Winslow Rural District was a rural district in the

administrative county 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 most ...

Buckinghamshire Buckinghamshire (), abbreviated Bucks, is a ceremonial county in South East England that borders Greater London to the south-east, Berkshire to the south, Oxfordshire to the west, Northamptonshire to the north, Bedfordshire to the north-eas ...

, England from 1894 to 1974, covering an area in the north of the county.

Origins

The district had its origins in the Winslow Poor Law Union, which had been created in 1835, covering Winslow 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 p ...

of poor law unions. As there were no urban authorities within the Winslow Poor Law Union, the Winslow Rural Sanitary District covered the same area as the poor law union. The poor law union and rural sanitary district were administered from Winslow Union Workhouse, which had been built in 1835 at 1 Buckingham Road in Winslow. Under the

Local Government Act 1894 The Local Government Act 1894 (56 & 57 Vict. c. 73) was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales outside the County of London. The Act followed the reforms carried out at county level u ...

, rural sanitary districts became rural districts from 28 December 1894. The Winslow Rural District Council held its first meeting on 28 December 1894 at the board room of the workhouse. Thomas Briggs of North Marston was appointed the first chairman of the council.

Civil parishes

Winslow Rural District contained the following civil parishes: * Drayton Parslow * Dunton * East Claydon * Granborough *

Great Horwood Great Horwood is a small village and is also a civil parish within the unitary authority area of Buckinghamshire, England with a population of about 1025 people (2001 Census). It is about five miles ESE of Buckingham, six miles WSW of Milton Key ...

* Hoggeston * Hogshaw * Little Horwood *

Mursley Mursley is a small village in and also a civil parish in Buckinghamshire, England. It is located about three miles east of Winslow and about seven miles south west of Central Milton Keynes. The village name is Old English in origin, and is t ...

* Nash *

Newton Longville Newton Longville is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority area of Buckinghamshire, England. The village is about south-west of Bletchley. History The toponym "Newton" is derived from the Old English for "new farm". It is reco ...

(1934–1974) * North Marston * Shenley Brook End split in 1974 between Milton Keynes and Aylesbury Vale (Whaddon parish) * Stewkley * Swanbourne * Tattenhoe split in 1974 between Milton Keynes (Shenley Brook End parish) and Aylesbury Vale (Whaddon parish) * Whaddon split in 1974 between Milton Keynes (Shenley Brook End parish) and Aylesbury Vale * Winslow

Premises

Until the 1930s the council was based at the workhouse at 1 Buckingham Road, which after 1930 was renamed Winslow Institution. In 1936 the council moved its offices to a house nearby at 162 High Street. Winslow Police Office (and Town Council offices) - geograph

Winslow Police Office (and Town Council offices) - geograph

In 1945 the council moved to 28-30 High Street, comprising an 1860s house called "The Elms" at 30 High Street and the adjoining office building at 28 High Street, which had been built in 1889 by a local solicitor. The council was then based at 28-30 High Street until its abolition.

Abolition

Winslow 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 ...

. Most of its territory was included in the

Aylesbury Vale The Aylesbury Vale (or Vale of Aylesbury) is a geographical region in Buckinghamshire, England, which is bounded by the Borough of Milton Keynes and South Northamptonshire to the north, Central Bedfordshire and the Borough of Dacorum ( Hertfo ...

district, except for the parts which were within the designated area for the new town of Milton Keynes, which went instead to the borough of Milton Keynes. The part of the council's former offices at 28 High Street are now used as the offices of Winslow Town Council. The part at 30 High Street was redeveloped for housing in the early 2000s.Planning Application 01/02604/APP, granted 10 October 2002 for redevelopment of 30-30A High Street for two houses and six flats.

References

A Vision of Britain – Winslow RD
{{History of local government districts in Buckinghamshire History of Buckinghamshire Districts of England created by the Local Government Act 1894 Districts of England abolished by the Local Government Act 1972 Local government in Buckinghamshire Rural districts of England Winslow, Buckinghamshire