Municipal Borough of Wood Green facts for kids
| Wood Green | |
| Motto: Nostrum Viret Robur | |
.jpg) The former Wood Green Town Hall |
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 Wood Green within Middlesex in 1961 |
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| Geography | |
| Status | Local board (1888–1894) Civil parish (1894–1965) Urban district (1894–1933) Municipal borough (1933–1965) |
| 1901 area | 1,625 acres (6.6 km2) |
| 1965 area | 1,697 acres (6.9 km2) |
| HQ | Woodside House, Wood Green |
| History | |
| Created | 1888 |
| Abolished | 1965 |
| Succeeded by | London Borough of Haringey |
Quick facts for kids Demography |
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|---|---|
| 1901 population | 34,223 |
| 1961 population | 47,945 |
 Coat of arms of the municipal borough council |
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Wood Green was once a special area in south east Middlesex that had its own local government. This lasted from 1888 until 1965. Think of it like a town that managed its own affairs for many years.
Contents
Wood Green's Story
Before 1888, Wood Green was actually part of a bigger area called Tottenham. In 1850, it was included in the Tottenham Local Board's district. A "local board" was a group of people who helped run the local area, like a small council.
Becoming Its Own Place
Many people living in Wood Green wanted their own local government. They worked hard to make this happen. In 1888, a special law was passed called the Tottenham Local Board (Division of District) Act. This law allowed Wood Green to create its very own local board, separate from Tottenham.
Later, in 1894, another important law, the Local Government Act, changed things again. Wood Green became an "urban district." This was a step up, giving it more power to manage local services. Then, in 1933, it became a "municipal borough." This meant it was a fully self-governing town with its own mayor and council. Wood Green was also part of the London postal district and the Metropolitan Police District, which meant it was connected to London's mail and police services.
Symbols and Meaning: The Coat of Arms
When Wood Green became a municipal borough, it was given its own special coat of arms. This was like a unique symbol or logo for the town.
- The shield on the coat of arms showed yew trees.
- It was held up by medieval archers. This was a nod to the past, as Wood Green used to be a place where people practiced archery.
- A silver and blue stripe crossed the middle of the shield. This represented the New River, an important water source for London.
- The motto was in Latin: nostrum viret robur. This cool phrase can mean "our strength is a tree" or, even better, "Wood Green Flourishes." It showed the town's pride and growth.
The Heart of Wood Green: Its Town Hall
In 1893, the local board bought a building called Earlham Grove House. It later became known as Woodside House. This building was very important because it served as the town's Town Hall.
The Town Hall was the main office for the local government. It also held Wood Green's very first public library, a place where everyone could borrow books. In 1913, a new part was added to the building. This was a special room called a council chamber, where the Urban District Council members would meet to discuss and decide things for the town. The building continued to be used as Wood Green Town Hall until 1958.
Joining Greater London
In 1965, the municipal borough of Wood Green was officially ended. Its area became part of a much larger region called Greater London. This change happened because of the London Government Act 1963.
Wood Green's area was then combined with two other nearby areas: the Municipal Borough of Tottenham and the Municipal Borough of Hornsey. Together, these three areas formed the new London Borough of Haringey, which is still a part of London today.
