkshireBradfield
Rural District		[22]
[23]
Beech HillCivil parish311West BerkshireBradfield
Rural District		[22]
[23]
BeedonCivil parish393West BerkshireWantage
Rural District		[24]
[23]
BeenhamCivil parish1,175West BerkshireBradfield
Rural District		[22]
[23]
BoxfordCivil parish466West BerkshireNewbury
Rural District		[25]
[23]
BradfieldCivil parish2,172West BerkshireBradfield
Rural District		[22]
[23]
BrightwaltonCivil parish322West BerkshireWantage
Rural District		[24]
[23]
BrimptonCivil parish613West BerkshireNewbury
Rural District		[25]
[23]
BuckleburyCivil parish2,066West BerkshireBradfield
Rural District		[22]
[23]
BurghfieldCivil parish5,894West BerkshireBradfield
Rural District		[22]
[23]
CatmoreCivil parish28West BerkshireWantage
Rural District		[24]
[23]
ChaddleworthCivil parish482West BerkshireWantage
Rural District		[24]
[23]
ChieveleyCivil parish2,710West BerkshireNewbury
Rural District		[25]
[23]
Cold AshCivil parish3,623West BerkshireNewbury
Rural District		[25]
[23]
CombeCivil parish38West BerkshireHungerford
Rural District		[23][26]
ComptonCivil parish1,521West BerkshireWantage
Rural District		[24]
[23]
East GarstonCivil parish532West BerkshireHungerford
Rural District		[26]
[23]
East IlsleyCivil parish519West BerkshireWantage
Rural District		[24]
[23]
EnborneCivil parish492West BerkshireNewbury
Rural District		[25]
[23]
EnglefieldCivil parish303West BerkshireBradfield
Rural District		[22]
[23]
FarnboroughCivil parish100West BerkshireWantage
Rural District		[24]
[23]
FawleyCivil parish172West BerkshireWantage
Rural District		[24]
[23]
FrilshamCivil parish321West BerkshireBradfield
Rural District		[22]
[23]
Great SheffordCivil parish896West BerkshireHungerford
Rural District		[26]
[23]
GreenhamCivil parish2,712West BerkshireNewbury
Rural District		[25]
[23]
Hampstead MarshallCivil parish276West BerkshireNewbury
Rural District		[25]
[23]
Hampstead NorreysCivil parish748West BerkshireWantage
Rural District		[24]
[23]
HermitageCivil parish1,154West BerkshireNewbury
Rural District		[25]
[23]
HolybrookCivil parish7,162West BerkshireBradfield
Rural District		[22]
[23]
HungerfordTown5,559West BerkshireHungerford
Rural District		[26]
[23]
InkpenCivil parish877West BerkshireHungerford
Rural District		[26]
[23]
KintburyCivil parish2,593West BerkshireHungerford
Rural District		[26]
[23]
LambournCivil parish4,017West BerkshireHungerford
Rural District		[26]
[23]
LeckhampsteadCivil parish315West BerkshireNewbury
Rural District		[25]
[23]
MidghamCivil parish282West BerkshireNewbury
Rural District		[25]
[23]
NewburyTown28,339West BerkshireNewbury Municipal Borough[27]
[23]
PadworthCivil parish548West BerkshireBradfield
Rural District		[22]
[23]
PangbourneCivil parish2,981West BerkshireBradfield
Rural District		[22]
[23]
PeasemoreCivil parish297West BerkshireWantage
Rural District		[24]
[23]
Purley on ThamesCivil parish4,232West BerkshireBradfield
Rural District		[22]
[23]
Shaw cum DonningtonCivil parish1,680West BerkshireNewbury
Rural District		[25]
[23]
SpeenCivil parish2,634West BerkshireNewbury
Rural District		[25]
[23]
Stanford DingleyCivil parish209West BerkshireBradfield
Rural District		[22]
[23]
Stratfield MortimerCivil parish3,584West BerkshireBradfield
Rural District		[22]
[23]
StreatleyCivil parish974West BerkshireBradfield
Rural District		[22]
[23]
SulhamCivil parish80West BerkshireBradfield
Rural District		[22]
[23]
SulhamsteadCivil parish1,248West BerkshireBradfield
Rural District		[22]
[23]
ThatchamTown22,824West BerkshireNewbury
Rural District		[25]
[23]
ThealeCivil parish2,771West BerkshireBradfield
Rural District		[22]
[23]
TidmarshCivil parish391West BerkshireBradfield
Rural District		[22]
[23]
TilehurstCivil parish14,683West BerkshireBradfield
Rural District		[22]
[23]
Ufton NervetCivil parish321West BerkshireBradfield
Rural District		[22]
[23]
WasingCivil parish55West BerkshireNewbury
Rural District		[25]
[23]
WelfordCivil parish522West BerkshireNewbury
Rural District		[25]
[23]
West IlsleyCivil parish340West BerkshireWantage
Rural District		[24]
[23]
West WoodhayCivil parish100West BerkshireHungerford
Rural District		[26]
[23]
WinterbourneCivil parish206West BerkshireNewbury
Rural District		[25]
[23]
WokefieldCivil parish325West BerkshireBradfield
Rural District		[22]
[23]
WoolhamptonCivil parish725West BerkshireNewbury
Rural District		[25]
[23]
YattendonCivil parish378West BerkshireBradfield
Rural District		[22]
[23]
BishamCivil parish1,149Windsor and MaidenheadCookham
Rural District		[28]
[29]
BrayCivil parish8,425Windsor and MaidenheadCookham
Rural District		[28]
[29]
CookhamCivil parish5,519Windsor and MaidenheadCookham
Rural District		[28]
[29]
Cox GreenCivil parish7,203Windsor and MaidenheadMaidenhead Municipal Borough[30]
[29]
DatchetCivil parish4,646Windsor and MaidenheadEton
Rural District		[16]
[29]
EtonTown4,980Windsor and MaidenheadEton Urban District[31]
[29]
HortonCivil parish983Windsor and MaidenheadEton
Rural District		[16]
[29]
HurleyCivil parish1,854Windsor and MaidenheadCookham
Rural District		[28]
[29]
MaidenheadUnparished area42,827Windsor and MaidenheadMaidenhead Municipal Borough[30]
[32]
New WindsorUnparished area26,885Windsor and MaidenheadNew Windsor Municipal Borough[33]
[34]
Old WindsorCivil parish4,775Windsor and MaidenheadWindsor
Rural District		[35]
[29]
ShottesbrookeCivil parish154Windsor and MaidenheadCookham
Rural District		[28]
[29]
SunningdaleCivil parish4,875Windsor and MaidenheadWindsor
Rural District		[35]
[29]
Sunninghill and AscotCivil parish11,603Windsor and MaidenheadWindsor
Rural District		[35]
[29]
[36]
Waltham St LawrenceCivil parish1,232Windsor and MaidenheadCookham
Rural District		[28]
[29]
White WalthamCivil parish2,875Windsor and MaidenheadCookham
Rural District		[28]
[29]
WraysburyCivil parish3,641Windsor and MaidenheadEton
Rural District		[16]
[29]
Arborfield and NewlandCivil parish2,228WokinghamWokingham
Rural District		[37]
[38]
BarkhamCivil parish3,511WokinghamWokingham
Rural District		[37]
[38]
CharvilCivil parish2,990WokinghamWokingham
Rural District		[37]
[38]
EarleyTown32,036WokinghamWokingham
Rural District		[37]
[38]
FinchampsteadCivil parish12,334WokinghamWokingham
Rural District		[37]
[38]
RemenhamCivil parish547WokinghamWokingham
Rural District		[37]
[38]
RuscombeCivil parish1,027WokinghamWokingham
Rural District		[37]
[38]
ShinfieldCivil parish8,136WokinghamWokingham
Rural District		[37]
[38]
SonningCivil parish1,445WokinghamWokingham
Rural District		[37]
[38]
St Nicholas HurstCivil parish2,008WokinghamWokingham
Rural District		[37]
[38]
SwallowfieldCivil parish1,961WokinghamWokingham
Rural District		[37]
[38]
TwyfordCivil parish6,216WokinghamWokingham
Rural District		[37]
[38]
WargraveCivil parish3,910WokinghamWokingham
Rural District		[37]
[38]
WinnershCivil parish7,939WokinghamWokingham
Rural District		[37]
[38]
WokinghamTown30,403WokinghamWokingham Municipal Borough[39]
[38]
Wokingham WithoutCivil parish7,099WokinghamWokingham
Rural District		[37]
[38]
WoodleyTown26,439WokinghamWokingham
Rural District		[37]
[38]
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See also

References
  1. Angus Winchester, 2000, Discovering Parish Boundaries. Shire Publications. Princes Risborough, 96 pages ISBN 978-0747804703
  2. RAC Foundation : What Went Wrong? British Highway Development Before Motorways Retrieved 22 August 2009
  3. The Victorian Web : The Poor Law : Introduction Retrieved 22 August 2009
  4. Staffordshire University : Poor Law Unions and Registration Districts Archived 2012-09-14 at Archive.today Retrieved 22 August 2009
  5. A Vision of Britain Through Time : Status Details for Rural Sanitary District Retrieved 22 August 2009
  6. Robert Tittler, The Reformation and the Towns in England, 1998, Oxford University Press, 395 pages, ISBN 9780198207184
  7. Modern British Surnames : Selected Events in the History of Civil Registration and Boundary Changes 1801-1996 Archived August 1, 2010, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 22 August 2009
  8. 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
  9. Office of Public Sector Information : Local Government Act 1972 Archived 2012-12-05 at Archive.today Retrieved 22 August 2009
  10. Office of Public Sector Information : Local Government and Rating Act 1997 Archived 2012-08-05 at Archive.today Retrieved 22 August 2009
  11. Office of Public Sector Information : Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 Archived 2012-08-05 at Archive.today Retrieved 22 August 2009
  12. A Vision of Britain Through Time : Easthampstead Rural District Archived 2011-05-14 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 3 November 2010
  13. Office for National Statistics: Census 2001: Parish Headcounts: Bracknell Forest Retrieved 3 November 2010
  14. A Vision of Britain Through Time : Reading County Borough Retrieved 3 November 2010
  15. Office for National Statistics : Census 2001 : Table KS01 : Usual Resident Population Archived 2015-04-22 at the Wayback Machine Abbey; Battle; Caversham; Church; Katesgrove; Kentwood; Mapledurham; Minster; Norcot; Park; Peppard; Redlands; Southcote; Thames; Tilehurst; and Whitley wards. Retrieved 3 November 2010
  16. A Vision of Britain Through Time : Eton Rural District Archived 2009-08-04 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 3 November 2010
  17. Office for National Statistics : Census 2001 : Parish Headcounts : Slough Retrieved 3 November 2010
  18. The Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Surrey (County Boundaries) Order 1994
  19. including Britwell and Wexham Court which were separate parishes until 2019
  20. A Vision of Britain Through Time : Slough Municipal Borough Retrieved 3 November 2010
  21. Office for National Statistics : Census 2001 : Table KS01 : Usual Resident Population Archived 2015-04-22 at the Wayback Machine Baylis and Stoke; Britwell (part); Central; Chalvey; Cippenham Green; Cippenham Meadows; Farnham; Foxborough; Haymill; Kedermister; Langley St Mary's; Upton; and Wexham Lea (part) wards. Retrieved 3 November 2010
  22. A Vision of Britain Through Time : Bradfield Rural District Archived 2011-05-14 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 3 November 2010
  23. Office for National Statistics : Census 2010 : Parish Headcounts : West Berkshire Retrieved 3 November 2010
  24. A Vision of Britain Through Time : Wantage Rural District Retrieved 3 November 2010
  25. A Vision of Britain Through Time : Newbury Rural District Retrieved 3 November 2010
  26. A Vision of Britain Through Time : Hungerford Rural District Retrieved 3 November 2010
  27. A Vision of Britain Through Time : Newbury Municipal Borough Retrieved 3 November 2010
  28. A Vision of Britain Through Time : Cookham Rural District Archived 2011-05-14 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 3 November 2010
  29. Office for National Statistics : Census 2001 : Parish Headcounts : Windsor and Maidenhead" Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 3 November 2010
  30. A Vision of Britain Through Time : Maidenhead Municipal Borough Retrieved 3 November 2010
  31. A Vision of Britain Through Time : Eton Urban District Retrieved 3 November 2010
  32. Office for National Statistics : Census 2001 : Table KS01 : Usual Resident Population Archived 2015-04-22 at the Wayback Machine Belmont; Boyn Hill; Furze Platt; Maidenhead Riverside; Oldfield; and Pinkneys Green wards. Retrieved 3 November 2010
  33. A Vision of Britain Through Time : New Windsor Municipal Borough Archived 2007-09-30 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 3 November 2010
  34. Office for National Statistics : Census 2001 : Table KS01 : Usual Resident Population Archived 2015-04-22 at the Wayback Machine Castle Without; Clewer East; Clewer North (part); Clewer South (part); Eton and Castle (part); and Park wards. Retrieved 3 November 2010
  35. A Vision of Britain Through Time : Windsor Rural District Archived 2007-09-30 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 3 November 2010
  36. Office of the Deputy Prime Minister: Bulletin of Changes to Local Authority Areas in England: Orders Made Between 1 April 2004 and 31 March 2005: District Council Notices of the Change of Name of a Parish Under Section 75 of the Local Government Act 1975 Archived March 14, 2012, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 3 November 2010
  37. A Vision of Britain Through Time : Wokingham Rural District Retrieved 3 November 2010
  38. Office for National Statistics : Census 2001 : Parish Headcounts : Wokingham" Retrieved 3 November 2010
  39. A Vision of Britain Through Time : Wokingham Municipal Borough Retrieved 3 November 2010
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