Waltham Holy Cross Urban District
Encyclopedia
Waltham Holy Cross was an urban district
in the county
of Essex
, England
.
It was created in 1894 and covered the area of the large and ancient parish
of Waltham Holy Cross, which included the town of Waltham Abbey
as well as the hamlets of Holyfield
, High Beach
, Sewardstone
and Upshire
. The district was bounded on the west by the River Lea and contained a large part of Epping Forest
. The urban district council was the successor to Waltham Holy Cross Local Board of Health, formed in 1850.
The Royal Commission on Local Government in Greater London
considered the district for inclusion in Greater London
, however it was eventually excluded from the area. The urban district was abolished by the Local Government Act 1972
on 1 April 1974, becoming part of the non-metropolitan district
of Epping Forest
. A successor parish
was formed at the same time. By resolution of the parish council, the parish was redesignated as Waltham Abbey with the status of a town, and accordingly is now governed by Waltham Abbey Town Council.
on 9 November 1956. The black engrailed cross and four gold cross crosslets on a silver ground come from the arms of Waltham Abbey
and the lion's face is from the attributed arms of King Harold Godwinson
. The crest above the arms featured a stag for Epping Forest
. In the stag's mouth was a seaxe, or distinctive notched sword, from the arms of Essex County Council. A heraldic "fountain" on the stag's shoulder represented the King George V Reservoir
. The colours of the torse wreath and mantling were red and white: the livery colours of both Essex County Council and the City of London Corporation, custodians of Epping Forest. The coat of arms of the urban district council were transferred to Waltham Abbey Town Council by Order in Council in 1974.
Urban district
In the England, Wales and Ireland, an urban district was a type of local government district that covered an urbanised area. Urban districts had an elected Urban District Council , which shared local government responsibilities with a county council....
in the county
County
A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain modern nations. Historically in mainland Europe, the original French term, comté, and its equivalents in other languages denoted a jurisdiction under the sovereignty of a count A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain...
of Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
It was created in 1894 and covered the area of the large and ancient parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
of Waltham Holy Cross, which included the town of Waltham Abbey
Waltham Abbey, Essex
Waltham Abbey is a market town of about 20,400 people in the south west of the county of Essex, in the East of England region. It is about 24 km north of London on the Greenwich Meridian and lies between the River Lea in the west and Epping Forest in the east. It takes its name from The Abbey...
as well as the hamlets of Holyfield
Holyfield
Holyfield is a hamlet in the Epping Forest district of Essex, England. It is located at grid reference and is within the EN postcode area. For local government purposes the hamlet forms part of the Waltham Abbey parish....
, High Beach
High Beach
High Beach also known as High Beech is a hamlet located within Epping Forest. Epping is located to the north east and Central London at Charing Cross lies approximately to the south west.-Description:...
, Sewardstone
Sewardstone
Sewardstone is a place in the Epping Forest district of Essex, England.It is located 11.6 miles north north-east of Charing Cross and is the only area outside Greater London to be covered by a London postcode district . The area consists of scattered development with large sections of open land...
and Upshire
Upshire
Upshire is a village in the Epping Forest district, in the county of Essex, England. Nearby settlements include the towns of Epping and Waltham Abbey, Essex and the hamlet of Copthall Green. The M25 motorway passes close to the village. It is on Horseshoe Hill...
. The district was bounded on the west by the River Lea and contained a large part of Epping Forest
Epping Forest
Epping Forest is an area of ancient woodland in south-east England, straddling the border between north-east Greater London and Essex. It is a former royal forest, and is managed by the City of London Corporation....
. The urban district council was the successor to Waltham Holy Cross Local Board of Health, formed in 1850.
The Royal Commission on Local Government in Greater London
Royal Commission on Local Government in Greater London
The Royal Commission on Local Government in Greater London, also known as the Herbert Commission, was established in 1957 and published its report in 1960...
considered the district for inclusion in Greater London
Greater London
Greater London is the top-level administrative division of England covering London. It was created in 1965 and spans the City of London, including Middle Temple and Inner Temple, and the 32 London boroughs. This territory is coterminate with the London Government Office Region and the London...
, however it was eventually excluded from the area. The urban district was abolished by the Local Government Act 1972
Local Government Act 1972
The Local Government Act 1972 is an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales on 1 April 1974....
on 1 April 1974, becoming part of the non-metropolitan district
Non-metropolitan district
Non-metropolitan districts, or colloquially shire districts, are a type of local government district in England. As created, they are sub-divisions of non-metropolitan counties in a so-called "two-tier" arrangement...
of Epping Forest
Epping Forest (district)
Epping Forest is a local government district of the county of Essex, England. It is named after Epping Forest, of which the district contains a large part...
. A successor parish
Successor parish
Successor parishes are civil parishes with a parish council created by the Local Government Act 1972 in England. They replaced, with the same boundaries, a selected group of urban districts and municipal boroughs that were abolished in 1974. Most successor parish councils exercised the right to...
was formed at the same time. By resolution of the parish council, the parish was redesignated as Waltham Abbey with the status of a town, and accordingly is now governed by Waltham Abbey Town Council.
Coat of arms
The urban district council was granted a coat of armsCoat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
on 9 November 1956. The black engrailed cross and four gold cross crosslets on a silver ground come from the arms of Waltham Abbey
Waltham Abbey (abbey)
The Abbey Church of Waltham Abbey has been a place of worship since at least 1030, and is in the town of Waltham Abbey, Essex, England. The Prime Meridian passes through its grounds. Harold Godwinson is said to be buried just outside the present abbey...
and the lion's face is from the attributed arms of King Harold Godwinson
Harold Godwinson
Harold Godwinson was the last Anglo-Saxon King of England.It could be argued that Edgar the Atheling, who was proclaimed as king by the witan but never crowned, was really the last Anglo-Saxon king...
. The crest above the arms featured a stag for Epping Forest
Epping Forest
Epping Forest is an area of ancient woodland in south-east England, straddling the border between north-east Greater London and Essex. It is a former royal forest, and is managed by the City of London Corporation....
. In the stag's mouth was a seaxe, or distinctive notched sword, from the arms of Essex County Council. A heraldic "fountain" on the stag's shoulder represented the King George V Reservoir
King George V Reservoir
The King George V Reservoir, also known as King George's Reservoir, is located in the London Borough of Enfield and is part of the Lee Valley Reservoir Chain that supplies London with drinking water...
. The colours of the torse wreath and mantling were red and white: the livery colours of both Essex County Council and the City of London Corporation, custodians of Epping Forest. The coat of arms of the urban district council were transferred to Waltham Abbey Town Council by Order in Council in 1974.