Old Ordnance Survey Maps of Herefordshire

This page summarises the local government organisation of Herefordshire since 1889.

Herefordshire County Council was formed in 1889, and in 1894 a network of boroughs, urban district and rural district councils was formed across the county.

Herefordshire had two Municipal Boroughs, both dating back to 1836 (or before): Hereford and Leominster.

From 1894 there were also 4 Urban Districts: Bromyard, Kington, Ledbury, Ross (Ross-on-Wye from 1931) Urban Districts. Bromyard and Ledbury UDCs were abolished in 1968 when they were absorbed by their RDCs.

There were also 11 Rural District Councils covering the areas outside the major towns, but these had less powers. Initially most were based on the Unions, met at the Workhouse, and had the Guardians serving as councillors. These were: Bredwardine, Bromyard, Dore, Hereford, Kington, Ledbury, Leominster, Ross, Weobley, Whitchurch, and Wigmore Rural Districts. In the 1930s some were merged: Leominster & Wigmore (1930), Ross & Whitchurch (1931), Dore & Bredwardine (1934).

In 1974 major reorganisation saw the county of Herefordshire abolished and it became part of a new merged county, Hereford & Worcester. Herefordshire was covered by four districts: Hereford, South Herefordshire, Leominster and Malvern Hills (the last two included parts of Worcestershire).

This arrangement was very unpopular and in 1998 Herefordshire was restored as a County in its own right. It is a unitary authority.

For a list of Herefordshire maps go to the Herefordshire page. For a full list of English maps, return to the England page

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Minor changes are not listed here, but please advise us of any significant errors or omissions.

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The Godfrey Edition / sales@alangodfreymaps.co.uk / 15 October 2016