The Metropolitan Borough of Wandsworth was a Metropolitan borough under the London County Council, from 1900 to 1965.
History The borough was formed from five civil parishes: Clapham, Putney, Streatham, Tooting Graveney and Wandsworth. In 1904, these five were combined into a single civil parish called Wandsworth Borough, which was conterminous with the metropolitan borough. Before 1900, these parishes, and Battersea until 1888, had been administered by the Wandsworth District Board of Works.
The borough had an irregular boundary with Mitcham in Surrey. On 1 April 1901 a small unpopulated exclave of Mitcham was transferred to Wandsworth. Part of the boundary followed the River Graveney, which had been culverted. On 1 April 1904 the boundary was straightened.The Counties of London and Surrey (Wandsworth and Mitcham) Order, 1903
Coat of arms The coat of arms were granted on 6 July 1901. The blue wavy division represents the Rivers Wandle and Thames. French Huguenot refugees arrived in the area in 1685, and the blue drops represent the tears of their struggle. The five stars represent the constituent former parishes. At the top is a long boat, with a dragon's head, commemorating 9th century Danish incursions along the river. The borough council's motto was We Serve. The arms can still be seen in the façade of Wandsworth Town Hall.
Population and area The borough covered , which made it the largest in the County of London. The population recorded in the Census was:
Constituent parishes 1801–1899 YearStatistical Abstract for London, 1901 (Vol. IV); Census tables for Metropolitan Borough of Battersea 1801 1811 1821 1831 1841 1851 1861 1871 1881 1891 Population 14,283 17,963 22,726 27,779 33,238 40,204 50,803 71,044 103,172 156,942 Metropolitan Borough 1900–1961 Year 1901 1911 1921 1931 1941 1951 1961 Population 232,024 311,360 328,307 353,110 The census was suspended for World War II 330,493 347,442
Politics
The borough was divided into nine wards for elections: Balham, Clapham North, Clapham South, Fairfield, Putney, Southfield, Springfield, Streatham, and Tooting.
Borough council
Parliament constituency For elections to Parliament, the borough was divided into one and a half constituencies: Clapham (also including part of the Metropolitan Borough of Battersea) Wandsworth In 1918 the borough's representation was increased to five seats: Balham and Tooting Clapham Putney Streatham Wandsworth Central In 1950 the borough's representation was reduced to four seats: Clapham Putney Streatham Wandsworth Central
Replacement When the metropolitan boroughs were replaced with larger London boroughs in 1965, this borough was split. The core area of Wandsworth (about ) became part of the London Borough of Wandsworth, along with the former Metropolitan Borough of Battersea, but the areas of Streatham and Clapham (totalling ) became part of the London Borough of Lambeth.
References
Further reading
External links Vision of Britain