Extra-parochial Area - Conversion To Parishes

Conversion To Parishes

Because it was problematic for communities to be without religious provision or the usual structures of local governance there were demands to make extra-parochial areas operate in the same way as parishes or for them to become part of an adjoining parish. The status of some extra-parochial areas was called into question, contested or at least ambiguous. Because of shifts in population it had become necessary to divide, merge and otherwise alter ancient parishes and for them to diverge for ecclesiastical and civil purposes. Some extra-parochial areas were absorbed by new parishes as part of this process.

The Extra-Parochial Places Act 1857 from 1 January 1858 effectively turned extra-parochial places into civil parishes, providing for poor relief, poor rates, police rates, burial and registration. Overseers could be appointed from an adjoining parish if no inhabitant was suitable. A local act could be used to join the extra-parochial area to a poor law union or parish if the guardians agreed. It was also possible for the extra-parochial place to be merged with another parish if a majority of landowners and occupiers agreed.

After the 31st of December, 1857, every place entered separately in the Report of the Registrar General on the last Census which now is or is reputed to be extra-parochial, and wherein no rate is levied for the relief of the poor, shall for all the purposes of the assessment to the poor rate, the relief of the poor, the county, police, or borough rate, the burial of the dead, the removal of nuisances, the registration of parliamentary and municipal voters, and the registration of births and deaths, be deemed a parish for such purposes, and shall be designated by the name which is assigned to it in such report; and the justices of the peace having jurisdiction over such place, or over the greater part thereof, shall appoint overseers of the poor therein; and with respect to any other place being or reputed to be extra-parochial and wherein no rate is levied for the relief of the poor, such justices may appoint overseers of the poor therein, notwithstanding anything contained in the 7 & 8 Vict c 101.

Extra-Parochial Places Act 1857

The legislation was almost prevented from passing by the influential barristers of the Inns of Court who were able to secure a special provision to ensure Gray's Inn, Inner Temple, and Middle Temple could not be grouped into any poor law union, although they were otherwise considered to be parishes. This provision was also made for Charterhouse, London.

In each of the places termed the Inner Temple, the Middle Temple, and Gray's Inn, the officer for the time being acting as the under-treasurer of such inn of court, and in the place termed Charterhouse, London, the registrar shall be the overseer of such place; and in default of any such officer, the justices having jurisdiction in such inns or place respectively shall appoint some inhabitant householder therein to be the overseer thereof for the then current year, and thenceforth from year to year so long as the office of under-treasurer or registrar shall be vacant; provided that such places shall not be liable to be added to any union or other district for the purposes aforesaid.

Extra-Parochial Places Act 1857

The 1857 act was not completely successful and several areas continued to operate extra-parochially. The Poor Law Amendment Act 1866 converted to civil parishes any place that levied a separate poor rate and the Poor Law Amendment Act 1868 incorporated "for all civil parochial purposes" the extra-parochial places remaining on 25 December 1868, that were without an appointed overseer of the poor, into a neighbouring parish with the longest common boundary.