Metropolitan Borough of Bethnal Green
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| Bethnal Green | |
 Borough seal |
|
 Bethnal Green within the County of London |
|
| Geography | |
| Status | Metropolitan borough |
| 1911/1961 area | 759 acres |
| 1931 area | 760 acres |
| HQ | Patriot Square |
| History | |
| Origin | Bethnal Green parish |
| Created | 1900 |
| Abolished | 1965 |
| Succeeded by | London Borough of Tower Hamlets |
| Demography | |
|---|---|
| 1911 population - 1911 density |
128,183 169/acre |
| 1931 population - 1931 density |
108,194 142/acre |
| 1961 population - 1961 density |
47,078 62/acre |
| Politics | |
| Governance | Bethnal Green Borough Council |
The Metropolitan Borough of Bethnal Green was a metropolitan borough in the County of London between 1900 and 1965, when it was merged into the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It was created by the London Government Act 1899. It bordered Hackney, Poplar, Stepney, and Shoreditch.
Contents |
[edit] Borough seal
The borough seal depicted a scene based on The Beggar's Daughter of Bednall Green, a poem in Percy’s Reliques of Ancient English Poetry, published in 1765, but probably dating from the era of Elizabeth I. According to the legend related in the poem, a blind beggar living in Bethnal Green was in fact Henry de Montfort, eldest son of Simon de Montfort, having escaped from the field of the Battle of Evesham in 1265. His identity was revealed at the wedding feast of his daughter Bessie[1].
[edit] Politics
In the first election to the borough council, held on November 1, 1900 the Progressives gained a majority, with 22 of the 30 councillors. The Moderates (supported by the Conservative party) formed the 8 member opposition group. The Progressives increased their majority to 24 at the 1903 elections, and in 1906 they won all the seats on the council. The Progressives held the council against the Municipal Reform Party until 1919 when the Labour party gained a majority. Progressive and Liberals regained control at the 1925 election, holding power until 1934.
In 1934, Labour again took control, and from that date held all the seats on the council until the borough's abolition.[2]
For parliamentary elections, Bethnal Green was divided into two constituencies in 1885. Each consisted of two wards of the borough and earlier vestry:
- Bethnal Green North East (north and east wards)
- Bethnal Green South West (south and west wards).
In 1950, the borough's representation was decreased to a single constituency of Bethnal Green, which also included three wards from the neighbouring Metropolitan Borough of Hackney.
[edit] Population and area
The area of the borough was 760 acres (3.1 km²). The populations recorded in National Censuses were:
Bethnal Green Civil Parish 1801-1899
| Year[3] | 1801 | 1811 | 1821 | 1831 | 1841 | 1851 | 1861 | 1871 | 1881 | 1891 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 22,310 | 33,619 | 45,676 | 62,018 | 74,088 | 90,193 | 105,101 | 120,104 | 126,961 | 129,132 |
Metropolitan Borough 1900-1961
| Year[4] | 1901 | 1911 | 1921 | 1931 | 1941 | 1951 | 1961 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 129,680 | 128,183 | 117,238 | 108,194 | [5] | 58,353 | 47,078 |
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Blind Beggar of Bethnal Green (East London History) accessed 3 Dec 2007
- ^ Election results as reported in The Times, 3 November, 1900; 4 November 1903; November 3, 1906; November 2, 1909; November 2, 1912; November 4, 1919; November 4, 1925; November 3, 1928; November 4, 1931; November 3, 1934; November 3, 1937; November 2, 1945; May 7, 1949; May 7, 1953; May 11, 1956; May 8, 1959; May 12, 1962
- ^ Statistical Abstract for London, 1901 (Vol. IV).
- ^ Bethnal Green MetB: Census Tables at Vision of Britain accessed on 14 Dec 2006
- ^ The census was suspended for World War II
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