South Molton 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rural district Rural districts were a type of local government area – now superseded – established at the end of the 19th century in England, Wales, and Ireland for the administration of predominantly rural areas at a level lower than that of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 administrative county of Devon, England, from 1894 to 1974, covering an area in the north of the county. The district was named after the town of South Molton and had its offices there. The town itself was initially excluded from the rural district, being a self-governing municipal borough. In 1967 the town was absorbed into the district. The district was abolished in 1974, when the area became part of the new district of

North Devon North Devon is a local government district in Devon, England. North Devon Council is based in Barnstaple. Other towns and villages in the North Devon District include Braunton, Fremington, Ilfracombe, Instow, South Molton, Lynton and Lynmouth ...

History

The district had its origins in the South Molton Poor Law Union, which had been created in 1835 covering South Molton 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 for rural areas 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 ...

of poor law unions. The South Molton Rural Sanitary District therefore covered the area of the poor law union except for the town of South Molton, which as a municipal borough formed its own urban authority. The South Molton Rural Sanitary District was administered from South Molton Union Workhouse, which had been built in 1837–1838 on North Road in South Molton. Under the Local Government Act 1894, rural sanitary districts became rural districts from 28 December 1894. The South Molton Rural District Council held its first meeting on 3 January 1895 at the workhouse. John Mortimer of Chittlehampton was appointed the first chairman of the council. On 1 April 1966 part of Brushford and East Anstey parishes were transferred to

Dulverton Rural District Dulverton was a rural district in Somerset, England, from 1894 to 1974. It was created in 1894 under the Local Government Act 1894. In 1974 it was abolished under the Local Government Act 1972 and responsibilities transferred to West Somerset ...

. On 1 April 1967 the town of South Molton was added to the South Molton Rural District as a

rural borough The Local Government Act 1958 (6 & 7 Eliz.2 c.55) was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom affecting local government in England and Wales outside London. Among its provisions it included the establishment of Local Government Commissio ...

. South Molton Rural District was abolished in 1974 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 ...

. The area was merged with the neighbouring

Barnstaple Rural District Barnstaple Rural District was a rural district in the administrative county of Devon, England, from 1894 to 1974, covering a coastal area in the north of the county. Whilst the district was named after the town of Barnstaple and had its offic ...

and the borough of

Barnstaple Barnstaple ( or ) is a river-port town in North Devon, England, at the River Taw's lowest crossing point before the Bristol Channel. From the 14th century, it was licensed to export wool and won great wealth. Later it imported Irish wool, bu ...

and urban districts of Ilfracombe and Lynton to become

Premises

The council's offices were at 7 East Street in South Molton, which was also the office of the solicitor who acted as clerk to the council. In 1937 the council bought the neighbouring house at 8 East Street to serve as additional offices. Meetings continued to be held in the boardroom at the workhouse until 1950 when it was converted into the Beech House care home following the creation of the National Health Service. The council then moved its meeting place to a room rented from the town council at its offices at 1 East Street.

References

{{Reflist Districts of England created by the Local Government Act 1894 Districts of England abolished by the Local Government Act 1972 History of Devon Rural districts of England North Devon