Old Ordnance Survey Maps of Leicestershire

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

  • Leicestershire County Council was formed in 1889, and in 1894 a network of boroughs, urban district and rural district councils was formed across the county.
  • Leicestershire had just two Boroughs: Leicester itself, an historic borough which became a County Borough in 1889, and Loughborough, which became a Municipal Borough in 1888. Leicester was made a City in 1919.
  • From 1894 there were also 9 Urban Districts: Ashby de la Zouch, Ashby Woulds, Coalville, Hinckley, Melton Mowbray, Quorndon, Thurmaston, Shepshed, and Wigston Magna (renamed Wigston in 1930) Urban Districts. A new Oadby Urban District was formed in 1913. Urban Districts had similar duties to a Municipal Borough but did not have the right to elect a Mayor or Aldermen.
  • In 1935 Quorndon and Thurmaston Urban Districts were abolished, and they were absorbed by Loughborough MB and Leicester CB respectively.
  • There were also 13 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: Ashby de la Zouch, Barrow upon Soar, Belvoir, Billesdon, Blaby, Castle Donington, Hallaton, Hinckley, Loughborough, Lutterworth, Market Bosworth, Market Harborough, and Melton Mowbray Rural Districts.
  • In 1935-6 there was some reorganisation and Hallaton, Hinckley and Loughborough RDCs were abolished and merged into adjacent districts; Belvoir and Melton Mowbray RDCs were amalgamated as Melton & Belvoir Rural District.

    In 1974 major reorganisation saw the urban and rural districts abolished and a 2-tier structure established, with the County Council and 8 Districts. These were: Blaby, Charnwood, City of Leicester, Harborough, Hinckley & Bosworth, Melton, North West Leicestershire, and Oadby & Wigston. In 1997 City of Leicester became a unitary authority.

  • Follow this link for a list of our Leicestershire maps or here for Leicester itself.
  • You can order maps direct from our On-line Mapshop. For other information and prices, and other areas, go to The Index Page.
  • Maps in the Godfrey Edition are taken from the 25 inch to the mile map and reduced to about 15 inches to the mile. For a full list of maps for England, return to the England page.
    The Godfrey Edition / sales@alangodfreymaps.co.uk / 6 October 2016