Garstang Rural District was a

rural district Rural districts were a type of local government area – now superseded – established at the end of the 19th century in England, Wales, and Ireland for the administration of predominantly rural areas at a level lower than that of the Ad ...

in the county of Lancashire, England from 1894 to 1974.

Origins

The district had its origins in the

Garstang Garstang is an ancient market town and civil parish within the Wyre borough of Lancashire, England. It is north of the city of Preston and the same distance south of Lancaster. In 2011, the parish had a total resident population of 4,268 ...

Poor Law Union, which had been created in 1837, covering Garstang itself and several surrounding parishes. In 1872

sanitary districts Sanitary districts were established in England and Wales in 1872 and in Ireland in 1878. The districts were of two types, based on existing structures: *Urban sanitary districts in towns with existing local government bodies *Rural sanitary dis ...

were established, giving public health and local government responsibilities to the existing

boards of guardians Boards of guardians were ''ad hoc'' authorities that administered Poor Law in the United Kingdom from 1835 to 1930. England and Wales Boards of guardians were created by the Poor Law Amendment Act 1834, replacing the parish overseers of the poor ...

for the rural parts of their poor law unions that were not already covered by an urban authority. As there were no urban authorities within the Garstang Poor Law Union, the Garstang Rural Sanitary District covered the same area. Under the Local Government Act 1894, rural sanitary districts became rural districts from 28 December 1894.

Premises

In its early years the council met at Garstang Town Hall. In 1913 the council built itself new Council Offices at 52 High Street (later renumbered 96 High Street) at a cost of £2,806. The building was formally opened on 18 December 1913 and served as the council's headquarters until the district's abolition in 1974.

Abolition

Garstang Rural District was abolished under the

Local Government Act 1972 The Local Government Act 1972 (c. 70) is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales on 1 April 1974. It was one of the most significant Acts of Parliament to be passed by the Heath Gov ...

, with the area becoming part of the new Borough of Wyre on 1 April 1974. The council's former offices in Garstang subsequently became a community centre.

References

{{authority control History of Lancashire Districts of England created by the Local Government Act 1894 Districts of England abolished by the Local Government Act 1972 Rural districts of England