# History of local government districts in Buckinghamshire

The History of local government districts in Buckinghamshire began in 1835 with the formation of poor law unions. This was followed by the creation of various forms of local government body. In 1894 the existing arrangements were replaced with a system of municipal boroughs, urban and rural districts, which remained in place until 1974. Between 1974 and 2020 there were five non-metropolitan districts in the county, one of which (Milton Keynes) became a unitary authority in 1997. The other four districts were abolished in 2020 when the rest of the county was placed under the Buckinghamshire Council unitary authority.

## Poor law unions

The parishes of the county were grouped under the Poor Law Amendment Act 1834 to form unions. Each union was administered by a board of guardians elected by the parish ratepayers. The boundaries of the unions would later be used to define rural sanitary districts in 1875 and rural districts in 1894. Poor law unions were abolished in 1930 by the Local Government Act 1929.
| Name | Notes | Area covered |
| Amersham PLU | | Amersham, Ashley Green (1897–1930), Beaconsfield, Chalfont St Giles, Chalfont St Peter, Chartridge (1899–1930), Chenies, Chesham, Chesham Bois, Coleshill, Latimer (1899–1930), The Lee (1838–1930), Great Missenden (1838–1930), Little Missenden (1901–1930), Penn, Seer Green |
| Aylesbury PLU | | Ashendon, Aston Abbots, Aston Clinton, Aston Sandford, Aylesbury, Bierton with Broughton, Buckland, Chearsley, Cholesbury, Creslow, Cublington, Cuddington, Dinton with Ford and Upton, Drayton Beauchamp, Fleet Marston, Grendon Underwood, Haddenham, Halton, Hardwick, Hartwell, Hawridge, Hulcott, Kingswood, Ludgershall, Oving, Pitchcott, Quainton, Quarrendon, Shipton Lee, Stoke Mandeville (1896-1930), Stone, Waddesdon, Lower Winchendon, Upper Winchendon, Weedon, Westcott, Weston Turville, Whitchurch, Wingrave with Rowsham, Woodham, Wotton Underwood |
| Berkhampstead PLU | Mostly in Hertfordshire | Marsworth, Nettleden, Pitstone (1835–1923) |
| Bicester PLU | Mostly in Oxfordshire | Boarstall |
| Brackley PLU | Mostly in Northamptonshire | Biddlesden, Turweston, Westbury |
| Buckingham PLU | | Addington, Adstock, Akeley, Barton Hartshorn, Beachampton, Buckingham, Charndon, Chetwode, Edgcott, Foscott, Hillesden, Leckhampstead, Lillingstone Dayrell, Lillingstone Lovell, Luffield Abbey (1858–1930), Maids Moreton, Marsh Gibbon, Middle Claydon, Padbury, Poundon, Preston Bissett, Radclive-cum-Chackmore, Shalstone, Steeple Claydon, Stowe, Thornborough, Thornton, Tingewick, Twyford, Water Stratford |
| Eton PLU | | Boveney, Burnham, Datchet, Denham, Dorney, Eton, Eton Wick (1894–1930), Farnham Royal, Fulmer, Gerrard's Cross (1895–1930), Hedgerley, Hedgerley Dean, Hitcham, Horton, Iver, Langley Marish, Slough (1894–1930), Stoke in Slough (1894–1896), Stoke Poges, Taplow, Upton-cum-Chalvey (1835–1901), Wexham, Wyrardisbury |
| Henley PLU | Mostly in Oxfordshire | Fawley, Hambleden, Medmenham |
| Leighton Buzzard PLU | Mostly in Bedfordshire | Cheddington, Edlesborough, Grove, Ivinghoe, Linslade, Mentmore, Pitstone (1923–1930), Slapton, Soulbury, Stoke Hammond, Wing |
| Newport Pagnell PLU | | Astwood, Bletchley, Bow Brickhill, Bradwell, Bradwell Abbey (1861–1930), Broughton, Castlethorpe, Chicheley, Clifton Reynes, Cold Brayfield, Emberton, Fenny Stratford, Gayhurst, Great Brickhill, Great Linford, Great Woolstone, Hanslope, Hardmead, Haversham, Lathbury, Lavendon, Little Brickhill, Little Linford, Little Woolstone, Loughton, Milton Keynes, Moulsoe, New Bradwell (1919–1930), Newport Pagnell, Newton Blossomville, Newton Longville, North Crawley, Olney, Olney Park Farm (1861–1930), Petsoe Manor (1861–1930), Ravenstone, Shenley Church End, Sherington, Simpson, Stantonbury, Stoke Goldington, Tyringham and Filgrave, Walton, Warrington, Water Eaton, Wavendon, Weston Underwood, Willen, Woburn Sands, Woughton on the Green |
| Potterspury PLU | Mostly in Northamptonshire | Calverton, Stony Stratford East, Stony Stratford West, Wolverton |
| Thame PLU | Mostly in Oxfordshire | Brill, Chilton, Dorton, Ickford, Kingsey, Long Crendon, Oakley, Shabbington, Worminghall |
| Winslow PLU | | Drayton Parslow, Dunton, East Claydon, Granborough, Great Horwood, Hoggeston, Hogshaw, Little Horwood, Mursley, Nash, North Marston, Shenley Brook End (1866-1894), Stewkley, Swanbourne, Tattenhoe, Whaddon, Winslow |
| Wycombe PLU | | Bledlow, Bradenham, Chepping Wycombe (1835–1894), Chepping Wycombe Rural (1894–1930), Chepping Wycombe Urban (1894–1896), Ellesborough, Fingest and Lane End, Great and Little Hampden (1885–1930), Great Hampden (1835–1885), Great Kimble (1835–1885), Great and Little Kimble (1885–1930), Great Marlow, Hedsor, High Wycombe (1896–1930), Horsenden, Hughenden, Ibstone, Ilmer, Lewknor Uphill (1866–1885), Little Hampden (1835–1885), Little Kimble (1835–1885), Little Marlow, Little Missenden (1835–1901), Marlow Urban (1896–1930), Medmenham (1835–1945), Monks Risborough, Princes Risborough, Radnage, Saunderton, Stoke Mandeville (1835-1896), Stokenchurch, Turville, Wendover, Wycombe (1866–1896), West Wycombe, Wooburn |

## Local boards of health and sanitary districts

Following the enactment of the Public Health Act 1848 (11 & 12 Vict. c. 63), boards of health could be formed on petition of the inhabitants or where there was excess mortality. The Local Government Act 1858 simplified the process of creating local councils: ratepayers of a parish or area could adopt the Act by resolution, whereupon it would become a Local Government District, governed by a Local Board.
The system was rationalised by the Public Health Act 1875 (38 & 39 Vict. c. 55), which designated all municipal boroughs, local board districts, local government districts and improvement commissioners districts in England and Wales as urban sanitary districts. The existing local authority became an urban sanitary authority, without change of title. In Buckinghamshire this applied to Aylesbury, Beaconsfield, Buckingham, Chesham, Eton, Slough and Chepping Wycombe. Also created were rural sanitary districts, which were identical in area to poor law unions, less any urban sanitary district. The poor law guardians for the parishes in the district became the rural sanitary authority.

## List of districts 1835–1894
### Municipal boroughs, local boards and urban sanitary districts 1835–1894

Municipal boroughs (MBs) were created by the Municipal Corporations Act 1835, local board districts (LBDs) were created by the Public Health Act 1848 (11 & 12 Vict. c. 63) and governed by a local board of health, local government districts (LGDs) were created by the Local Government Act 1858 and governed by a local board. These all became urban sanitary authorities in 1875.
| Name | Formed | Area covered |
| Aylesbury LBD | 1849 | Parish of Aylesbury |
| Beaconsfield LBD | 1850 | Parish of Beaconsfield |
| Buckingham MB | 1835 | Parish of Buckingham |
| Chepping Wycombe MB | 1835 | Parish of Wycombe and part of Chepping Wycombe |
| Chesham LGD | 1884 | Parish of Chesham |
| Eton LBD | 1849 | Part of the parish of Eton |
| Slough LGD | 1863 | Parts of the parishes of Stoke Poges and Upton cum Chalvey |

### Rural sanitary districts 1875–1894

| Name | Notes | Area covered |
| Amersham RSD | | Amersham, Chalfont St Giles, Chalfont St Peter, Chenies, Chesham (1875–1884), Chesham Bois, Coleshill, Great Missenden, Lee, Penn, Seer Green |
| Aylesbury RSD | | Ashendon, Aston Abbots, Aston Clinton, Aston Sandford, Bierton with Broughton, Buckland, Chearsley, Cholesbury, Creslow, Cublington, Cuddington, Dinton with Ford and Upton, Drayton Beauchamp, Fleet Marston, Grendon Underwood, Haddenham, Halton, Buckinghamshire, Hardwick, Hartwell, Hawridge, Hulcott, Kingswood, Ludgershall, Oving, Pitchcott, Quainton, Quarrendon, Shipton Lee, Stone, Waddesdon, Lower Winchendon, Upper Winchendon, Weedon, Westcott, Weston Turville, Whitchurch, Wingrave with Rowsham, Woodham, Wotton Underwood |
| Berkhampstead RSD | Mostly in Hertfordshire | Marsworth, Pitstone |
| Bicester RSD | Mostly in Oxfordshire | Boarstall |
| Brackley RSD | Mostly in Northamptonshire | Biddlesden, Turweston, Westbury |
| Buckingham RSD | | Addington, Adstock, Akeley, Barton Hartshorn, Beachampton, Charndon, Chetwode, Edgcott, Foscott, Hillesden, Leckhampstead, Lillingstone Dayrell, Lillingstone Lovell, Luffield Abbey, Maids Moreton, Marsh Gibbon, Middle Claydon, Padbury, Poundon, Preston Bissett, Radclive-cum-Chackmore, Shalstone, Steeple Claydon, Stowe, Thornborough, Thornton, Tingewick, Twyford, Water Stratford |
| Eton RSD | | Boveney, Burnham, Datchet, Denham, Dorney, Eton (part), Farnham Royal, Fulmer, Hedgerley, Hedgerley & Dean, Hitcham, Horton, Iver, Langley Marish, Stoke Poges (part), Taplow, Upton-cum-Chalvey (part), Wexham, Wyrardisbury |
| Henley RSD | Mostly in Oxfordshire | Fawley, Hambleden, Medmenham |
| Leighton Buzzard RSD | Mostly in Bedfordshire | Cheddington, Edlesborough, Grove, Ivinghoe, Linslade, Mentmore, Slapton, Soulbury, Stoke Hammond, Wing |
| Newport Pagnell RSD | | Astwood, Bletchley, Bow Brickhill, Bradwell, Bradwell Abbey, Broughton, Castlethorpe, Chicheley, Clifton Reynes, Cold Brayfield, Emberton, Fenny Stratford, Gayhurst, Great Brickhill, Great Linford, Great Woolstone, Hanslope, Hardmead, Haversham, Lathbury, Lavendon, Little Brickhill, Little Linford, Little Woolstone, Loughton, Milton Keynes, Moulsoe, Newport Pagnell, Newton Blossomville, Newton Longville, North Crawley, Olney, Petsoe Manor, Ravenstone, Shenley Church End, Sherington, Simpson, Stantonbury, Stoke Goldington, Tyringham and Filgrave, Walton, Warrington, Water Eaton, Wavendon, Weston Underwood, Willen, Woughton on the Green |
| Potterspury RSD | Mostly in Northamptonshire | Calverton, Stony Stratford East, Stony Stratford West, Wolverton |
| Thame RSD | Mostly in Oxfordshire | Brill, Chilton, Dorton, Ickford, Kingsey, Long Crendon, Oakley, Shabbington, Worminghall |
| Winslow RSD | | Drayton Parslow, Dunton, East Claydon, Granborough, Great Horwood, Hoggeston, Hogshaw, Little Horwood, Mursley, Nash, North Marston, Shenley Brook End, Stewkley, Swanbourne, Tattenhoe, Whaddon, Winslow |
| Wycombe RSD | | Bledlow, Bradenham, Chepping Wycombe (part), Ellesborough, Fingest and Lane End, Great Hampden, Great Kimble, Great Marlow, Hedsor, Horsenden, Hughenden, Ibstone, Ilmer, Lewknor Uphill, Little Hampden, Little Kimble, Little Marlow, Little Missenden, Monks Risborough, Princes Risborough, Radnage, Saunderton, Stoke Mandeville, Turville, Wendover, West Wycombe, Wooburn |

## County districts 1894–1974

The Local Government Act 1894 (56 & 57 Vict. c. 73) reconstituted rural sanitary districts as rural districts and urban sanitary districts (other than municipal boroughs) as urban districts. Rural sanitary districts were split into multiple rural districts if they crossed county lines. Where a parish was partly in an urban sanitary district and partly in a rural sanitary district, it was split into two civil parishes. All districts were abolished in 1974.
| District | Formed from | Successor |
| Amersham Rural District | Amersham RSD | Chiltern |
| Aylesbury Rural District | Aylesbury RSD | Aylesbury Vale |
| Aylesbury Urban District (1894–1917) incorporated Municipal Borough of Aylesbury (1917–1974) | Aylesbury LBD | Aylesbury Vale |
| Beaconsfield Urban District | Beaconsfield LBD | Beaconsfield |
| Fenny Stratford Urban District (1895–1911) renamed Bletchley Urban District (1911–1974) | Newport Pagnell Rural District (part) | Milton Keynes |
| Municipal Borough of Buckingham | Municipal Borough of Buckingham | Aylesbury Vale |
| Buckingham Rural District | Buckingham RSD Brackley RSD (part) | Aylesbury Vale |
| Chesham Urban District | Chesham LGD | Chiltern |
| Eton Rural District | Eton RSD | Beaconsfield Slough (Berkshire) Windsor and Maidenhead (Berkshire) |
| Eton Urban District | Eton LBD | Windsor and Maidenhead (Berkshire) |
| Hambleden Rural District (1894–1934) | Henley RSD (part) | Wycombe Rural District |
| Municipal Borough of Chepping Wycombe (until 1946) renamed Municipal Borough of High Wycombe (1946–1974) | Municipal Borough of Chepping Wycombe (until 1946) renamed Municipal Borough of High Wycombe (1946–1974) | Wycombe |
| Linslade Urban District (1897–1965) | Wing Rural District (part) | Leighton-Linslade Urban District (Bedfordshire) |
| Long Crendon Rural District (1894–1934) | Bicester RSD (part) Thame RSD (part) | Aylesbury Rural District Bullingdon Rural District (Oxfordshire) |
| Marlow Urban District (1896–1974) | Wycombe Rural District (part) | Wycombe |
| Newport Pagnell Rural District | Newport Pagnell RSD | Milton Keynes |
| Newport Pagnell Urban District (1897–1974) | Newport Pagnell Rural District (part) | Milton Keynes |
| Slough Urban District (1894–1938) incorporated Municipal Borough of Slough (1938–1974) | Slough LGD | Slough (Berkshire) |
| Wing Rural District | Berkhampstead RSD (part) Leighton Buzzard RSD (part) | Aylesbury Vale |
| Winslow Rural District | Winslow RSD | Milton Keynes Aylesbury Vale |
| Stratford and Wolverton Rural District (1894–1919) reconstituted Stratford and Wolverton Urban District (1919–1920) renamed Wolverton Urban District (1920–1974) | Potterspury RSD (part) | Milton Keynes |
| Wycombe Rural District | Wycombe RSD | Wycombe |

## Non-metropolitan districts

Between 1974 and 2020 there were five non-metropolitan districts in the county:
* Aylesbury Vale
* Chiltern
* Milton Keynes
* South Bucks (called Beaconsfield 1974–1980)
* Wycombe
Milton Keynes Borough Council was made a unitary authority in 1997, making it independent from Buckinghamshire County Council. The other four districts were abolished in 2020 when the rest of the county was placed under the new Buckinghamshire Council unitary authority, which also replaced the county council.