Municipal Borough of Mitcham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mitcham |
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.jpg) Mitcham Vestry Hall |
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| Geography | |
| Status | urban district (until 1934) municipal borough (after 1934) |
| History | |
| Created | 1915 |
| Abolished | 1965 |
| Succeeded by | London Borough of Merton |
Mitcham was a special area in Surrey, England, that had its own local government. It existed from 1915 to 1965. This area was centered around the town of Mitcham.
Contents
Mitcham's History as a Local Area
Mitcham's local government area began in 1915. It was first called an urban district. This type of district was created from parts of the old Croydon Rural District.
In 1934, Mitcham became a municipal borough. This meant it had more power to manage its own affairs.
Becoming Part of London
In 1965, a big change happened because of the London Government Act 1963. The municipal borough of Mitcham was ended. Its area joined with two other areas. These were the Municipal Borough of Wimbledon and the Merton and Morden Urban District.
Together, these areas formed the new London Borough of Merton. This new borough is now part of Greater London.
Mitcham's Special Symbol: The Coat of Arms
Mitcham was given its own special symbol, called a coat of arms, in 1934. This symbol has different parts, each with a meaning.
What the Shield Shows
The main part of the coat of arms is the shield.
- A green stripe goes down the middle. This green color represents the green spaces of Mitcham.
- Across the middle, there is a wavy silver band. On this band is a thin blue wavy line. This part reminds us of a ford (a shallow place to cross a river) in north Mitcham. This ford was once known as Whitford.
- Below the wavy band, there is a silver tower. This tower stands for a large old building. Mitcham's earlier name, Michelham, came from this building.
- Above the wavy band, you can see gold crossed keys and a sword. These symbols represent St. Peter and St. Paul. They are important patron saints for Mitcham.
- On each side of the green stripe, there is a sprig of lavender. Lavender is shown in its natural color. Mitcham was famous for growing lavender.
The Crest and Motto
- The crest is the part above the shield. It shows three sprigs of lavender. These are wrapped around a special crown that looks like a wall. This type of crown shows that Mitcham was a municipal borough.
- The motto is a phrase written below the shield. Mitcham's motto is "Mitcham Faeste Gestandeþ". This is Old English for "Mitcham stands fast." It means Mitcham is strong and steady.
