London County Council facts for kids

The London County Council (LCC) was a very important local government group in London. It was in charge of the area we now call Inner London from 1889 to 1965. The LCC was the first group like this in London where people could directly vote for its members. It was replaced later by the Greater London Council. The LCC was known as the biggest and most ambitious local authority of its time.

The LCC's Story

The LCC was created in 1889. This happened because of problems with the group before it, called the Metropolitan Board of Works (MBW). The MBW wasn't chosen by public vote, and it had some scandals. So, a new law called the Local Government Act 1888 helped create the LCC.

Even though some politicians didn't want one big group for all of London, they had promised to create it. Later, in 1899, the government created 28 smaller local groups called metropolitan boroughs. These boroughs took over some of the LCC's jobs and shared others.

The LCC took over the jobs of the old MBW. But it also got new, bigger powers. These included looking after things like education, planning the city, and building council housing. For example, in 1903, the LCC took over the work of the London School Board. A person named Dr C W Kimmins became the main inspector for education in 1904.

Images for kids

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  The County of London around 1890

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  The arms (logo) of the London County Council

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  The First Meeting of the London County Council in the County Hall Spring Gardens, 1889 by Henry Jamyn Brooks

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  Aldwych, built as a slum clearance project in 1905

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  Lambeth Bridge, built by the LCC in 1932

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  The headquarters of the London Fire Brigade on Albert Embankment, opened in 1937

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  A pond on Hampstead Heath, the largest open space maintained by the council

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  Camberwell School of Arts and Crafts built by the LCC in 1898

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  L.C.C. Tram Car No. 106

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  The Geffrye Museum

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  Plaque marking the opening of the Blackwall Tunnel in 1897

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  Spring Gardens