# Civil parishes in South Yorkshire

A civil parish is a country subdivision, forming the lowest unit of local government in England. There are 94 civil parishes in the ceremonial county of South Yorkshire, most of the county being unparished. At the 2001 census, there were 360,191 people living in the parishes, increasing to 369,220 in 2011, accounting for 27.5 per cent of the county's population.

## History

Parishes arose from Church of England divisions, and were originally purely ecclesiastical divisions. Over time they acquired civil administration powers.
The Highways Act 1555 made parishes responsible for the upkeep of roads. Every adult inhabitant of the parish was obliged to work four days a year on the roads, providing their own tools, carts and horses; the work was overseen by an unpaid local appointee, the Surveyor of Highways.
The poor were looked after by the monasteries, until their dissolution. In 1572, magistrates were given power to 'survey the poor' and impose taxes for their relief. This system was made more formal by the Poor Law Act 1601, which made parishes responsible for administering the Poor Law; overseers were appointed to charge a rate to support the poor of the parish. The 19th century saw an increase in the responsibility of parishes, although the Poor Law powers were transferred to Poor Law Unions. The Public Health Act 1872 grouped parishes into Rural Sanitary Districts, based on the Poor Law Unions; these subsequently formed the basis for Rural Districts.
Parishes were run by vestries, meeting annually to appoint officials, and were generally identical to ecclesiastical parishes, although some townships in large parishes administered the Poor Law themselves; under the Divided Parishes and Poor Law Amendment Act 1882, all extra-parochial areas and townships that levied a separate rate became independent civil parishes.
Civil parishes in their modern sense date from the Local Government Act 1894, which abolished vestries; established elected parish councils in all rural parishes with more than 300 electors; grouped rural parishes into Rural Districts; and aligned parish boundaries with county and borough boundaries. Urban civil parishes continued to exist, and were generally coterminous with the Urban District, Municipal Borough or County Borough in which they were situated; many large towns contained a number of parishes, and these were usually merged into one. Parish councils were not formed in urban areas, and the only function of the parish was to elect guardians to Poor Law Unions; with the abolition of the Poor Law system in 1930 the parishes had only a nominal existence.
The Local Government Act 1972 retained civil parishes in rural areas, and many former Urban Districts and Municipal Boroughs that were being abolished, were replaced by new successor parishes; urban areas that were considered too large to be single parishes became unparished areas.

## The current position

Recent governments have encouraged the formation of town and parish councils in unparished areas, and the Local Government and Rating Act 1997 gave local residents the right to demand the creation of a new civil parish.
A parish council can become a town council unilaterally, simply by resolution; and a civil parish can also gain city status, but only if that is granted by the Crown. The chairman of a town or city council is called a mayor. The Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 introduced alternative names: a parish council can now choose to be called a community; village; or neighbourhood council.

## List of civil parishes and unparished areas

| Name | Status | Population | District | Former local authority | Refs |
| Barnsley | Unparished area | 91,297 | Barnsley | Barnsley County Borough | [12] [13] |
| Billingley | Civil parish | 210 | Barnsley | Hemsworth Rural District | [14] [15] |
| Brierley | Unparished area | 7,267 | Barnsley | Hemsworth Rural District | [14] [16] [17] |
| Cawthorne | Civil parish | 1,151 | Barnsley | Penistone Rural District | [18] [19] |
| Cudworth | Unparished area | 10,977 | Barnsley | Cudworth Urban District | [20] [21] |
| Darfield | Unparished area | 10,685 | Barnsley | Darfield Urban District | [22] [23] |
| Darton | Unparished area | 21,345 | Barnsley | Darton Urban District | [24] [25] [26] |
| Dearne | Unparished area | 22,387 | Barnsley | Dearne Urban District | [27] [28] [29] |
| Dodworth | Unparished area | 9,777 | Barnsley | Dodworth Urban District | [30] [31] |
| Dunford | Civil parish | 568 | Barnsley | Penistone Rural District | [18] [32] |
| Great Houghton | Civil parish | 2,475 | Barnsley | Hemsworth Rural District | [14] [33] |
| Gunthwaite and Ingbirchworth | Civil parish | 460 | Barnsley | Penistone Rural District | [18] [34] |
| High Hoyland | Civil parish | 128 | Barnsley | Penistone Rural District | [18] [35] |
| Hoyland Nether | Unparished area | 17,710 | Barnsley | Hoyland Nether Urban District | [36] [37] |
| Hunshelf | Civil parish | 346 | Barnsley | Penistone Rural District | [18] [38] |
| Langsett | Civil parish | 222 | Barnsley | Penistone Rural District | [18] [39] |
| Little Houghton | Civil parish | 659 | Barnsley | Hemsworth Rural District | [14] [40] |
| Oxspring | Civil parish | 1,225 | Barnsley | Penistone Rural District | [18] [41] |
| Penistone | Town | 11,270 | Barnsley | Penistone Urban District | [42] [43] |
| Royston | Unparished area | 10,728 | Barnsley | Royston Urban District | [44] [45] |
| Shafton | Civil parish | 3,447 | Barnsley | Hemsworth Rural District | [14] [46] |
| Silkstone | Civil parish | 3,153 | Barnsley | Penistone Rural District | [18] [47] |
| Stainborough | Civil parish | 390 | Barnsley | Penistone Rural District | [18] [48] |
| Tankersley | Civil parish | 1,671 | Barnsley | Wortley Rural District | [49] [50] |
| Thurgoland | Civil parish | 1,969 | Barnsley | Penistone Rural District | [18] [51] |
| Wombwell | Unparished area | 11,477 | Barnsley | Wombwell Urban District | [52] [53] |
| Worsbrough | Unparished area | 9,682 | Barnsley | Worsbrough Urban District | [54] [55] |
| Wortley | Civil parish | 626 | Barnsley | Wortley Rural District | [49] [56] |
| Adwick le Street | Unparished area | 19,222 | Doncaster | Adwick le Street Urban District | [57] [58] |
| Adwick upon Dearne | Civil parish | 333 | Doncaster | Doncaster Rural District | [59] [60] |
| Armthorpe | Civil parish | 14,457 | Doncaster | Doncaster Rural District | [59] [61] |
| Askern | Town | 5,570 | Doncaster | Doncaster Rural District | [59] [62] |
| Auckley | Civil parish | 3,745 | Doncaster | Doncaster Rural District | [59] [63] |
| Austerfield | Civil parish | 536 | Doncaster | Doncaster Rural District | [59] [64] |
| Barnburgh | Civil parish | 1,924 | Doncaster | Doncaster Rural District | [59] [65] |
| Barnby Dun with Kirk Sandall | Civil parish | 8,592 | Doncaster | Doncaster Rural District | [59] [66] |
| Bawtry | Town | 3,573 | Doncaster | Doncaster Rural District | [59] [67] |
| Bentley with Arksey | Unparished area | 14,191 | Doncaster | Bentley with Arksey Urban District | [68] [69] |
| Blaxton | Civil parish | 1,162 | Doncaster | Doncaster Rural District | [59] [70] |
| Braithwell | Civil parish | 1,060 | Doncaster | Doncaster Rural District | [59] [71] |
| Brodsworth | Civil parish | 2,936 | Doncaster | Doncaster Rural District | [59] [72] |
| Burghwallis | Civil parish | 300 | Doncaster | Doncaster Rural District | [59] [73] |
| Cadeby | Civil parish | 203 | Doncaster | Doncaster Rural District | [59] [74] |
| Cantley | Civil parish | 2,817 | Doncaster | Doncaster Rural District | [59] [75] |
| Clayton with Frickley | Civil parish | 230 | Doncaster | Doncaster Rural District | [59] [76] |
| Conisbrough | Unparished area | 15,934 | Doncaster | Conisbrough Urban District | [77] [78] |
| Conisbrough Parks | Civil parish | 374 | Doncaster | Doncaster Rural District | [59] [79] |
| Denaby | Civil parish | 329 | Doncaster | Doncaster Rural District | [59] [80] |
| Doncaster | Unparished area | 109,805 | Doncaster | Doncaster County Borough | [81] [82] |
| Edenthorpe | Civil parish | 4,776 | Doncaster | Doncaster Rural District | [59] [83] |
| Edlington | Town | 7,856 | Doncaster | Doncaster Rural District | [59] [84] |
| Fenwick | Civil parish | 121 | Doncaster | Doncaster Rural District | [59] [85] |
| Finningley | Civil parish | 1,497 | Doncaster | East Retford Rural District | [86] [87] |
| Fishlake | Civil parish | 682 | Doncaster | Thorne Rural District | [88] [89] |
| Hampole | Civil parish | 203 | Doncaster | Doncaster Rural District | [59] [90] |
| Hatfield | Town | 17,326 | Doncaster | Thorne Rural District | [88] [91] |
| Hickleton | Civil parish | 274 | Doncaster | Doncaster Rural District | [59] [92] |
| High Melton | Civil parish | 300 | Doncaster | Doncaster Rural District | [59] [93] |
| Hooton Pagnell | Civil parish | 201 | Doncaster | Doncaster Rural District | [59] [94] |
| Kirk Bramwith | Civil parish | 320 | Doncaster | Doncaster Rural District | [59] [95] |
| Loversall | Civil parish | 156 | Doncaster | Doncaster Rural District | [59] [96] |
| Marr | Civil parish | 146 | Doncaster | Doncaster Rural District | [59] [97] |
| Mexborough | Unparished area | 15,244 | Doncaster | Mexborough Urban District | [98] [99] |
| Moss | Civil parish | 389 | Doncaster | Doncaster Rural District | [59] [100] |
| Norton | Civil parish | 4,625 | Doncaster | Doncaster Rural District | [59] [101] |
| Owston | Civil parish | 145 | Doncaster | Doncaster Rural District | [59] [102] |
| Rossington | Civil parish | 13,537 | Doncaster | Doncaster Rural District | [59] [103] |
| Sprotbrough and Cusworth | Civil parish | 12,134 | Doncaster | Doncaster Rural District | [59] [104] |
| Stainforth | Town | 6,282 | Doncaster | Thorne Rural District | [88] [105] |
| Stainton | Civil parish | 271 | Doncaster | Doncaster Rural District | [59] [106] |
| Sykehouse | Civil parish | 515 | Doncaster | Thorne Rural District | [88] [107] |
| Thorne | Town | 17,295 | Doncaster | Thorne Rural District | [88] [108] |
| Thorpe in Balne | Civil parish | 203 | Doncaster | Doncaster Rural District | [59] [109] |
| Tickhill | Town | 5,228 | Doncaster | Tickhill Urban District | [110] [111] |
| Wadworth | Civil parish | 1,137 | Doncaster | Doncaster Rural District | [59] [112] |
| Warmsworth | Civil parish | 1,753 | Doncaster | Doncaster Rural District | [59] [113] |
| Aston cum Aughton | Civil parish | 15,134 | Rotherham | Rotherham Rural District | [114] [115] |
| Bramley | Civil parish | 7,491 | Rotherham | Rotherham Rural District | [114] [116] |
| Brampton Bierlow | Civil parish | 4,610 | Rotherham | Rotherham Rural District | [114] [117] |
| Brinsworth | Civil parish | 8,789 | Rotherham | Rotherham Rural District | [114] [118] |
| Catcliffe | Civil parish | 2,108 (including part of Waverley | Rotherham | Rotherham Rural District | [114] [119] |
| Dalton | Civil parish | 10,292 | Rotherham | Rotherham Rural District | [114] [120] |
| Dinnington St John's | Town | 9,077 | Rotherham | Kiveton Park Rural District | [121] [122] |
| Firbeck | Civil parish | 299 | Rotherham | Kiveton Park Rural District | [121] [123] |
| Gildingwells | Civil parish | 226 (including Letwell) | Rotherham | Kiveton Park Rural District | [121] [124] |
| Harthill with Woodall | Civil parish | 1,879 | Rotherham | Kiveton Park Rural District | [121] [125] |
| Hellaby | Civil parish | 825 | Rotherham | Rotherham Rural District | [126][114] [127] |
| Hooton Levitt | Civil parish | 132 | Rotherham | Rotherham Rural District | [114] [128] |
| Hooton Roberts | Civil parish | 210 | Rotherham | Rotherham Rural District | [114] [129] |
| Laughton-en-le-Morthen | Civil parish | 1,241 | Rotherham | Rotherham Rural District | [114] [130] |
| Letwell | Civil parish | | Rotherham | Kiveton Park Rural District | [121] [131] |
| Maltby | Town | 16,856 | Rotherham | Maltby Urban District | [132] [133] |
| North and South Anston | Civil parish | 9,217 | Rotherham | Kiveton Park Rural District | [121] [134] |
| Orgreave | Civil parish | 739 (including part of Waverley) | Rotherham | Rotherham Rural District | [114] [135] |
| Ravenfield | Civil parish | 2,828 | Rotherham | Rotherham Rural District | [114] [136] |
| Rawmarsh | Unparished area | 18,498 | Rotherham | Rawmarsh Urban District | [137] [138] |
| Rotherham | Unparished area | 109,691 | Rotherham | Rotherham County Borough | [139] [140] |
| Swinton | Unparished area | 11,701 | Rotherham | Swinton Urban District | [141] [142] |
| Thorpe Salvin | Civil parish | 476 | Rotherham | Kiveton Park Rural District | [121] [143] |
| Thrybergh | Civil parish | 4,058 | Rotherham | Rotherham Rural District | [114] [144] |
| Thurcroft | Civil parish | 6,900 | Rotherham | Rotherham Rural District | [114] [145] |
| Todwick | Civil parish | 1,634 | Rotherham | Kiveton Park Rural District | [121] [146] |
| Treeton | Civil parish | 3,189 | Rotherham | Rotherham Rural District | [114] [147] |
| Ulley | Civil parish | 172 | Rotherham | Rotherham Rural District | [114] [148] |
| Wales | Civil parish | 7,069 | Rotherham | Kiveton Park Rural District | [121] [149] |
| Wath upon Dearne | Unparished area | 11,816 | Rotherham | Wath upon Dearne Urban District | [150] [151] |
| Waverley | Civil parish | created post census | Rotherham | Rotherham Rural District | [114] [152] |
| Wentworth | Civil parish | 1,478 | Rotherham | Rotherham Rural District | [114] [153] |
| Whiston | Civil parish | 5,042 | Rotherham | Rotherham Rural District | [114] [154] |
| Wickersley | Civil parish | 7,392 | Rotherham | Rotherham Rural District | [114] [155] |
| Woodsetts | Civil parish | 1,746 | Rotherham | Kiveton Park Rural District | [121] [156] |
| Bradfield | Civil parish | 17,100 | Sheffield | Wortley Rural District | [49] [157] |
| Ecclesfield | Civil parish | 32,073 | Sheffield | Wortley Rural District | [49] [158] |
| Sheffield | Unparished area | 518,090 | Sheffield | Sheffield County Borough | [159] [160] |
| Stocksbridge | Town | 13,455 | Sheffield | Stocksbridge Urban District | [161] [162] |