List of civil parishes in the County of London in 1891 facts for kids
Imagine London over 130 years ago! In 1891, a big count of people, called a census, happened across the United Kingdom. This article looks at how London was divided up back then, not including the very old City of London.
At that time, London was split into many smaller areas called civil parishes. These were like local neighborhoods or towns within the bigger city. They helped organize things for the people living there.
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London's Population in 1891
In 1891, the part of London we are talking about had a huge population. Over 4 million people lived there! To be exact, it was 4,194,413 people. That's a lot of people to count and keep track of!
What Were Civil Parishes?
Civil parishes were local areas that handled many important tasks. Think of them as mini-governments for their neighborhoods. They were responsible for things like:
- Collecting taxes.
- Looking after the poor.
- Maintaining local roads.
- Even registering births, deaths, and marriages.
These parishes were very important for everyday life in London.
How Many Parishes Were There?
In 1891, there were 196 civil parishes across the whole County of London.
- 80 of these parishes were completely outside the ancient City of London.
- 112 were entirely inside the City.
- A few, just four, were partly inside and partly outside the City.
This shows how complex the local government structure was in London back then.
Understanding Old London Divisions
When you look at old records, you might see terms like "District of Metropolis" or "Poor Law Union." What do these mean?
District of Metropolis
The "District of Metropolis" was a way to group parishes together for certain administrative tasks. Some parishes were big enough to manage things on their own, often called a "Vestry." A Vestry was a local council that ran the parish. If a parish didn't have its own Vestry, it might belong to a larger district.
Poor Law Union
The "Poor Law Union" was a group of parishes that worked together to help people who were struggling. They managed workhouses and provided support for the poor. This system was set up to make sure that everyone had some basic help, even if they were very poor.
A Glimpse at Some London Parishes
Let's look at a few examples of these parishes and how many people lived in them in 1891. This table shows some of the larger and smaller parishes.
| Parish | Population |
|---|---|
| Islington | 319,143 |
| Lambeth | 275,203 |
| Camberwell | 235,344 |
| St Pancras | 234,379 |
| Hackney | 198,606 |
| Kensington | 166,308 |
| Battersea | 150,558 |
| St Marylebone | 142,404 |
| Bethnal Green | 129,132 |
| Shoreditch | 124,009 |
| Paddington | 117,846 |
| Newington | 115,804 |
| Mile End Old Town | 107,592 |
| Deptford St Paul | 101,286 |
| Hammersmith | 97,239 |
| Chelsea | 96,253 |
| Fulham | 91,639 |
| Bermondsey | 84,682 |
| St George Hanover Square | 78,364 |
| Lewisham | 72,272 |
| Bromley | 70,000 |
| Hampstead | 68,416 |
| Clerkenwell | 66,216 |
| Southwark St George the Martyr | 59,712 |
| Greenwich | 57,240 |
| Poplar | 56,383 |
| Westminster St Margaret and St John | 55,539 |
| Plumstead | 52,436 |
| St George in the East | 45,795 |
| Wandsworth | 46,717 |
| Stoke Newington | 30,936 |
| Tower Without, Old | 65 |
| Staple Inn (part) | 18 |
| Lincoln's Inn | 27 |
As you can see, some parishes like Islington were huge, with hundreds of thousands of people. Others, like Old Tower Without or Staple Inn, were very small, with only a few dozen residents. This shows how varied London's neighborhoods were, even back then!
Why This History Matters
Understanding these old divisions helps us see how London grew and changed over time. These civil parishes were the building blocks of the modern city. They show us how local communities managed themselves before the bigger city-wide governments we know today were fully formed. It's like looking at the roots of a giant tree to understand how it grew so big!
