Unreformed boroughs in England and Wales 1835 - 1886

Unreformed boroughs were those corporate towns in England and Wales which had not been reformed by the Municipal Corporations Act 1835

Municipal Corporations Act 1835

The Municipal Corporations Act 1835 – sometimes known as the Municipal Reform Act, was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that reformed local government in the incorporated boroughs of England and Wales...

. A handful of these obtained new charters under the 1835 Act. A royal commission was established in 1876 to inquire into these boroughs, and legislation passed in 1883 finally forced the reform or dissolution of these corporations by 1886.

Only eight unreformed boroughs obtained new charters under the 1835 Act:
Two other towns incorporated in this period are sometimes listed as unreformed boroughs.

Unreformed boroughs were those corporate towns in England and Wales which had not been reformed by the Municipal Corporations Act 1835

Municipal Corporations Act 1835

The Municipal Corporations Act 1835 – sometimes known as the Municipal Reform Act, was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that reformed local government in the incorporated boroughs of England and Wales...

. A handful of these obtained new charters under the 1835 Act. A royal commission was established in 1876 to inquire into these boroughs, and legislation passed in 1883 finally forced the reform or dissolution of these corporations by 1886.

Boroughs reformed 1835–1881

Only eight unreformed boroughs obtained new charters under the 1835 Act:

Borough	Year
Honiton Honiton Honiton is a town in East Devon, situated close to the River Otter, 17 miles northeast of Exeter in the county of Devon. The town's name is pronounced in two ways , each pronunciation having its adherents.- History :... , Devon Devon Devon is a large county in England. The county is also referred to as Devonshire, although that is an unofficial name, rarely used inside of the county itself and often indicating a traditional or historical context. The county shares borders with Cornwall to the west and Dorset and Somerset to...	1846
Hartlepool Hartlepool Hartlepool is a town and port in the ceremonial county of County Durham, England.It was founded in the 7th century AD, around the Northumbrian monastery of Hartlepool Abbey. The village grew during the Middle Ages and developed a harbour which served as the official port of the County palatine of... , County Durham County Durham County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in North East England. The county town is Durham.The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington. The county has an industrial heritage and its economy was historically based on coal and iron mining...	1850
Yeovil Yeovil Yeovil is a town in south Somerset, England, on the A30 and A37. It has a population of 41,871 at the 2001 census . The town lies within the local district of South Somerset and the Yeovil parliamentary constituency.... , Somerset Somerset Somerset is a county in South West England. The county town is Taunton, which is in the south of the county. The ceremonial county of Somerset borders the counties of Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west...	1854
Aberavon Aberavon Aberavon is a settlement in Neath Port Talbot county borough, Wales. The town derived its name from the river Afan, which also gave its name to a medieval lordship. Today it is essentially a district of Port Talbot, covering the central and south western part of the town... , Glamorgan Glamorgan Glamorgan or Glamorganshire is one of the thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. It was originally an early medieval kingdom of varying names and boundaries until taken over by the Normans as a lordship. Glamorgan is latterly represented by the three preserved...	1861
Hedon Hedon Hedon is a small town and civil parish in Holderness in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated approximately east of Kingston upon Hull city centre... , Yorkshire Yorkshire Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the British Isles. Because of its great size, functions were increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have been subject to periodic reform. Throughout these changes, Yorkshire has continued to be recognised as...	1861
Reigate Reigate Reigate is a historic market town in Surrey, England at the foot of the North Downs, and in the London commuter belt. It is one of the main constituents of the Borough of Reigate and Banstead. Reigate and the adjacent town of Redhill form a single urban area.... , Surrey Surrey Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire, and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford...	1863
Dunstable Dunstable Dunstable is a market town in Bedfordshire, England. It lies on the eastward tail spurs of the Chiltern Hills, 30 miles north of London. These geographical features form several steep chalk escarpments most noticeable when approaching Dunstable from the north.-Etymology:In Roman times its name was... , Bedfordshire Bedfordshire Bedfordshire is a ceremonial county of historic origin in England that forms part of the East of England region....	1864
Lewes Lewes Lewes is the county town of East Sussex, England and gives its name to the Local government district in which it lies. The settlement has a long history as a bridging point and as a market town, and is today an important communications hub, and tourist-orientated town.-History:The site that is... , Sussex Sussex Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is a historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...	1881

Two other towns incorporated in this period are sometimes listed as unreformed boroughs. The first of these was Ashton-under-Lyne

Ashton-under-Lyne

Ashton-under-Lyne is a market town in the Metropolitan Borough of Tameside, Greater Manchester, England. Historically a part of Lancashire, it lies on the north bank of the River Tame, on undulating land at the foothills of the Pennines...

, Lancashire

Lancashire

Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Lancashire County Council is based in Preston. However, Lancaster is still considered to be the county town...

, incorporated in 1847. Although it may have had an existence as a municipality, it had ceased to exist by the nineteenth century. Peterborough, in Northamptonshire

Northamptonshire

Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census...

 and Huntingdonshire

Huntingdonshire

Huntingdonshire is a local government district of Cambridgeshire, covering the area around Huntingdon. Historically it was a county in its own right...

, was incorporated in 1874. The town was governed by officials of the dean and diocese of Peterborough

Diocese of Peterborough

The Diocese of Peterborough forms part of the Province of Canterbury in England. Its seat is the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter, Saint Paul and Saint Andrew, which was originally founded as a monastery in AD 655 and re-built in its present form between 1118 and 1238.Founded at the Dissolution...

.

The Royal Commission of 1876

A royal commission was appointed in 1876 which investigated the unreformed boroughs and made recommendations on which towns might be brought under the Municipal Corporations Act. The commissioners identified 75 towns with corporations still functioning, and recommended that 26 of them should be reformed, the others being abolished. They also named a further 32 towns in which the corporation had become extinct, although the boroughs still had a legal existence. Of these, 10 had ceased to operate since 1835.
The commissioners’ report was not acted upon for seven years. In the meantime, one of the towns they considered suitable for municipal government, Lewes

Lewes

Lewes is the county town of East Sussex, England and gives its name to the Local government district in which it lies. The settlement has a long history as a bridging point and as a market town, and is today an important communications hub, and tourist-orientated town.-History:The site that is...

 was reformed, and the 1835 legislation was replaced by the Municipal Corporations Act 1882

Municipal Corporations Act 1882

The Municipal Corporations Act 1882 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It replaced existing legislation governing municipal boroughs in England and Wales, and gave the corporations powers to make byelaws and to acquire land and buildings. Municipal boroughs continued to be...

.

Municipal Corporations Act 1883

The Municipal Corporations Act 1883 provided for the abolition of unreformed borough corporations, unless they obtained a new charter under the 1882 legislation.

Section 3 stated that “The place shall not be a corporate town or borough, and any municipal or other corporation thereof existing shall be dissolved” if a new charter had not been obtained by 29 September 1886.

The first and second schedules listed the corporations investigated by the 1876 commission:

Corporation or reputed corporation	Commissioners’ report	Fate of corporation
Aldeburgh Aldeburgh Aldeburgh is a coastal town in Suffolk, East Anglia, England. Located on the Alde river at 52° 9' North, 1° 36' East, the town is notable for its Blue Flag shingle beach and fisherman huts , its proximity to Thorpeness village and boating mere and golf courses at Aldeburgh, Thorpeness and Ufford Park... , Suffolk Suffolk Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...	Recommended reform	Reformed 1885
Alnwick Alnwick Alnwick Alnwick Alnwick ( is a small market town in north Northumberland, England. The towns population was just over 8000 at the time of the 2001 census and Alnwick's district population was 31,029.... , Northumberland Northumberland Northumberland is a ceremonial county and unitary district in the North East of England. It borders Cumbria to the west, County Durham to the south and Tyne and Wear to the south east, as well as having a border with the Scottish Borders council area to the north, and nearly eighty miles of North...	Recommended reform	Abolished 1886
Alresford Alresford, Essex Alresford is a village in Essex, England. It is located 9 km southeast of Colchester and is 39 km northeast from the county town of Chelmsford... , Essex Essex Essex is a county in the East of England region of the United Kingdom. The county town of Essex is Chelmsford.-History:In pre-Roman Britain the territories of Suffolk and Essex were home to the Trinovantes tribe, which had grown wealthy through intensive trade with the Roman Empire, contemporary...	Recommended abolition	Abolished 1886
Altrincham Altrincham Altrincham is a market town within the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on flat ground south of the River Mersey about southwest of Manchester city centre, south-southwest of Sale and east of Warrington... , Cheshire Cheshire Cheshire ; also known, archaically, as the County of Chester) is a ceremonial county in North West England. The traditional county town is the city of Chester, although Cheshire's largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Widnes, Runcorn, Macclesfield,...	Recommended abolition	Abolished 1886 ‡
Appleby Appleby-in-Westmorland Appleby-in-Westmorland is a town in Cumbria, in North West England. It is situated within a loop of the River Eden and has a population of approximately 2,500. It is in the historic county of Westmorland, of which it was the county town. The town's name was simply Appleby, until the local... , Westmorland Westmorland Westmorland is an area of North West England and one of the 39 historic counties of England...	Recommended reform	Reformed 1885
Axbridge Axbridge Axbridge is a town in Somerset, England, situated in the Sedgemoor district on the River Axe, near the southern edge of the Mendip Hills. The town population according to the 2001 census was 2,025.-History:... , Somerset Somerset Somerset is a county in South West England. The county town is Taunton, which is in the south of the county. The ceremonial county of Somerset borders the counties of Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west...	Recommended abolition	Abolished 1886
Bala, Merionethshire Merionethshire Merionethshire is one of thirteen historic counties of Wales, and a former administrative county.The administrative county of Merioneth, created under the Local Government Act 1888, was abolished under the Local Government Act 1972 on April 1, 1974...	Long extinct	Abolished 1886
Bangor, Carnarvonshire	Long extinct	Reformed 1883
Berkeley Berkeley, Gloucestershire Berkeley is a town and civil parish in Gloucestershire, England. It lies in the Vale of Berkeley between the east bank of the River Severn and the M5 motorway within the Stroud administrative district. The town is noted for Berkeley Castle where the imprisoned Edward II was murdered.- Geography... , Gloucestershire Gloucestershire Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....	Recommended abolition	Abolished 1886
Bishops Castle Bishop's Castle Bishop's Castle is a small market town in Shropshire, England, and formerly its smallest borough. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 1,630. Bishop's Castle is one and a half miles east of the Wales-England border, about twenty miles north-west of Ludlow and about twenty miles... , Shropshire Shropshire Shropshire , alternatively known as Salop or abbreviated, in print only, Shrops, is a county in the West Midlands region of England. It borders Wales to the west. Shropshire is one of England's most rural and sparsely populated counties with a population density of 91/km²...	Recommended reform	Reformed 1885
Bossiney Bossiney Bossiney is a village in north Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is north-east of the larger village of Tintagel which it adjoins: further north-east are the Rocky Valley and Trethevy.-History:... , Cornwall Cornwall Cornwall is a county of England in the United Kingdom, forming the tip of the south-western peninsula of Great Britain. It is bordered to the north and west by the Atlantic Ocean, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Taken with the...	Extinct since 1835	Abolished 1886
Bovey Tracey Bovey Tracey Bovey Tracey is a small town in Devon on the edge of Dartmoor, its proximity to which gives rise to the "slogan" used on the town's boundary signs, "The Gateway to the Moor". The locals just call the town "Bovey" .... , Devon Devon Devon is a large county in England. The county is also referred to as Devonshire, although that is an unofficial name, rarely used inside of the county itself and often indicating a traditional or historical context. The county shares borders with Cornwall to the west and Dorset and Somerset to...	Recommended abolition	Abolished 1886
Brackley Brackley Brackley is a town in south Northamptonshire, England. Historically a market town based on the wool and lace trade, it was built on the intersecting trade routes from London to Birmingham and Cambridge to Oxford.... , Northamptonshire Northamptonshire Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census...	Recommended abolition	Abolished 1886
Brading Brading The ancient 'Kynges Towne' of Brading is the main town of the civil parish of the same name, which used to cover about a tenth of the Isle of Wight but now includes the town itself and Adgestone, Morton, Nunwell and other outlying areas between Ryde, St Helen's, Bembridge, Sandown and... , Hampshire Hampshire Hampshire , sometimes historically Southamptonshire, Hamptonshire, , or the County of Southampton, is a county on the south coast of England. The county borders , Dorset, Wiltshire, Berkshire, Surrey and West Sussex...  (Isle of Wight)	Recommended abolition	Abolished 1886
Bradninch Bradninch Bradninch is a small town in Devon, England, lying about three miles south of Cullompton. Bradninch dates back to before the 7th century and at this time there was a Saxon fortress on Castle hill... , Devon Devon Devon is a large county in England. The county is also referred to as Devonshire, although that is an unofficial name, rarely used inside of the county itself and often indicating a traditional or historical context. The county shares borders with Cornwall to the west and Dorset and Somerset to...	Recommended reform	Abolished 1886
Bridlington Bridlington Bridlington is a town and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It has a population of over 33,000 . The town is a sister town with Millau, France, and Bad Salzuflen, Germany.-Geography:... , Yorkshire Yorkshire Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the British Isles. Because of its great size, functions were increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have been subject to periodic reform. Throughout these changes, Yorkshire has continued to be recognised as...	Long extinct	Abolished 1886
Caerwys Caerwys Caerwys is a town in Flintshire, Wales. It is situated just under two miles from the A55 North Wales Expressway and one mile from the A541 Mold-Denbigh road. At the 2001 Census, the population of Caerwys civil parish was 1,315, with a total ward population of 2,496.Caerwys is mentioned in the... , Flintshire Flintshire Flintshire is a county in north-east Wales. It borders Cheshire, Denbighshire, and Wrexham. It is named for the historic county of Flintshire, which had notably different borders...	Extinct since 1835	Abolished 1886
Camelford Camelford Camelford is a town in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom.The town lies on the River Camel, and is a few miles north-west of the highest part of Bodmin Moor. The only large industrial enterprise in the area is the slate quarry at Delabole but there is a small industrial estate at Highfield... , Cornwall Cornwall Cornwall is a county of England in the United Kingdom, forming the tip of the south-western peninsula of Great Britain. It is bordered to the north and west by the Atlantic Ocean, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Taken with the...	Recommended abolition	Abolished 1886
Castle Rising Castle Rising Castle Rising is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. It is best known as the location of Castle Rising Castle, which dominates the village... , Norfolk Norfolk Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast, including The Wash. The county town is Norwich...	Extinct since 1835	Abolished 1886
Chipping Campden Chipping Campden Chipping Campden is a small market town within the Cotswold district of Gloucestershire, England. It is notable for its elegant terraced High Street, dating from the 14th century to the 17th century... , Gloucestershire Gloucestershire Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....	Recommended abolition	Abolished 1886
Chipping Sodbury Chipping Sodbury Chipping Sodbury is a market town in South Gloucestershire, south west England, founded in the 12th century by William Crassus. The villages of Old Sodbury and Little Sodbury are nearby. At the 2001 census the population of Chipping Sodbury was 5,066, but in the last two or three decades the town... , Gloucestershire Gloucestershire Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....	Long extinct	Abolished 1886
Christchurch Christchurch, Dorset Christchurch is a borough and town in Dorset on the English Channel coast, adjoining Bournemouth in the west, with the New Forest to the east. Historically in Hampshire, it is the most easterly borough in Dorset... , Hampshire Hampshire Hampshire , sometimes historically Southamptonshire, Hamptonshire, , or the County of Southampton, is a county on the south coast of England. The county borders , Dorset, Wiltshire, Berkshire, Surrey and West Sussex...	Recommended reform	Reformed 1886
Clun Clun Clun is a small town in Shropshire, England. The town is located entirely in the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The 2001 census recorded 642 people living in the town... , Shropshire Shropshire Shropshire , alternatively known as Salop or abbreviated, in print only, Shrops, is a county in the West Midlands region of England. It borders Wales to the west. Shropshire is one of England's most rural and sparsely populated counties with a population density of 91/km²...	Extinct since 1835	Abolished 1886
Corfe Castle, Dorset Dorset Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town has been Dorchester since at least 1305, situated in the south of the county at . Between its extreme points Dorset measures from east to west and north to south, and has an area of...	Recommended abolition	Abolished 1886
Cowbridge Cowbridge Cowbridge is a market town in the Vale of Glamorgan in Wales, approximately west of Cardiff. Cowbridge is twinned with Clisson in the Loire-Atlantique department in northwestern France.-Roman times:... , Glamorgan Glamorgan Glamorgan or Glamorganshire is one of the thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. It was originally an early medieval kingdom of varying names and boundaries until taken over by the Normans as a lordship. Glamorgan is latterly represented by the three preserved...	Recommended abolition	Abolished 1886
Criccieth Criccieth Criccieth is a town and community on Cardigan Bay, in the Eifionydd area of Gwynedd in Wales. The town lies west of Porthmadog, east of Pwllheli and south of Caernarfon. It has a population of 1,826.... , Merionethshire Merionethshire Merionethshire is one of thirteen historic counties of Wales, and a former administrative county.The administrative county of Merioneth, created under the Local Government Act 1888, was abolished under the Local Government Act 1972 on April 1, 1974...	Long extinct	Abolished 1886
Crickhowell Crickhowell Crickhowell is a small town in Powys, Mid Wales.- Location :The name Crickhowell is taken from that of the nearby Iron Age hill fort of Crug Hywel above the town, the Welsh language name being anglicised by map-makers and local English-speaking people... , Breconshire	Long extinct	Abolished 1886
Dinas Mawddwy Dinas Mawddwy Dinas Mawddwy is a village in Gwynedd, north Wales, just to the side of the A470 so that most visitors pass the village by. The village marks the junction of the unclassified road to Llanuwchllyn which climbs up through the mountains to cross Bwlch y Groes at its highest point, the highest road... , Merionethshire Merionethshire Merionethshire is one of thirteen historic counties of Wales, and a former administrative county.The administrative county of Merioneth, created under the Local Government Act 1888, was abolished under the Local Government Act 1972 on April 1, 1974...	Recommended abolition	Abolished 1886
Dunwich Dunwich Dunwich is a small town in Suffolk, England, within the Suffolk Coast and Heaths AONB.Dunwich was the capital of East Anglia 1500 years ago and was a prosperous seaport and centre of the wool trade during the Early Middle Ages, with a natural harbour formed by the mouths of the River Blyth and... , Suffolk Suffolk Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...	Recommended abolition	Abolished 1886
Dursley Dursley Dursley is a market town in Gloucestershire, England. It is under the North East flank of Stinchcombe Hill , and about 6 km South East of the River Severn. The town is adjacent with Cam which, though a village, is a community of double the size... , Gloucestershire Gloucestershire Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....	Recommended abolition	Abolished 1886
East Looe, Cornwall Cornwall Cornwall is a county of England in the United Kingdom, forming the tip of the south-western peninsula of Great Britain. It is bordered to the north and west by the Atlantic Ocean, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Taken with the...	Recommended abolition	Abolished 1886
Farnham Farnham Farnham is a town in Surrey, England, within the Borough of Waverley. The town is situated some 42 miles southwest of London in the extreme west of Surrey, adjacent to the border with Hampshire. By road Guildford is 11 miles to the east, Aldershot 4 miles to the north-east and Winchester 28... , Surrey Surrey Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire, and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford...	Long extinct	Abolished 1886
Fishguard Fishguard Fishguard is a coastal town in Pembrokeshire, south-west Wales, with a population of 3,300 . The community of Fishguard and Goodwick had a population of 5043 at the 2001 census. A regular ferry leaves for Rosslare in Ireland from the port of Fishguard Harbour... , Pembrokeshire Pembrokeshire Pembrokeshire is a county in the southwest of Wales.-Geography:Pembrokeshire is a maritime county, bordered by the sea on three sides, by Ceredigion to the north east and by Carmarthenshire to the east...	Long extinct	Abolished 1886
Fordwich Fordwich Fordwich is said to be the smallest town in England, with a population of 351 recorded in the 2001 census. It lies in Kent, on the River Stour, northeast of Canterbury.... , Kent Kent Kent , originally Cantia, is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the River Thames estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent...	Recommended abolition	Abolished 1886
Garstang Garstang Garstang is a town and civil parish within the Wyre borough of Lancashire, England. It is ten miles north-northwest of the city of Preston and eleven miles south of Lancaster, and has a total resident population of 4,074.-History:... , Lancashire Lancashire Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Lancashire County Council is based in Preston. However, Lancaster is still considered to be the county town...	Recommended abolition	Abolished 1886
Grampound Grampound Grampound is a village in Cornwall, in the United Kingdom, with 638 residents as of the 2001 census, and little growth in the last ten years. It lies on the A390 road, between Truro and St Austell, and also on the River Fal. Its name comes from the bridge over the river.Together with the nearby... , Cornwall Cornwall Cornwall is a county of England in the United Kingdom, forming the tip of the south-western peninsula of Great Britain. It is bordered to the north and west by the Atlantic Ocean, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Taken with the...	Long extinct	Abolished 1886
Great Dunmow Great Dunmow Great Dunmow is a town in the Uttlesford district of Essex, England. Originally the site of a Roman settlement on Stane Street, the town thrived during the Middle Ages... , Essex Essex Essex is a county in the East of England region of the United Kingdom. The county town of Essex is Chelmsford.-History:In pre-Roman Britain the territories of Suffolk and Essex were home to the Trinovantes tribe, which had grown wealthy through intensive trade with the Roman Empire, contemporary...	Recommended abolition	Abolished 1886
Harlech Harlech Harlech is a town and seaside resort in Gwynedd, north-west Wales, lying on Tremadog Bay, and within the Snowdonia National Park. It has a population of 1,264, of whom 63% speak Welsh... , Merionethshire Merionethshire Merionethshire is one of thirteen historic counties of Wales, and a former administrative county.The administrative county of Merioneth, created under the Local Government Act 1888, was abolished under the Local Government Act 1972 on April 1, 1974...	Long extinct	Abolished 1886
Harton Hartland, Devon The town of Hartland, which incorporates the hamlet of Stoke to the west and the village of Meddon in the south, is the most north-westerly settlement in the county of Devon, England.... , Devon Devon Devon is a large county in England. The county is also referred to as Devonshire, although that is an unofficial name, rarely used inside of the county itself and often indicating a traditional or historical context. The county shares borders with Cornwall to the west and Dorset and Somerset to...	Recommended abolition	Abolished 1886
Hay Hay-on-Wye Hay-on-Wye , often described as "the town of books", is a small market town in Powys, Wales.-Location:The town lies on the east bank of the River Wye and is within the Brecon Beacons National Park, just north of the Black Mountains... , Herefordshire Herefordshire Herefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county in the West Midlands region of England. It also forms a unitary district known as the County of Herefordshire. It borders the English ceremonial counties of Shropshire to the north, Worcestershire to the east, Gloucestershire to the southeast, and...	Long extinct	Abolished 1886
Havering-atte-Bower Havering-atte-Bower Havering-atte-Bower is a village and outlying settlement of the London Borough of Havering, located 15 miles north east of Charing Cross and close to the Greater London boundary... , Essex Essex Essex is a county in the East of England region of the United Kingdom. The county town of Essex is Chelmsford.-History:In pre-Roman Britain the territories of Suffolk and Essex were home to the Trinovantes tribe, which had grown wealthy through intensive trade with the Roman Empire, contemporary...	Recommended abolition	Abolished 1886
Henley-on-Thames Henley-on-Thames Henley-on-Thames is a town on the north side of the River Thames in south Oxfordshire, England, about 10 miles downstream and north-east from Reading, 10 miles upstream and west from Maidenhead... , Oxfordshire Oxfordshire Oxfordshire is a county in the South East England region, bordering on Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, and Warwickshire....	Recommended reform	Reformed 1883
Higham Ferrers Higham Ferrers Higham Ferrers is a market town in east Northamptonshire, England, adjacent to Rushden to the south. It has an estimated population of 7,204. The de Ferrers family were former Lords of the Manor... , Northamptonshire Northamptonshire Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census...	Recommended abolition	Reformed 1886
Holt Holt, Wales Holt is a medieval market town in the county borough of Wrexham, Wales. It is situated on the border with England.-Area:The district has been occupied since at least the Roman period. A brickworks supplied clay tiles and pottery to the Roman fort of Deva Victrix, eight miles away . The works was... , Denbighshire Denbighshire Denbighshire is a county in north-east Wales. It is named after the historic county of Denbighshire, but has substantially different borders. Denbighshire has the distinction of being the oldest inhabited part of Wales...	Recommended abolition	Abolished 1886
Ilchester Ilchester Ilchester is a village and civil parish, situated on the River Yeo or Ivel, five miles north of Yeovil, in the English county of Somerset. The parish, which includes the village of Sock Dennis , has a population of 2,021.Sock Dennis lies on the Monarch's Way long-distance footpath.-Roman times:In... , Somerset Somerset Somerset is a county in South West England. The county town is Taunton, which is in the south of the county. The ceremonial county of Somerset borders the counties of Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west...	Recommended abolition	Abolished 1886
Kenfig Kenfig Kenfig is a village and former borough in Bridgend, Wales.The borough contributed with other Glamorgan towns to sending a member of parliament to Westminster until the Reform Act of 1832... , Glamorgan Glamorgan Glamorgan or Glamorganshire is one of the thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. It was originally an early medieval kingdom of varying names and boundaries until taken over by the Normans as a lordship. Glamorgan is latterly represented by the three preserved...	Recommended abolition	Abolished 1886
Kidwelly Kidwelly Kidwelly is a town in Carmarthenshire, west Wales, approximately 10 miles west of the main town of Llanelli.It lies on the River Gwendraeth above Carmarthen Bay. The town is twinned with French village St Jacut de la Mer.-History:... , Carmarthenshire Carmarthenshire Carmarthenshire is a unitary authority in the south west of Wales and one of thirteen historic counties. Its three largest towns are Carmarthen, Llanelli and Ammanford...	Recommended reform	Reformed 1885
Kilgerran, Pembrokeshire Pembrokeshire Pembrokeshire is a county in the southwest of Wales.-Geography:Pembrokeshire is a maritime county, bordered by the sea on three sides, by Ceredigion to the north east and by Carmarthenshire to the east...	Recommended abolition	Abolished 1886
Lampeter Lampeter Lampeter is a town in Ceredigion, South West Wales, lying at the confluence of the River Teifi and the Afon Dulas.-Demographics:... , Cardiganshire Cardiganshire Cardiganshire was an ancient county of Wales created in 1282. In extent it is more or less identical to Ceredigion, a county constituted as Cardiganshire in 1996, with the name reverting to Ceredigion a day later.-History:...	Recommended abolition	Reformed 1884
Langport Eastover, Somerset Somerset Somerset is a county in South West England. The county town is Taunton, which is in the south of the county. The ceremonial county of Somerset borders the counties of Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west...	Recommended abolition	Abolished 1886
Laugharne, Carmarthenshire Carmarthenshire Carmarthenshire is a unitary authority in the south west of Wales and one of thirteen historic counties. Its three largest towns are Carmarthen, Llanelli and Ammanford...	Recommended abolition	Abolished 1886
Llanelly Llanelli Llanelli , the largest town in the county of Carmarthenshire, Wales, sits on the Loughor estuary on the West Wales coast, approximately west-north-west of Swansea and south-east of the county town, Carmarthen. The town is famous for its proud rugby tradition and is a centre of tinplate production... , Carmarthenshire Carmarthenshire Carmarthenshire is a unitary authority in the south west of Wales and one of thirteen historic counties. Its three largest towns are Carmarthen, Llanelli and Ammanford...	Extinct since 1835	Abolished 1886
Llanfyllin Llanfyllin Llanfyllin is a small town in Powys, Mid Wales, United Kingdom.- Location, history and amenities :Llanfyllin's population at the date of the 2001 Census was 1,407. The town lies on the River Cain by the Berwyn Mountains in Montgomeryshire. It is known for its holy well, dedicated to Saint Myllin.... , Montgomeryshire Montgomeryshire ‎Montgomeryshire, also known as Maldwyn is one of thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. It is named after one of William the Conqueror's main counsellors, Roger de Montgomerie, who was the 1st Earl of Shrewsbury....	Recommended reform	Reformed 1885
Llantrisant Llantrisant Llantrisant is a town in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, within the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan, Wales, lying on the River Ely and the Afon Clun. The town's name translates as The Parish of the Three Saints. The three saints in question are St Illtyd, St Gwynno and St Dyfodwg... , Glamorgan Glamorgan Glamorgan or Glamorganshire is one of the thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. It was originally an early medieval kingdom of varying names and boundaries until taken over by the Normans as a lordship. Glamorgan is latterly represented by the three preserved...	Recommended abolition	Abolished 1886
Lostwithiel Lostwithiel Lostwithiel is a civil parish and small town in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom at the head of the estuary of the River Fowey. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 2,739.-Geography:The town lies on the A390 road from Tavistock to Truro.... , Cornwall Cornwall Cornwall is a county of England in the United Kingdom, forming the tip of the south-western peninsula of Great Britain. It is bordered to the north and west by the Atlantic Ocean, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Taken with the...	Recommended reform	Reformed 1885
Loughor Loughor Loughor is a town in the City and County of Swansea, Wales, within the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan, Wales. It lies on the estuary of the River Loughor. The town has a community council called Llwchwr.... , Glamorgan Glamorgan Glamorgan or Glamorganshire is one of the thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. It was originally an early medieval kingdom of varying names and boundaries until taken over by the Normans as a lordship. Glamorgan is latterly represented by the three preserved...	Recommended abolition	Abolished 1886
Lydd Lydd Lydd is a town in Kent, England, lying on the Romney Marsh. It is one of the larger towns on the Marsh, and the most southerly town in Kent. Actually located on Denge Marsh, Lydd was one of the first sandy islands to form as the bay evolved into what is now called the Romney Marsh... , Kent Kent Kent , originally Cantia, is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the River Thames estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent...	Recommended reform	Reformed 1885
Machynlleth Machynlleth Machynlleth is a market town in Powys, Wales. It is in the Dyfi Valley at the intersection of the A487 and the A489 roads.... , Montgomeryshire Montgomeryshire ‎Montgomeryshire, also known as Maldwyn is one of thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. It is named after one of William the Conqueror's main counsellors, Roger de Montgomerie, who was the 1st Earl of Shrewsbury....	Long extinct	Abolished 1886
Malmesbury Malmesbury, Wiltshire Malmesbury is a south Cotswold town and civil parish in south west England in the county of Wiltshire. The town is close to Cirencester, Chippenham and Swindon and surrounded by rivers on three sides.- Geography and administration :... , Wiltshire Wiltshire Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in the south west of England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers 3,485 km²...	Recommended reform	Reformed 1886
Marazion Marazion Marazion is a civil parish and town in Cornwall, England, UK. It lies on the shores of Mount's Bay, two miles east of Penzance, one mile east of the village of Long Rock, and is served by the Great Western Railway. A causeway passable at low tide unites Marazion with the otherwise insular St... , Cornwall Cornwall Cornwall is a county of England in the United Kingdom, forming the tip of the south-western peninsula of Great Britain. It is bordered to the north and west by the Atlantic Ocean, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Taken with the...	Recommended abolition	Abolished 1886
Midhurst Midhurst Midhurst is a market town and civil parish in the Chichester district of West Sussex, England, with a population of 4,889 in 2001. The town is situated on the River Rother and is home to the ruin of the Tudor Cowdray House and the stately Victorian Cowdray Park... , Sussex Sussex Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is a historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...	Long extinct	Abolished 1886
Montgomery Montgomery, Powys The historic county town of Montgomery in Mid Wales lies just three miles from the Wales-England border in the Welsh Marches. It is best known for its castle, Montgomery Castle, begun in 1223, and its parish church, begun in 1227. However its origins go back much further, as seen by the Iron age... , Montgomeryshire Montgomeryshire ‎Montgomeryshire, also known as Maldwyn is one of thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. It is named after one of William the Conqueror's main counsellors, Roger de Montgomerie, who was the 1st Earl of Shrewsbury....	Recommended reform	Reformed 1885
Nevin Nefyn Nefyn is a small town and community on the north west coast of the Llŷn Peninsula in Gwynedd, Wales, with a population of 2,619. Welsh is the first language of almost 80% of its inhabitants. Nefyn is a relatively uncommercialised holiday destination particularly for families because of its sandy... , Carnarvonshire	Recommended abolition	Abolished 1886
New Romney New Romney New Romney is a small town in Kent, England, on the edge of Romney Marshan area of flat, rich agricultural land reclaimed from the sea. New Romney was once a sea port, with the harbour adjacent to the church, but is now over a mile from the sea... , Kent Kent Kent , originally Cantia, is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the River Thames estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent...	Recommended reform	Reformed 1885
Newborough Newborough, Anglesey Newborough is a village in the south-western corner of the Isle of Anglesey in Wales; it is in the community of Rhosyr, which has a population of 2,169.-History:... , Anglesey Anglesey The Isle of Anglesey , is an island and county off the northwest coast of Wales, with a predominantly Welsh-speaking population. It is connected to the mainland by two bridges spanning the Menai Strait: the original Menai Suspension Bridge , designed by Thomas Telford in 1826; and the newer...	Long extinct	Abolished 1886
Newport Newport, Shropshire Newport is a market town in the borough of Telford and Wrekin and ceremonial county of Shropshire, England. It lies some north of Telford and some west of Stafford sitting on the Shropshire/Staffordshire border... , Shropshire Shropshire Shropshire , alternatively known as Salop or abbreviated, in print only, Shrops, is a county in the West Midlands region of England. It borders Wales to the west. Shropshire is one of England's most rural and sparsely populated counties with a population density of 91/km²...	Recommended abolition	Abolished 1886
Newport Newport, Pembrokeshire Newport is a town in Pembrokeshire, south-west Wales, lying on the River Nevern in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.- History :The town was founded by the Norman William FitzMartin about 1197... , Pembrokeshire Pembrokeshire Pembrokeshire is a county in the southwest of Wales.-Geography:Pembrokeshire is a maritime county, bordered by the sea on three sides, by Ceredigion to the north east and by Carmarthenshire to the east...	Recommended abolition	Abolished 1886 ‡
Newton, Lancashire Lancashire Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Lancashire County Council is based in Preston. However, Lancaster is still considered to be the county town...	Long extinct	Abolished 1886
Newtown Newtown, Isle of Wight Newtown is a small hamlet on the Isle of Wight, in England.Newtown is located on the large natural harbour on the island's north-western coast, now mostly a National Nature Reserve owned and managed by the National Trust.... , Hampshire Hampshire Hampshire , sometimes historically Southamptonshire, Hamptonshire, , or the County of Southampton, is a county on the south coast of England. The county borders , Dorset, Wiltshire, Berkshire, Surrey and West Sussex...  (Isle of Wight)	Extinct since 1835	Abolished 1886
Okehampton Okehampton Okehampton is a town and civil parish in Devon, England, at the northern edge of Dartmoor, on the River Okement. The border of the Dartmoor National Park is just south of the town.... , Devon Devon Devon is a large county in England. The county is also referred to as Devonshire, although that is an unofficial name, rarely used inside of the county itself and often indicating a traditional or historical context. The county shares borders with Cornwall to the west and Dorset and Somerset to...	Recommended reform	Reformed 1885
Orford Orford, Suffolk Orford is a small town in Suffolk, England, within the Suffolk Coast and Heaths AONB.Like many Suffolk coastal towns it was of some importance as a port and fishing village in the Middle Ages. It still has a fine mediaeval castle, built to dominate the River Ore.The main geographical feature is... , Suffolk Suffolk Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...	Recommended abolition	Abolished 1886
Over, Cheshire Over, Cheshire Over is a former borough and market town that forms the western part of the town of Winsford in the English county of Cheshire. Wharton forms the eastern part, the boundary being the River Weaver .-Ancient Origins:...	Recommended reform	Abolished 1886 ‡
Overton Overton-on-Dee Overton-on-Dee is a small rural village from the market town of Wrexham in north-east Wales. The village is situated on the edge of an escarpment which winds its way around the course of the River Dee which is where the name of Overton-on-Dee is derived from.- Geography :Overton-on-Dee is seven... , Flintshire Flintshire Flintshire is a county in north-east Wales. It borders Cheshire, Denbighshire, and Wrexham. It is named for the historic county of Flintshire, which had notably different borders...	Recommended abolition	Abolished 1886
Petersfield Petersfield, Hampshire Petersfield is a market town and civil parish in the East Hampshire district of Hampshire, England. It is north of Portsmouth, on the A3 road.Petersfield has its own railway station, on the Portsmouth Direct Line.... , Hampshire Hampshire Hampshire , sometimes historically Southamptonshire, Hamptonshire, , or the County of Southampton, is a county on the south coast of England. The county borders , Dorset, Wiltshire, Berkshire, Surrey and West Sussex...	Recommended abolition	Abolished 1886
Pevensey Pevensey Pevensey is a village and civil parish in the Wealden district of East Sussex, England. The main village is located 5 miles north-east of Eastbourne, one mile inland from Pevensey Bay. The settlement of Pevensey Bay forms part of the parish.-Geography:The village of Pevensey is located on... , Sussex Sussex Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is a historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...	Recommended abolition	Abolished 1886
Plympton Earle, Devon Devon Devon is a large county in England. The county is also referred to as Devonshire, although that is an unofficial name, rarely used inside of the county itself and often indicating a traditional or historical context. The county shares borders with Cornwall to the west and Dorset and Somerset to...	Extinct since 1835	Abolished 1886
Presteigne Presteigne Presteigne was the county town of the historic county of Radnorshire, Wales. It is in the unitary authority of Powys and Diocese of Hereford... , Radnorshire Radnorshire Radnorshire is one of thirteen historic and former administrative counties of Wales. It is represented by the Radnorshire area of Powys, which according to the 2001 census, had a population of 24,805....	Long extinct	Abolished 1886
Rhuddlan Rhuddlan Rhuddlan is a town and community in the county of Denbighshire , in north Wales. It is situated to the south of the coastal town of Rhyl and overlooks the River Clwyd. The town gave its name to the Welsh district of Rhuddlan from 1974 to 1996... , Flintshire Flintshire Flintshire is a county in north-east Wales. It borders Cheshire, Denbighshire, and Wrexham. It is named for the historic county of Flintshire, which had notably different borders...	Extinct since 1835	Abolished 1886
Queenborough Queenborough Queenborough is a small town on the Isle of Sheppey in the Swale borough of Kent in South East England.Queenborough is two miles south of Sheerness. It grew as a port near the Thames Estuary at the westward entrance to The Swale where it joins the River Medway... , Kent Kent Kent , originally Cantia, is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the River Thames estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent...	Recommended reform	Reformed 1885
Radnor New Radnor New Radnor is a village in Powys, mid Wales.- Traditional county town :It was the original county town of Radnorshire. The population today is around 400, a higher than normal proportion of which are pensioners who enjoy the rural, scenic location and the peaceful setting.- Medieval planned layout... , Radnorshire Radnorshire Radnorshire is one of thirteen historic and former administrative counties of Wales. It is represented by the Radnorshire area of Powys, which according to the 2001 census, had a population of 24,805....	Recommended reform	Abolished 1886
Romney Marsh Romney Marsh The Romney Marsh is a sparsely populated wetland area in the counties of Kent and East Sussex in the south-east of England. It covers about 100 square miles .-Quotations:*“As Egypt was the gift of the Nile, this level tract ..... , Kent Kent Kent , originally Cantia, is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the River Thames estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent...	Recommended abolition	Abolished 1886
Ruyton, Shropshire Shropshire Shropshire , alternatively known as Salop or abbreviated, in print only, Shrops, is a county in the West Midlands region of England. It borders Wales to the west. Shropshire is one of England's most rural and sparsely populated counties with a population density of 91/km²...	Long Extinct	Abolished 1886
St. Clears, Carmarthenshire Carmarthenshire Carmarthenshire is a unitary authority in the south west of Wales and one of thirteen historic counties. Its three largest towns are Carmarthen, Llanelli and Ammanford...	Recommended abolition	Abolished 1886
St David's St David's St David's and the Cathedral Close, more commonly known as St David's , is a recognized city in Pembrokeshire, Wales. With a population of 1,797 in 2001, it is the smallest city in the United Kingdom... , Pembrokeshire Pembrokeshire Pembrokeshire is a county in the southwest of Wales.-Geography:Pembrokeshire is a maritime county, bordered by the sea on three sides, by Ceredigion to the north east and by Carmarthenshire to the east...	Long Extinct	Abolished 1886
Saltash Saltash Saltash is a town in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It has a population of about 17,000. It lies in the southeast of Cornwall, facing Plymouth over the River Tamar. It was in the Caradon district until March 2009 and is known as "the gateway to Cornwall". Saltash means ash tree by the salt mill... , Cornwall Cornwall Cornwall is a county of England in the United Kingdom, forming the tip of the south-western peninsula of Great Britain. It is bordered to the north and west by the Atlantic Ocean, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Taken with the...	Recommended reform	Reformed 1885
Seaford Seaford, East Sussex Seaford is a coastal town in the county of East Sussex, England, on the south coast, east of Newhaven and Brighton and west of Eastbourne. It has a population of about 23,000.... , Sussex Sussex Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is a historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...	Recommended abolition	Abolished 1886
Sutton Coldfield Sutton Coldfield Sutton Coldfield is a town in the City of Birmingham, in the West Midlands of England. Sutton is located about from central Birmingham, in the northeast of the city, with a population of 105,452 recorded in the 2001 census... , Warwickshire Warwickshire Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton in the far north of the county. The shape of the administrative area Warwickshire differs considerably from that of the historic county...	Recommended reform	Reformed 1885
Tavistock, Devon Devon Devon is a large county in England. The county is also referred to as Devonshire, although that is an unofficial name, rarely used inside of the county itself and often indicating a traditional or historical context. The county shares borders with Cornwall to the west and Dorset and Somerset to...	Long Extinct	Abolished 1886
Thornbury, Gloucestershire Gloucestershire Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....	Recommended abolition	Abolished 1886
Tregony Tregony Tregony civil parish and village in Cornwall, England, in the United Kingdom. It lies on the river Fal. In the village there is a post office, sex shop, and two churches. Tregony has bus links to the nearest town, which is Truro. The village is made up from two parishes namely, Tregony and Cuby... , Cornwall Cornwall Cornwall is a county of England in the United Kingdom, forming the tip of the south-western peninsula of Great Britain. It is bordered to the north and west by the Atlantic Ocean, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Taken with the...	Extinct since 1835	Abolished 1886
Usk Usk Usk is a small town in Monmouthshire, Wales, situated 10 miles northeast of Newport.Usk is noted for its rural setting, tranquil lifestyle and quality of life. It feels more like a village than a town. The River Usk flows through the town and is spanned by an ancient, arched stone bridge at... , Monmouthshire Monmouthshire (historic) Monmouthshire , also known as the County of Monmouth , is one of thirteen ancient counties of Wales and a former administrative county....	Recommended abolition	Abolished 1886
Wareham Wareham, Dorset Wareham is a historic market town and, under the name Wareham Town, a civil parish, in the English county of Dorset. The town is situated on the River Frome eight miles southwest of Poole.-Situation and geography:... , Dorset Dorset Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town has been Dorchester since at least 1305, situated in the south of the county at . Between its extreme points Dorset measures from east to west and north to south, and has an area of...	Recommended reform	Reformed 1886
Weobley Weobley Weobley is a black and white village in Herefordshire, England.The name possibly derives from 'Wibba's Ley', a ley being a woodland glade and Wibba being a local Saxon landowner... , Herefordshire Herefordshire Herefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county in the West Midlands region of England. It also forms a unitary district known as the County of Herefordshire. It borders the English ceremonial counties of Shropshire to the north, Worcestershire to the east, Gloucestershire to the southeast, and...	Long Extinct	Abolished 1886
Westbury Westbury, Wiltshire Westbury is a town and civil parish in the west of the English county of Wiltshire, most famous for the Westbury White Horse.-Name:The most likely origin of the West- in Westbury is simply that the town is near the western edge of the county of Wiltshire, the bounds of which have been much the same... , Wiltshire Wiltshire Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in the south west of England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers 3,485 km²...	Recommended abolition	Abolished 1886
West Looe, Cornwall Cornwall Cornwall is a county of England in the United Kingdom, forming the tip of the south-western peninsula of Great Britain. It is bordered to the north and west by the Atlantic Ocean, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Taken with the...	Extinct since 1835	Abolished 1886
Wickwar Wickwar Wickwar is a small English town in South Gloucestershire between Chipping Sodbury and Charfield. It is famous for its football club and its high street. The Wickwar brewery is a popular local producer of cask ale.... , Gloucestershire Gloucestershire Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....	Recommended abolition	Abolished 1886
Wilton Wilton, Wiltshire Wilton is a town in Wiltshire, , England, with a rich heritage dating back to the Anglo-Saxons. Today it is dwarfed by its larger and more famous neighbour, Salisbury, but still has a range of notable shops and attractions, including Wilton House.The River Wylye meets the River Nadder at Wilton.-... , Wiltshire Wiltshire Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in the south west of England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers 3,485 km²...	Recommended reform	Reformed 1885
Winchcomb, Gloucestershire Gloucestershire Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....	Recommended abolition	Abolished 1886
Winchelsea Winchelsea Winchelsea is a small town in East Sussex, England, located between the High Weald and the Romney Marsh, approximately two miles south west of Rye and seven miles north east of Hastings. The present town replaced an earlier town of the same name, sometimes known as Old Winchelsea... , Sussex Sussex Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is a historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...	Recommended abolition	Abolished 1886
Wiston Wiston, Pembrokeshire Wiston is a village in Pembrokeshire, Wales, in the United Kingdom. It was once a marcher borough. Owen, in 1603, described it as one of nine Pembrokeshire "boroughs in decay". It continued as a constituent parliamentary borough until the end of the 19th century.It is overlooked by Wiston... , Pembrokeshire Pembrokeshire Pembrokeshire is a county in the southwest of Wales.-Geography:Pembrokeshire is a maritime county, bordered by the sea on three sides, by Ceredigion to the north east and by Carmarthenshire to the east...	Long Extinct	Abolished 1886
Wokingham Wokingham Wokingham is a small market town and civil parish in Berkshire in South East England approximately 33 miles west of London. It is east-southeast of Reading and west of Bracknell. It spans an area of and, according to the 2001 census, has a population of 30,403... , Berkshire Berkshire Berkshire is a county in the South East of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1958, and Letters...	Recommended reform	Reformed 1883
Woodstock Woodstock, Oxfordshire Woodstock is a small town northwest of Oxford in Oxfordshire, England. It is the location of Blenheim Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Winston Churchill was born in Blenheim Palace in 1874 and is buried in the nearby village of Bladon.... , Oxfordshire Oxfordshire Oxfordshire is a county in the South East England region, bordering on Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, and Warwickshire....	Recommended reform	Reformed 1886
Wootton Bassett Wootton Bassett Wootton Bassett is a small market town and civil parish located southwest of Swindon in northern Wiltshire, England. At the time of the United Kingdom Census 2001 its population was 11,043, indicating that the town has tripled in population total over the last 50 years.- History :The year 681AD is... , Wiltshire Wiltshire Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in the south west of England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers 3,485 km²...	Recommended reform	Abolished 1886
Wotton-under-Edge Wotton-under-Edge Wotton under Edge is a market town within the Stroud district of Gloucestershire, England. Located near the southern end of the Cotswolds the Cotswold Way long-distance footpath passes through the town... , Gloucestershire Gloucestershire Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....	Recommended abolition	Abolished 1886
Yarmouth Yarmouth, Isle of Wight Yarmouth is a port and civil parish in the western part of the Isle of Wight, off the southern coast of England. The town is named for its location at the mouth of the small Western Yar river... , Hampshire Hampshire Hampshire , sometimes historically Southamptonshire, Hamptonshire, , or the County of Southampton, is a county on the south coast of England. The county borders , Dorset, Wiltshire, Berkshire, Surrey and West Sussex...  (Isle of Wight)	Recommended abolition	Abolished 1886

‡ The offices of mayor of Altrincham, Over and Newport, Pembrokeshire were deemed to be "purely honorary" and were to be allowed to continue to exist. In each case, the mayor was appointed by the lord of the manor

Lord of the Manor

The title of Lord of the Manor arose in the English mediaeval system of Manorialism following the Norman Conquest. The title Lord of the Manor is a titular feudal dignity which is still recognised today as semi-extinct form of landed property...

 and court leet

Court leet

The court leet was a historical court in England and Wales.- History :At a very early time in medieval England the Lord of the Manor exercised or claimed certain jurisdictional rights concerning the administration of his estate over his tenants and bondsmen, and exercised those rights through his...

.

A number of the boroughs abolished in 1886 subsequently regained borough status, the earliest being Cowbridge in 1887. When such boroughs were created, however, they were entirely new creations with no claim to the former property of the abolished boroughs.

Other provisions

The 1886 Act also dealt with a number of other corporations with a status similar to boroughs:

• The Confederation of the Cinque Ports
  Cinque Ports
  The Confederation of Cinque Ports is a historic series of coastal towns in Kent and Sussex, at the eastern end of the English Channel where the crossing to the continent is narrowest...
  
   were to retain their privileges in those towns with a reformed corporation. Non-corporate members were to be merged with the county and hundred in which they lay geographically. The corporation of the ancient town of Winchelsea
  Winchelsea
  Winchelsea is a small town in East Sussex, England, located between the High Weald and the Romney Marsh, approximately two miles south west of Rye and seven miles north east of Hastings. The present town replaced an earlier town of the same name, sometimes known as Old Winchelsea...
  
   was to become a charitable trust.
• The corporation of the bailiff jurats and commonalty of Romney Marsh
  Romney Marsh
  The Romney Marsh is a sparsely populated wetland area in the counties of Kent and East Sussex in the south-east of England. It covers about 100 square miles .-Quotations:*“As Egypt was the gift of the Nile, this level tract .....
  
   was to continue to exist, but would only exercise such non-municipal powers.
• The Liberties Act 1850 would be extended to the Liberty of Havering atte Bower
  Royal Liberty of Havering
  {infobox historic subdivision| |Name= Royal Liberty of
  Havering-atte-Bower |HQ= Romford |Status= Liberty |Origin= Hornchurch parish |Start= 1465...
  
  , allowing for its merger with the county of Essex
  Essex
  Essex is a county in the East of England region of the United Kingdom. The county town of Essex is Chelmsford.-History:In pre-Roman Britain the territories of Suffolk and Essex were home to the Trinovantes tribe, which had grown wealthy through intensive trade with the Roman Empire, contemporary...
  
  .