| Districts of Somerset All unitary authorities |
|---|
| 1 Somerset |
| 2 North Somerset |
| 3 Bath and North East Somerset |
The ceremonial county of Somerset, England is divided into 417 areas known as civil parishes, which are lowest unit of local government in England. Parishes arose from Church of England divisions, and were given their current powers and responsibilities by the Local Government Act 1894.[1] The Local Government Act 1972 retained civil parishes in rural areas. Many former urban districts and municipal boroughs were replaced by new successor parishes; urban areas that were considered too large to be single parishes became unparished areas.[2]
The ceremonial county of Somerset is currently governed by three unitary authorities: Bath and North East Somerset Council (B&NES), North Somerset Council, and Somerset Council.[3]
Modern local government in Somerset began in 1889, when an administrative county was created and Somerset County Council was established; Bath was administered separately as a county borough.
In 1974, the county and council were abolished and replaced by two two-tier non-metropolitan counties, Somerset and Avon.[4] Somerset was governed by a reconstituted county council and five districts: Mendip, Sedgemoor, South Somerset, Taunton Deane and West Somerset. Taunton Deane was granted borough status that same year. Avon consisted of six districts, of which three were created from areas formerly part of Somerset: Woodspring, Wansdyke, and Bath.[5]
In 1996, Avon was abolished and its districts were renamed and reorganised into unitary authorities. Woodspring was renamed 'North Somerset' and Wansdyke and Bath were abolished and a new district covering the same area created, named 'Bath and North East Somerset'.[6] In 1997 the two districts and non-metropolitan county became part of the new ceremonial county of Somerset.[7] On 1 September 2019 the non-metropolitan districts of West Somerset and Taunton Deane merged, with the new district being called Somerset West and Taunton.[8]
In 2023, the non-metropolitan county was reorganised by abolishing the four districts and their councils and reconstituting Somerset County Council as a unitary authority for the non-metropolitan county, with the powers of both a district and county council, renamed Somerset Council.[9] The two existing unitary authorities were not altered.[10]
The city of Bath is the largest centre of population in Bath and North East Somerset. Areas of the city that were formerly within the Bath County Borough are now unparished, but the rest of the authority is divided into 49 parishes. All of North Somerset, the other unitary authority, is covered by its 39 parishes ranging from the village Loxton with a population of 192,[11] to the town of Weston-super-Mare with 76,143 inhabitants.[11]
In the Somerset unitary authority area, the largest settlement is Taunton, with a population of 60,479. All the district is parished.
History
Parishes arose from Church of England divisions, and were originally purely ecclesiastical divisions. Over time they acquired civil administration powers.[12] 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. 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.[13] The 19th century saw an increase in the responsibility of parishes, although the Poor Law powers were transferred to Poor Law Unions.[14] 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.[15] Parishes were run by vestries, meeting annually to appoint officials, and were generally identical to ecclesiastical parishes,[16] although some townships in large parishes administered the Poor Law themselves; under the Parishes Act 1882, all extra-parochial areas and townships that levied a separate rate became independent civil parishes.[17]
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.[17] 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.[18] 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.[19]
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.[20] A parish council can become a town council unilaterally, simply by resolution;[19] and a civil parish can also gain city status, but only if that is granted by the Crown.[19] The chairman of a town or city council is called a mayor.[19] There are currently 28 civil parishes in the county with the status of a town, and one (Wells) with city status. 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.[21]
Bath and North East Somerset
The area of the city of Bath which was part of Bath County Borough is unparished.
North Somerset
The whole of the district is parished.
Somerset (district)
The whole of the district is parished.
See also
- List of civil parishes in England
- List of ecclesiastical parishes in the Diocese of Bath and Wells
References
- "The Parish Councils Bill". The Times. 27 March 1893. p. 8.
- HMSO. Local Government Act 1972. 1972 c.70
- "Somerset Records Office". The History of the Somerset Archives Service. Somerset Archives Service. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
- "Local Government Act 1972" (PDF). legislation.gov.uk.
- "The English Non-Metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972, part 1; part 33". legislation.gov.uk.
- "The Avon (Structural Change) Order 1995, part II". legislation.gov.uk.
- "Lieutenancies Act 1997, schedule 1". legislation.gov.uk.
- "Somerset councils merger approved by government". BBC News. 29 May 2018. Archived from the original on 2 June 2018.
- "The Somerset (Structural Changes) Order 2022, part 2". legislation.gov.uk.
- "Next steps for new unitary councils in Cumbria, North Yorkshire and Somerset". GOV.UK.
- "2011 Census Profile" (Excel). North Somerset Council. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 January 2017.
- Winchester, Angus (2000). Discovering Parish Boundaries. Princes Risborough: Shire Publications. ISBN 978-0-7478-0470-3.
- "The Poor Law : Introduction". The Victorian Web. Archived from the original on 11 April 2010.
- "The New Poor Law". The Workhouse. Archived from the original on 12 October 2016.
- "A Vision of Britain Through Time : Status Details for Rural Sanitary District". Great Britain Historical GIS Project 2004/University of Portsmouth. Data Office for National Statistics, for England and Wales. Archived from the original on 14 May 2011.
- Tittler, Robert (1998). The Reformation and the Towns in England: Politics and Political Culture, c.1540–1640. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-820718-4.
- "Modern British Surnames : Selected Events in the History of Civil Registration and Boundary Changes 1801–1996". Archived from the original on 20 August 2008.
- MacMorran, Alexander; Colquhoun Dill, T. R. (1907). The Local Government Act 1894 and the Subsequent Statutes Affecting Parish Councils. London: Butterworth and Co.
- "Local Government Act 1972". Office of Public Sector Information.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - "Local Government and Rating Act 1997". Office of Public Sector Information. Archived from the original on 8 May 2016.
- "Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007". Office of Public Sector Information. Archived from the original on 1 February 2017.
- "Bathampton Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014.
- "Bathavon RD". A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth. Archived from the original on 13 October 2013.
- "Batheaston Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014.
- "Bathford Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014.
- "Camerton Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014.
- "Charlcombe Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014.
- "Chelwood Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014.
- "Clutton RD". A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth. Archived from the original on 13 October 2013.
- "Chew Magna Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014.
- "Chew Stoke Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
- "Claverton Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014.
- "Clutton Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014.
- "Combe Hay Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
- "Compton Dando Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
- "Keynsham UD". A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth. Archived from the original on 13 October 2013.
- "Compton Martin Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
- "Corston Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014.
- "Dunkerton Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014.
- "East Harptree Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014.
- "Englishcombe Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014.
- "Farmborough Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014.
- "Farrington Gurney Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014.
- "Freshford Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014.
- "High Littleton Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014.
- "Hinton Blewett Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014.
- "Hinton Charterhouse Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014.
- "Kelston Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014.
- "Keynsham Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014.
- "Marksbury Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014.
- "Midsomer Norton Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014.
- "Norton Radstock UD". A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth. Archived from the original on 5 January 2014.
- "Monkton Combe Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014.
- "Nempnett Thrubwell Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014.
- "Newton St Loe Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014.
- "Norton Malreward Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014.
- "Paulton Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014.
- "Peasedown St John Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014.
- "Priston Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014.
- "Publow Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014.
- "Radstock Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014.
- "Saltford Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014.
- "Shoscombe Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014.
- "Southstoke Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014.
- "Stanton Drew Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014.
- "Stowey-Sutton Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014.
- "Swainswick Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014.
- "Cameley Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014.
- "Timsbury Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014.
- "Ubley Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014.
- "Wellow Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014.
- "Westfield Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014.
- "West Harptree Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014.
- "Whitchurch Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014.
- "Long Ashton RD". A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth. Archived from the original on 12 October 2013.
- "Axbridge RD". A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth. Archived from the original on 13 October 2013.
- "Clevedon UD". A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth. Archived from the original on 13 October 2013.
- "Portishead". ONS.
- "Mendip Parish Population Statistics" (PDF). ONS Census 2001. Somerset County Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 November 2009.
- "Ashwick Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014.
- "Shepton Mallet RD". A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth. Archived from the original on 5 January 2014.
- "Baltonsborough Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014.
- "Wells RD". A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth. Archived from the original on 5 January 2014.
- "Batcombe Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014.
- "Beckington Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014.
- "Frome RD". A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth. Archived from the original on 16 October 2013.
- "Berkley Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014.
- "Binegar Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014.
- "Buckland Dinham Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
- "Butleigh Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014.
- "Chewton Mendip Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014.
- "Chilcompton Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014.
- "Coleford Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014.
- "Cranmore Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014.
- "Croscombe Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014.
- "Ditcheat Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014.
- "Doulting Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014.
- "East Pennard Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
- "Emborough Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014.
- "Evercreech Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014.
- "Frome Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014.
- "Glastonbury Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014.
- "Glastonbury MB". A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth. Archived from the original on 5 January 2014.
- "Godney Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 6 September 2015.
- "Great Elm Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
- "Hemington Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014.
- "Holcombe Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014.
- "Kilmersdon Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014.
- "Lamyat Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014.
- "Leigh-on-Mendip Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014.
- "Litton Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014.
- "Lullington Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014.
- "Lydford-on-Fosse Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014.
- "Meare Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014.
- "Mells Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014.
- "North Wootton Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
- "Norton St Philip Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
- "Nunney Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014.
- "Pilton Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014.
- "Priddy Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014.
- "Pylle Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014.
- "Rode Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014.
- "Rodney Stoke Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
- "Selwood Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014.
- "Sharpham Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014.
- "Shepton Mallet Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
- "Shepton Mallet UD". A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth. Archived from the original on 13 October 2013.
- "St Cuthbert Out Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
- "Stoke St Michael Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
- "Ston Easton Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
- "Stratton on the Fosse Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
- "Street Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014.
- "Street UD". A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth. Archived from the original on 5 January 2014.
- "Tellisford Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014.
- "Trudoxhill Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014.
- "Upton Noble Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
- "Walton Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014.
- "Wanstrow Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014.
- "Wells Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014.
- "West Bradley Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
- "West Pennard Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
- "Westbury Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014.
- "Whatley Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014.
- "Witham Friary Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics.
- "Wookey Parish". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 2 January 2014.
- "Statistics for Wards, LSOAs and Parishes — SUMMARY Profiles". Somerset Intelligence. Archived from the original (Excel) on 4 January 2014.
- "Bridgwater (Rural District) through time". A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth. Archived from the original on 21 October 2013.
- "Burnham UD". A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth. Archived from the original on 5 January 2014.
- "Wincanton RD". A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth. Archived from the original on 5 January 2014.
- "Langport RD". A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth. Archived from the original on 5 January 2014.
- "Yeovil RD". A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth. Archived from the original on 8 December 2013.
- "Chard RD". A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth. Archived from the original on 5 January 2014.
- "Crewkerne UD". A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth. Archived from the original on 5 January 2014.
- "Bulletin of change 2014 Final" (PDF). Lgbce. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 March 2018.
- "Yeovil MB". A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth. Archived from the original on 5 January 2014.
- "The South Somerset (Reorganisation of Community Governance) Order 2022" (PDF). Local Government Boundary Commission for England. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 March 2022.
- "Wellington RD". A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth. Archived from the original on 30 December 2013.
- "Taunton RD". A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth. Archived from the original on 6 January 2014.
- "Williton RD". A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth. Archived from the original on 6 January 2014.
- "Dulverton RD". A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth. Archived from the original on 13 October 2013.
- "Statistics for Wards, LSOAs and Parishes — SUMMARY Profiles". Somerset Intelligence. Archived from the original (Excel) on 4 January 2014.
- "Taunton RD". A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth. Archived from the original on 6 January 2014.
- "Wellington RD". A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth. Archived from the original on 30 December 2013.
- "Minehead UD". A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth. Archived from the original on 6 January 2014.
- "Watchet UD". A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth. Archived from the original on 6 January 2014.
- "Wellington UD". A vision of Britain Through Time. University of Portsmouth. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014.