Old Ordnance Survey Maps of Norfolk

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

  • Norfolk County Council was formed in 1889, and in 1894 a network of boroughs, urban district and rural district councils was formed across the county.
  • Norfolk had only 4 Municipal Boroughs: King's Lynn, Norwich, Thetford, and Great Yarmouth. Norwich and Great Yarmouth both became County Boroughs in 1889.
  • From 1894 there were also 9 Urban Districts: Cromer, Diss, Downham Market, East Dereham, Hunstanton (renamed New Hunstanton from 1896-1954), North Walsham, Swaffham, Walsoken, and Wells Urban Districts. New Urban Districts were later created for Sheringham (1901) and Wymondham (1935). Walsoken UDC was absorbed by Wisbech in 1935. Wells was renamed Wells-by-the-Sea in 1955.
  • There were also 23 Rural District Councils covering the areas outside the major towns. These were: Aylsham, Blofield, Central Wingland (absorbed by Marshland in 1897), Depwade, Docking, Downham, East & West Flegg, Erpingham, Forehoe, Freebridge Lynn, Guiltcross (abolished 1902), Henstead, King's Lynn, Loddon & Clavering (renamed Loddon in 1935), Marshland, Redmere (absorbed by Ely RD in 1895), Mitford & Launditch, Smallburgh, St Faith's, Swaffham, Thetford, Walsingham, and Wayland Rural Districts.
  • In 1935 there was some reorganisation and Aylsham, Blofield, East & West Flegg, Forehoe, Henstead, King's Lynn, St Faith's, and Thetford RDCs were abolished and either absorbed into neighbouring diustricts, or merged, with new Blofield & Flegg, Forehoe & Henstead, and St Faith's & Aylsham Rural Districts.

    In 1974 major reorganisation saw the urban and rural districts abolished and a 2-tier structure established, with the County Council and 7 Districts: Breckland, Broadland, Great Yarmouth, King's Lynn & West Norfolk, North Norfolk, Norwich City, and South Norfolk. The Yarmouth, King's Lynn and Norwich councils have borough status.

    For a list of our Norfolk maps go to the Norfolk 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 / 1 October 2016