Staines Urban District facts for kids
| Staines | |
| Motto: Ad pontes prospicimus (At the bridges we look forward) | |
 Staines within Surrey in 1971 |
|
| Geography | |
| Status | Urban district |
| 1894 area | 1,918 acres (7.8 km2) |
| 1974 area | 8,270 acres (33.5 km2) |
| HQ | Staines |
| History | |
| Created | 1894 |
| Abolished | 1974 |
| Succeeded by | Spelthorne |
Quick facts for kids Demography |
|
|---|---|
| 1901 population | 6,688 |
| 1971 population | 56,725 |
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| Subdivisions | |
| Type | Civil Parishes |
| Units | Staines Civil Parish Ashford Civil Parish Laleham Civil Parish Stanwell Civil Parish |
Staines was a special area in England that had its own local government. This area was called an "urban district." It existed from 1894 to 1974 and was named after the town of Staines.
Contents
About the Staines District
The Staines Urban District included the town of Staines itself. It also covered nearby towns like Ashford, Stanwell, and Laleham. In the northern part, Stanwell and Staines Moor were mostly farmland.
Over the years, some land from the district was used to build large water reservoirs. These reservoirs helped supply water to London. A pumping station and aqueduct were built around 1902. The district also opened a main cemetery in 1911 and a hospital in 1914.
Between World War I and World War II, more buildings appeared. A London Transport garage opened in 1934. Many new houses were built, especially in the south. These homes were for people working in London.
How the District Changed
In 1894, Staines became an urban district. This happened under a law called the Local Government Act 1894. At first, it only included the Staines parish.
Later, in 1930, three more areas joined the district. These were the parishes of Ashford, Laleham, and Stanwell. They came from the Staines Rural District, which was closed down.
In 1965, a big change happened to local government. Most of the area of Middlesex County moved to Greater London. But Staines Urban District was one of a few areas that did not. Instead, it was moved to Surrey county.
The Council and Its Work
When the Staines Urban District started, it had 12 members on its council. This council was like a local government team. When Ashford, Laleham, and Stanwell joined in 1930, the number of council members doubled.
The council usually met once a month. They had different groups, called committees, to handle specific tasks. For example, they had committees for highways, finance, and drainage.
One of their first big jobs was to build a sewer system. This was finished in 1896 and helped keep the area clean. The council also built many houses for people. By 1939, they had built 500 council houses. Between 1947 and 1957, they built over 1,300 more.
The council also had staff to help run things. This included a clerk, a surveyor, and a medical officer. By 1957, about 100 people worked for the council.
A school board was set up in Staines in 1885. This board managed the local schools. In 1902, the county council took over this job.
Staines Coat of Arms
The Staines Urban District got its own special coat of arms in 1951. A coat of arms is a unique design that represents a place or family.
The design includes:
- A bridge, which is the Staines Bridge.
- Wavy lines, which stand for the River Thames.
- A special stone called the London Stone, a local landmark.
- Two swans, which are often seen on the river.
- Two Saxon swords (called seaxes), which come from the coat of arms of Middlesex, the county Staines was in.
- A greyhound dog on top of a tower. This dog came from the family symbol of Mr. H. Scott Freeman, who helped pay for the coat of arms.
The motto of the district was "Ad pontes prospicimus." This is Latin for "At the bridges we look forward." The Roman name for Staines was "Ad Pontes."
What Happened Next
In 1974, the Staines Urban District was closed down. This was part of a new law called the Local Government Act 1972. The area of Staines was then combined with the Sunbury-on-Thames Urban District. Together, they formed a new, larger area called the borough of Spelthorne.
