Wiltshire County Council (established in 1889) was the

county council A county council is the elected administrative body governing an area known as a county. This term has slightly different meanings in different countries. Ireland The county councils created under British rule in 1899 continue to exist in Irela ...

Wiltshire Wiltshire (; abbreviated Wilts) is a historic and ceremonial county in South West England with an area of . It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset to the southwest, Somerset to the west, Hampshire to the southeast, Gloucestershire ...

in the

South West of England South West England, or the South West of England, is one of nine official regions of England. It consists of the counties of Bristol, Cornwall (including the Isles of Scilly), Dorset, Devon, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire. Cities an ...

, an elected local Government body responsible for most local government services in the county. As a result of the 2009 restructuring of local government in some parts of England, the council was merged with four district councils into a new

unitary authority A unitary authority is a local authority responsible for all local government functions within its area or performing additional functions that elsewhere are usually performed by a higher level of sub-national government or the national governmen ...

for Wiltshire with effect from 1 April 2009. This was treated as a "continuing authority" and covers exactly the same area, although renamed "

Wiltshire Council Wiltshire Council is a council for the unitary authority of Wiltshire (excluding the separate unitary authority of Swindon) in South West England, created in 2009. It is the successor authority to Wiltshire County Council (1889–2009) and the ...

". At first almost all departments continued little changed, but after 2009 most services were substantially changed and relocated into fewer buildings around Wiltshire.

History

County Councils were first introduced in

England and Wales England and Wales () is one of the three legal jurisdictions of the United Kingdom. It covers the constituent countries England and Wales and was formed by the Laws in Wales Acts 1535 and 1542. The substantive law of the jurisdiction is Eng ...

with full powers from 22 September 1889 as a result of the

Local Government Act 1888 Local may refer to: Geography and transportation * Local (train), a train serving local traffic demand * Local, Missouri, a community in the United States * Local government, a form of public administration, usually the lowest tier of administrat ...

, taking over administrative functions until then carried out by the unelected

Quarter Sessions The courts of quarter sessions or quarter sessions were local courts traditionally held at four set times each year in the Kingdom of England from 1388 (extending also to Wales following the Laws in Wales Act 1535). They were also established in ...

.John Edwards, 'County' in ''

Chambers's Encyclopaedia ''Chambers's Encyclopaedia'' was founded in 1859Chambers, W. & R"Concluding Notice"in ''Chambers's Encyclopaedia''. London: W. & R. Chambers, 1868, Vol. 10, pp. v–viii. by William and Robert Chambers of Edinburgh and became one of the most ...

'' (London: George Newnes, 1955), pp. 189–191 The areas they covered were termed

administrative counties An administrative county was a first-level administrative division in England and Wales from 1888 to 1974, and in Ireland from 1899 until either 1973 (in Northern Ireland) or 2002 (in the Republic of Ireland). They are now abolished, although mos ...

and were not in all cases identical to the traditional shire counties, but in Wiltshire the whole 'ceremonial county' came under the authority of the new council. The first elections to the new county council were held on 23 January 1889, with sixty seats available, but only thirty-two of them were contested. Among those elected unopposed were the 4th Marquess of Bath, the 13th Earl of Pembroke, the 18th Earl of Suffolk,

Sir Thomas Grove, 1st Baronet Sir Thomas Frazer Grove, 1st Baronet (27 November 1823 – 14 January 1897) was an English Liberal politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1868 and 1892. Grove was the son of John Grove of Ferne House, near Salisbury and his wife Jea ...

, M. P.,

Sir Charles Hobhouse, 4th Baronet Sir Charles Edward Henry Hobhouse, 4th Baronet, TD, PC, JP (30 June 1862 – 26 June 1941) was a British Liberal politician and officer in the Territorial Force. He was a member of the Liberal cabinet of H. H. Asquith between 1911 and 191 ...

, and Sir R. H. Pollen, Bart.''

The Times ''The Times'' is a British daily national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its current name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its sister paper ''The Sunday Times'' (fou ...

'', 19 January 1889; p. 12; col A. The first provisional meeting of the council was held at Devizes on 31 January 1889, with all of the members present, when Lord Bath was elected as chairman. Several voting

aldermen An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members them ...

were appointed, all from outside the elected members of the council. In 1896 the County Council acquired Arlington House in The Parade in Trowbridge as a base for many of its employees; later extensions included a block of offices on land behind the building, completed in 1900, and another block of offices near the building completed in 1913.H. F. Chettle, W. R. Powell, P. A. Spalding, P. M. Tillott, 'Parishes: Trowbridge', in ''A History of the County of Wiltshire'', Vol. 7 (London: 1953)
pp. 125–171
at British History Online, accessed 23 August 2019 Schools, both elementary and higher-grade, were added to the County Council's responsibilities by the

Education Act 1902 The Education Act 1902 ( 2 Edw. 7 c. 42), also known as the Balfour Act, was a highly controversial Act of Parliament that set the pattern of elementary education in England and Wales for four decades. It was brought to Parliament by a Conservat ...

, which created

local education authorities Local education authorities (LEAs) were local councils in England that are responsible for education within their jurisdiction. The term was used to identify which council (district or county) is locally responsible for education in a system wit ...

to replace the earlier School Boards. And until the 1990s the county council was also responsible for operating Colleges of Further Education. In 1930, the members of the county council decided by 45 votes to 27 to build a new county hall in

Devizes Devizes is a market town and civil parish in Wiltshire, England. It developed around Devizes Castle, an 11th-century Norman architecture, Norman castle, and received a charter in 1141. The castle was besieged during the Anarchy, a 12th-century ...

, which is near the geographical centre of Wiltshire, and not at

Trowbridge Trowbridge ( ) is the county town of Wiltshire, England, on the River Biss in the west of the county. It is near the border with Somerset and lies southeast of Bath, 31 miles (49 km) southwest of Swindon and 20 miles (32 km) southe ...

, very near its western edge. However, construction was delayed, and in 1933 the decision was reversed in favour of Trowbridge, on the grounds that it was better served by rail services. A site of several acres was bought for £1,650 in Bythesea Road, Trowbridge, not far from the railway station, and the new County Hall, designed by

Philip Dalton Hepworth Philip Dalton Hepworth (12 March 1888 – 21 February 1963) was a British architect. He studied in both the UK and France, at the Architectural Association School of Architecture and the École des Beaux-Arts, and returned to work as an archite ...

, was begun in 1938 and finished in 1940 at a cost of £150,000. Between 1940 and 1943, the new building, built in a pale limestone, was seen as a potential landmark for German aircraft, so it was disguised by covering it with

camouflage Camouflage is the use of any combination of materials, coloration, or illumination for concealment, either by making animals or objects hard to see, or by disguising them as something else. Examples include the leopard's spotted coat, the ...

nets. In 1937, Wiltshire County Council was granted a

coat of arms A coat of arms is a heraldry, heraldic communication design, visual design on an escutcheon (heraldry), escutcheon (i.e., shield), surcoat, or tabard (the latter two being outer garments). The coat of arms on an escutcheon forms the central ele ...

. Throughout its existence, Wiltshire County Council was responsible for the more strategic local services of Wiltshire, with a changing pattern of lower-tier authorities existing alongside it within its area and responsible for other more local services, such as waste collection. Until 1974, Wiltshire had a large number of

urban district Urban district may refer to: * District * Urban area * Quarter (urban subdivision) * Neighbourhood Specific subdivisions in some countries: * Urban districts of Denmark * Urban districts of Germany * Urban district (Great Britain and Ireland) (hist ...

and

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 ...

councils. In 1974, local government was reorganised in England and Wales generally, and in Wiltshire dozens of former urban and rural districts were amalgamated into five district councils:

Kennet Kennet may refer to: Places in the United Kingdom *Kennet, Clackmannanshire, Scotland People *Baron Kennet, a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom * D. Mark Kennet (born 1957), American economist *Josh Kennet (born 1987), English-Israel ...

North Wiltshire North Wiltshire was a local government district in Wiltshire, England, formed on 1 April 1974, by a merger of the municipal boroughs of Calne, Chippenham, and Malmesbury along with Calne and Chippenham Rural District, Cricklade and Wootton Bas ...

Salisbury Salisbury ( ) is a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England with a population of 41,820, at the confluence of the rivers Avon, Nadder and Bourne. The city is approximately from Southampton and from Bath. Salisbury is in the southeast of Wil ...

West Wiltshire West Wiltshire was a local government district in Wiltshire, England, formed on 1 April 1974, further to the Local Government Act 1972, as a merger of the former urban districts of Bradford-on-Avon, Melksham, Trowbridge, Warminster and Westbur ...

and Thamesdown. The council was controlled by the

Conservatives Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilization in ...

from 2000 until 2009, and from 2005 was led by Jane Scott. She became the first leader of the new

Position of Swindon

The

Borough of Swindon The Borough of Swindon is a local government authority in South West England, centred on the urban area and town of Swindon and forming part of the ceremonial county of Wiltshire. History In 1974 the Thamesdown district of Wiltshire was cre ...

, previously known as Thamesdown, remains part of the ceremonial county of Wiltshire. It was part of the county council's area from 1889 until 1997, when it was reorganised into a new single-tier

. This had the effect of taking almost one third of Wiltshire's population out of the administrative county. After 1997, Swindon was still treated as being part of Wiltshire for ceremonial purposes (for instance, it still shares a

Lord Lieutenant A lord-lieutenant ( ) is the British monarch's personal representative in each lieutenancy area of the United Kingdom. Historically, each lieutenant was responsible for organising the county's militia. In 1871, the lieutenant's responsibility ...

), but the County Council no longer provided any local services in Swindon, so members were no longer elected to it from there.

Functions

By the time it was merged into the new

unitary authority, Wiltshire County Council provided a wide range of services, including education,

libraries A library is a collection of materials, books or media that are accessible for use and not just for display purposes. A library provides physical (hard copies) or digital access (soft copies) materials, and may be a physical location or a vir ...

, youth services,

social services Social services are a range of public services intended to provide support and assistance towards particular groups, which commonly include the disadvantaged. They may be provided by individuals, private and independent organisations, or administe ...

, highway maintenance, waste disposal, emergency planning, consumer protection and

town and country planning Town and country planning in the United Kingdom is the part of English land law which concerns land use planning. Its goal is to ensure sustainable economic development and a better environment. Each country of the United Kingdom has its own ...

for matters to do with minerals, waste, highways and education. This made it one of the largest employers in Wiltshire, with an annual budget in 2007 of some £300 million. The working capital still employed by the

Wiltshire Historic Buildings Trust The Wiltshire Historic Buildings Trust (founded in 1967, sometimes abbreviated WHBT) is a charitable organisation which works to preserve the architectural heritage of Wiltshire, in the West of England. History The Trust was formed in 1967, its ...

originated in a single

grant Grant or Grants may refer to: Places *Grant County (disambiguation) Australia * Grant, Queensland, a locality in the Barcaldine Region, Queensland, Australia United Kingdom *Castle Grant United States * Grant, Alabama *Grant, Inyo County, C ...

made by the County Council at the time of the Trust's foundation in 1967, funding which has been described by the Trust's President Lord Lansdowne as "a revolving capital sum".

Elections

Since 1889, members were elected for a term of office, with elections held all together (initially every three years, later every four years) on the "first past the post" system. Until the 1970s, the elected members chose

, whose term of office was for six years, and who once appointed were also voting members of the council. This form of membership was ended by 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 ...

, so that after 1974 only honorary (that is, non-voting) aldermen could be appointed. Until 2005, all of the county's electoral divisions elected a single member, but following a boundary review in 2004 three divisions (

South, Salisbury East, and

East) elected two members each. The final size of the council was forty-nine members. The successor authority, Wiltshire Council, was established in 2009 with a total of ninety-eight members. * 1889 Wiltshire County Council election * 1973 Wiltshire County Council election * 1977 Wiltshire County Council election * 1981 Wiltshire County Council election * 1985 Wiltshire County Council election * 1989 Wiltshire County Council election *

1993 Wiltshire County Council election Elections to Wiltshire County Council were held on 6 May 1993. The whole council was up for election and the result was no overall control, with the Liberal Democrats as the largest party. This resulted in a no-party-control shared administrat ...

* 1997 Wiltshire County Council election * 2001 Wiltshire County Council election * 2005 Wiltshire County Council election

Political control

At its end in 2009, the council consisted of thirty

, fourteen Liberal Democrats, three Labour Party members and two Independents. The Conservatives held most of the more rural areas while the Liberal Democrats held several towns, including

Chippenham Chippenham is a market town A market town is a settlement most common in Europe that obtained by custom or royal charter, in the Middle Ages, a market right, which allowed it to host a regular market; this distinguished it from a village ...

and

Bradford-on-Avon Bradford-on-Avon (sometimes Bradford on Avon or Bradford upon Avon) is a town and civil parish in west Wiltshire, England, near the border with Somerset, which had a population of 9,402 at the 2011 census. The town's canal, historic buildings, s ...

. The divisions of Westbury Ham &

Dilton Marsh Dilton Marsh is a village and Civil parishes in England, civil parish in the far west of the county of Wiltshire, in the southwest of England. The village is about southwest of the centre of the town of Westbury, Wiltshire, Westbury; Dilton Mar ...

and Holt & Paxcroft (both mixed urban and rural areas) elected the two Independents, while the three Labour members held their seats in the city of

and the towns of

Melksham Melksham () is a town on the River Avon in Wiltshire, England, about northeast of Trowbridge and south of Chippenham. At the 2011 census, the Melksham built-up area had a population of 19,357, making it Wiltshire's fifth-largest settlement af ...

and

.Councillors by Name, Division, Party
at wiltshire.gov.uk

History of political control

*May 1973 to May 1985:

Conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilization i ...

''The Times'', 11 May 1985; pg. 2; col C *May 1985 to May 1989: No overall control,

Liberal Liberal or liberalism may refer to: Politics * a supporter of liberalism ** Liberalism by country * an adherent of a Liberal Party * Liberalism (international relations) * Sexually liberal feminism * Social liberalism Arts, entertainment and m ...

/ SDP minority administration with tacit

Labour Labour or labor may refer to: * Childbirth, the delivery of a baby * Labour (human activity), or work ** Manual labour, physical work ** Wage labour, a socioeconomic relationship between a worker and an employer ** Organized labour and the labour ...

support *May 1989 to May 1993: No overall control, informal cross-party administration between the Conservative Party, Liberal Democrats and Labour Party *May 1993 to April 1997: No overall control, minority Liberal Democrat administration *April 1997 to May 1997: Liberal Democrat *May 1997 to May 1998: No overall control, with Liberal Democrat and Labour administration *May 1998 to January 2000: No overall control, with Conservative and

Independent Independent or Independents may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups * Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in the New Hope, Pennsylvania, area of the United States during the early 1930s * Independ ...

administration *January 2000 to 2009: Conservative

2009 changes

Wiltshire's previous "two tier" system of local government was typical of English shire counties, with the area it covered being sub-divided (since the separation of Swindon) into four local government districts. However, the

Department for Communities and Local Government The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), formerly the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), is a department of His Majesty's Government responsible for housing, communities, local government ...

announced on 25 July 2007 that with effect from 1 April 2009 Wiltshire would be served by a new

, replacing the county council and the four district councils. Wiltshire County Council was designated as a "continuing authority", so that it would inherit existing contracts without a break, and its 48 outgoing county councillors remained in office until the 4 June 2009 elections, whereas the district councillors ceased to hold office on 31 March 2009.

Chairmen

See

List of chairmen of Wiltshire County Council This is a list of the Chairmen of Wiltshire County Council and its successor, Wiltshire Council. Indefinite term of office *1889–1896: John Thynne, 4th Marquess of Bath *1896–1906: Lord Edmond Fitzmaurice MP *1906–1946: Thomas Henry ...

List of notable members

Wiltshire County Council Armorial Banner

Jack Ainslie John Bernard Ainslie OBE (2 August 1921 – 5 January 2007), known as Jack Ainslie, was a Wiltshire farmer and Liberal politician, Chairman of Wiltshire County Council from 1986 to 1990. Early life Born at Stanmore, Middlesex, on 2 August 192 ...

1964–1993 (chairman, 1986–1990) *

Nigel Anderson Nigel James Moffatt Anderson, MC, DL, FRGS (1920 – 23 May 2008) was a British soldier, landowner, and Conservative politician in Wiltshire. He was Chairman of Wiltshire County Council from 1979 to 1983 and High Sheriff of Wiltshire in 1991. ...

1953–1983 (chairman, 1980–1985) *

Robert Awdry Robert Awdry (20 May 1881 – 3 February 1949) was an English cricketer who later became chairman of Wiltshire County Council. He played nine first-class matches for Oxford University Cricket Club between 1902 and 1904. The third son of C ...

, chairman 1946–1949 *

John Thynne, 4th Marquess of Bath John Alexander Thynne, 4th Marquess of Bath (1 March 1831 – 20 April 1896), styled Viscount Weymouth between March and June 1837, was a British peer and a diplomat for almost sixty years. Background and education Born in St James's, he was the ...

(chairman, 1889–1896) *

Thomas Thynne, 5th Marquess of Bath Thomas Henry Thynne, 5th Marquess of Bath (15 July 1862 – 9 June 1946), styled Viscount Weymouth until 1896, was a British landowner and Conservative politician. He held ministerial office as Under-Secretary of State for India in 1905 an ...

(chairman, 1906–1946) * Brigadier Robert Baddeley 1989–2001 (chairman, 1999–2000) * Cory Bell, previously Member of Parliament for

* Sir William Roger Brown 1889–1902 *

John Lindow Calderwood John Lindow Calderwood CBE (22 January 1888 – 7 February 1960) was an English solicitor, a British Army officer and an independent politician in Wiltshire, in the west of England. He was chairman of Wiltshire County Council from 1949 until hi ...

(chairman, 1949–1960)Wiltshire County Council, Clerk's Department
at nationalarchives.gov.uk * Sir Henry Langton, later Calley 1955–1973 (chairman, 1969–1974) *

Peter Chalke Peter Frederick Chalke CBE (born 1944) is a business man and Conservative politician in England. Chalke was twice Leader of Wiltshire County Council, standing down the second time in 2003 to become national leader of the Conservatives in the Loc ...

(1982–2005, twice Leader) * Sir Charles C. Chitham 1950s (previously a policeman in British India)''Warminster, Westbury, and District Directory 1960–61'' (B. Lansdown & Sons, 1960), p. 7 * John Manningham-Buller, 2nd Viscount Dilhorne 1967–1970 *

Edmond Fitzmaurice, 1st Baron Fitzmaurice Edmond George Petty-Fitzmaurice, 1st Baron Fitzmaurice, (19 June 184621 June 1935), styled Lord Edmond FitzMaurice from 1863 to 1906, was a British Liberal politician. He served as Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs from 1883 to 188 ...

(chairman, 1896–1906) *

Charles Murray Floyd Charles Murray Floyd, OBE, FLS, FRICS (12 September 1905 – 27 June 1971) was an English businessman, surveyor, land agent and local politician. Biography Charles Murray Floyd was born on 12 September 1905,

1965–1971 * George Fuller 19th century (also member of parliament for Westbury) *

(el. 1889) * Brigadier Robert Hall (chairman, 2008–2009) *

(el. 1889), also member of parliament for Devizes) * Sir Charles Morrison 1958–1964 (later member of parliament for Devizes) *

Levi Lapper Morse Levi Lapper Morse (24 May 1853 – 10 September 1913) was an English grocer and draper and Liberal Party politician. Family and education Morse was the son of Charles Morse from Stratton St Margaret, near Swindon in Wiltshire. He was educated ...

(

Alderman An alderman is a member of a Municipal government, municipal assembly or council in many Jurisdiction, jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council membe ...

to 1913, also member of parliament for Wilton) * William Ewart Morse (also briefly member of parliament for

Bridgwater Bridgwater is a large historic market town and civil parish in Somerset, England. Its population currently stands at around 41,276 as of 2022. Bridgwater is at the edge of the Somerset Levels, in level and well-wooded country. The town lies alon ...

) *

Christopher Newbury Christopher Newbury (born 1956) is a British Conservative politician. He was a member of the Congress of the Council of Europe from 1998 to 2010 and since 2009 has been a member of the new Wiltshire Council, created that year. Early life Newbury ...

1997–2009 (also member of

Council of Europe The Council of Europe (CoE; french: Conseil de l'Europe, ) is an international organisation founded in the wake of World War II to uphold European Convention on Human Rights, human rights, democracy and the Law in Europe, rule of law in Europe. ...

) *

George Herbert, 13th Earl of Pembroke George Robert Charles Herbert, 13th Earl of Pembroke, 10th Earl of Montgomery (6 July 1850 – 3 May 1895), known as The Lord Herbert of Lea from 1861 to 1862, was a British Conservative politician. He was Under-Secretary of State for War under ...

(elected 1889) *

Sidney Herbert, 16th Earl of Pembroke {{Use dmy dates, date=May 2020 Sidney Herbert, 16th Earl of Pembroke, 13th Earl of Montgomery (9 January 1906 – 16 March 1969) was a British peer. Life and career Herbert was the son of Reginald Herbert, 15th Earl of Pembroke and Beatrice ...

(

alderman An alderman is a member of a Municipal government, municipal assembly or council in many Jurisdiction, jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council membe ...

, 1954–1967) *

Nevil Story Maskelyne Mervyn Herbert Nevil Story Maskelyne (3 September 1823 – 20 May 1911) was an English geologist and politician. Scientific career Educated at Wadham College, Oxford, Maskelyne taught mineralogy and chemistry at Oxford from 1851, before becom ...

1889–1904 (also member of parliament for

Cricklade Cricklade is a town and civil parish on the River Thames in north Wiltshire, England, midway between Swindon and Cirencester. It is the first downstream town on the Thames. The parish population at the 2011 census was 4,227. History Cricklade ...

1880–1892) * James Morrison, 2nd Baron Margadale 1973–1977 *

Charles Nicholas Paul Phipps Charles Nicholas Paul Phipps (4 November 1845 – 9 December 1913), of Chalcot House, near Westbury, Wiltshire, Westbury, Wiltshire, was a merchant trading with Brazil, who sat as Conservative Party (UK), Conservative MP for Westbury (UK Parliame ...

to 1913, previously member of parliament for Westbury * Sir Richard Hungerford Pollen, 4th Baronet (el. 1889) *

Myles Ponsonby Myles Walter Ponsonby CBE (12 September 1924 – 1 February 1999), was a British soldier, intelligence officer, diplomat and politician. He was Ambassador to Mongolia from 1974 to 1977. Early life The son of Victor Coope Ponsonby MC and Glady ...

CBE The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

(1988–1993), previously British Ambassador to Mongolia *Fleur de Rhé-Philipe 1997–2009 * Sir Richard Hungerford Pollen, 4th Baronet (elected 1889) * Francis Edward Newman Rogers 1894–1911 (also member of parliament for Devizes 1906–1910) *

Mary Salisbury Mary Ethel Salisbury (1917 – 27 October 2008), previously Mary Ethel Wilkinson, was an English Labour politician in Wiltshire County Council, serving for three years as its first woman Chairman. Life Born in 1917 in a mining village in County ...

1963–2001 (not continuous) (chairman, 1990–1993) *

Jane Scott, Baroness Scott of Bybrook Jane Antoinette Scott, Baroness Scott of Bybrook, (born 13 June 1947) is a British Conservative politician serving as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Faith and Communities since September 2022. She is a member of the House of Lords an ...

, 1997–2009 (leader, 2003–2009) * Sir Geoffrey Ernest Tritton, 3rd Baronet 1950s *

Earl of Shelburne Earl of Shelburne is a title that has been created two times while the title of Baron Shelburne has been created three times. The Shelburne title was created for the first time in the Peerage of Ireland in 1688 when Elizabeth, Lady Petty, was m ...

, later 9th Marquess of Lansdowne 1970–1985 *

Henry Howard, 18th Earl of Suffolk Henry Charles Howard, 18th Earl of Suffolk, 11th Earl of Berkshire (10 September 1833 – 31 March 1898), styled Viscount Andover between 1851 and 1876, was a British peer and Liberal Party politician. Background Suffolk was the eldest son of C ...

(el. 1889) *

Robert Syms The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of '' Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory, honou ...

1985–1997 (member of parliament for

Poole Poole () is a large coastal town and seaport in Dorset, on the south coast of England. The town is east of Dorchester and adjoins Bournemouth to the east. Since 1 April 2019, the local authority is Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Counc ...

since 1997) *

Group Captain Group captain is a senior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force, where it originated, as well as the air forces of many countries that have historical British influence. It is sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank i ...

Frank Willan Group Captain Frank Andrew Willan, (21 December 1915 – 12 November 1981) was an English aviator, Royal Air Force officer and Conservative politician. He was Chairman of Wiltshire County Council from 1973 to 1979. Early life The son of Briga ...

1961–1981 (chairman, 1973–1979) *Ronald Samuel Ainslie Williams, R. S. A. Williams 1945–1952 (previously member of parliament for Sevenoaks (UK Parliament constituency), Sevenoaks) *Percy Wyndham (1835–1911), Percy Wyndham (early 20th century, also a member of parliament)

Clerks of the County Council

From the outset, the most significant employee of the council was the clerk of the council, a new office which was held jointly with the position of Clerk of the Peace to the Wiltshire

Ralph Pugh, Elizabeth Crittall
"County government since 1835: 1888–1952"
in ''A History of the County of Wiltshire'', Volume 5 (London: Victoria County History, 1957), pp. 264–295, online at british-history.ac.uk until the latter was abolished in 1971. In 1973 the last clerk of the council, R. P. Harries, became the first chief executive.''Justice of the Peace'', Vol. 137 (Justice of the Peace Limited, 1973), p. 321 *1889–1912: Robert William Merriman *1912–1940: William Langsdale Bown *1940–1960: Philip Austin Selborne Stringer *1960–1973: Robert Paschal Harries

Chief executives

*1973–1984: Robert Paschal Harries *1984–1996: Ian Andrew Browning *1996–2009: Dr Keith Robinson"Robinson, Dr Keith", in ''The Local Government Companion'' (Stationery Office, 2003), p. 1224: "Robinson, Dr Keith, Chief Executive, Wiltshire County Council, Date of birth: 12 July 1951 Education: Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge (BA (Hons); University of Durham (MA); Manchester University (PhD)..."

Other notable officers

*Will Hodgman (born 1969), later Premier of Tasmania

References

Bibliography

*K. H. Rogers. ''Wiltshire County Council: The First Hundred Years'' (Trowbridge: WCC, 1989) {{Local government districts of England abolished in 2009 Wiltshire County Council, Local government in Wiltshire Former county councils of England