Thedwastre Rural District

Thedwastre was a rural district in West Suffolk, England from 1894 to 1974. Thedwastre was formed under the Local Government Act 1894, from the part of the Stow Rural Sanitary District which was in West Suffolk (the rest forming East Stow Rural District in East Suffolk). It was named after the historic hundred of Thedwastre.

Thedwastre

Location within West Suffolk, 1894
Area
 • 190134,126 acres (138.1 km²)
 • 197134,126 acres (138.1 km²)
Population
 • 19019,075
 • 197110,692
History
 • Created28 December 1894
 • Abolished31 March 1974
StatusRural district
 • HQStowmarket (1895–1959)
Elmswell (1959–1974)

The district was abolished in 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972, and went to form part of the Mid Suffolk district in Suffolk. Its boundaries never changed during its 80 years existence.[1]

Parishes

edit

The rural district comprised the following civil parishes:[2]

  1. Badwell Ash
  2. Beyton
  3. Drinkstone
  4. Elmswell
  5. Felsham
  6. Gedding
  7. Great Ashfield
  8. Hessett
  9. Hinderclay
  10. Hunston
  11. Langham
  12. Norton
  13. Rattlesden
  14. Rickinghall Inferior
  15. Stowlangtoft
  16. Thurston
  17. Tostock
  18. Walsham le Willows
  19. Wattisfield
  20. Woolpit

Statistics

edit
Year Area[3] Population
[4]
Density
(pop/ha)
acres ha
1911 34,126 13,810 9,018 0.65
1921 8,492 0.61
1931 8,039 0.58
1951 8,870 0.64
1961 9,270 0.67

Premises

edit

The council held its first meeting on 10 January 1895 at the Stow Union Workhouse in the parish of Onehouse, just outside Stowmarket. Hervey Aston Oakes was appointed the council's first chairman, and it was decided that subsequent meetings would be held at the courthouse in Stowmarket.[5]

The council remained based in Stowmarket (and therefore outside its administrative area) until 1959, when it moved to purpose-built premises on Cooks Road in Elmswell.[6][7] The council remained based at Elmswell until its abolition in 1974. The council's former offices were subsequently converted into retirement housing and renamed Manns Court.[8]

References

edit
  1. ^ "Thedwastre RD through time: Census tables with data for the Local Government District". A Vision of Britain through Time. GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  2. ^ "Thedwastre RD through time | Census tables with data for the Local Government District". visionofbritain.org.uk. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  3. ^ "Thedwastre RD through time: Population Statistics: Area (acres)". A Vision of Britain through Time. GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  4. ^ "Thedwastre RD through time: Population Statistics: Total Population". A Vision of Britain through Time. GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  5. ^ "Local government meetings in the Stow Union". Bury Free Press. Bury St Edmunds. p. 8. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  6. ^ "Municipal Year Book and Public Utilities Directory". Municipal Journal: 1484. 1959. Retrieved 5 April 2022. Offices, 20a, Market Place, Stowmarket... Meeting, Council Offices, Stowmarket
  7. ^ "Public Notices". Bury Free Press. Bury St Edmunds. p. 13. Retrieved 5 April 2022. ...at the offices of the Thedwastre Rural District Council at Elmswell...
  8. ^ "Manns Court". EAC Housing Care. Retrieved 5 April 2022.

52°14′N 0°53′E / 52.24°N 0.89°E / 52.24; 0.89