Old Ordnance Survey Maps of Shropshire

Ludlow, Much Wenlock

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

  • Shropshire County Council was formed in 1889, and in 1894 a network of boroughs, urban district and rural district councils was formed across the county.
  • Shropshire had five Municipal Boroughs dating back to 1836 (or before): Bridgnorth, Ludlow, Oswestry, Shrewsbury and Wenlock. Bishop's Castle gained Municipal Borough status in 1886. However, in 1887 the old boroughs of Clun, Newport and Ruyton-XI-Towns were abolished. Before its abolition in 1967 Wenlock is said to have been the largest borough (in area) outside London.
  • In 1967 all the Municipal Boroughs except Shrewsbury were abolished and absorbed into their Rural Districts. These - Bishop's Castle, Bridgnorth, Ludlow, Much Wenlock and Oswestry - became Rural Boroughs with similar powers to a parish council.
  • From 1894 there were also 5 Urban Districts: Dawley, Ellesmere, Newport, Wellington, and Whitchurch Urban Districts. Others were subsequently formed for Oakengates (1898), Church Stretton (1899), Wem (1900) and Market Drayton (1914).
  • There were also 17 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: Bridgnorth, Burford, Chirbury, Church Stretton, Cleobury Mortimer, Clun, Drayton, Ellesmere, Ludlow, Madeley, Newport, Oswestry, Shifnal, Teme, Wellington, Wem, and Whitchurch Rural Districts.
  • In 1974 major reorganisation saw Shropshire officially renamed Salop with a two-tier local government struture, with a County Council and 6 District Councils: Bridgnorth, North Shropshire, Oswestry, Shrewsbury & Atcham, South Shropshire, and The Wrekin. The rural boroughs were abolished.
  • In 1980 the official name of the county reverted to Shropshire.
  • In 1998 The Wrekin was renamed Telford & Wrekin and became a unitary authority.
  • In 2009 the remaining Districts were abolished and the rest of Shropshire became a unitary authority.

    For a list of Shropshire maps go to the Shropshire and Telford pages. For a full list of English maps, return to the England page

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    Further information on Shropshire's boroughs and districts can be found Here.

    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