There have been a
number of occasions when our local county boundaries have been changed.
A major change, came
about in 1936 when Furness Vale, most of Whaley Bridge and part of
Newtown were transferred from Cheshire to Derbyshire. At the same
time Mellor and |Ludworth joined with Cheshire, becoming Marple Urban
District Council’s responsibility, . The original county
boundary following the River Goyt had caused numerous administrative
anomalies and duplications of offices. Furness Vale for instance was
divided almost equally between two civil parishes, Disley and
Yeardsley-cum-Whaley, whilst homes across the river were in another
county altogether. Whaley Bridge, divided in two, was under the
jurisdiction of two county councils, one urban district and two rural
district councils as well as three parish councils. The town even had
two police officers, responsible for opposite sides of the river.
Each of the parishes levied different rates and even the pubs kept
different hours.
The Local Government
Act of 1972 brought about changes throughout the country. 1st
April 1974 saw the creation of new Metropolitan Counties such as
Greater Manchester and at the same time, many adjustments to the
boundaries of Non Metropolitan Counties, particularly Cheshire.
These were however, only administrative changes and the act did not
seek to change or abolish the historic counties nor their traditional
boundaries. The postal addresses of some towns, such as Marple
still recognise the original county distinction. The Department of
the Environment stated at the time “They are administrative areas
and will not alter the traditional boundaries of counties, nor is it
intended that the loyalties of people living in them will change”.
Nearly 50 years later, those loyalties have naturally become
challenged. Many residents of Stockport and Marple now look more
towards Greater Manchester whilst others, remain firmly attached to
their Cheshire roots. It is the traditional loyalty that is strictly
correct yet it is understandable that many feel that they now belong
to the Metropolis.
Less clear is the
situation in Furness Vale and Whaley Bridge. There are still a number
of people who were born in Cheshire yet local allegiances are firmly
with Derbyshire. Technically though, it might well be claimed that we
are still within the old county for the notices issued in 1936
referred only to administrative changes.
Nearby Disley
remains in Cheshire. The proposal in 1972 intended that the village
should be within Stockport Metropolitan Borough but the decision was
reversed after local campaigning. The question was raised again
twelve years ago when a local referendum was considered to decide
whether Disley might transfer to Stockport or High Peak. The village
remains however, very much part of East Cheshire.
In
the 1900s, it was within the Parish of Stockport but was included in
the Hayfield Poor Law Union in Derbyshire (from the outset), despite
being separated from Derbyshire by the River Goyt. The Hayfield Poor
Law Union came into existence in 1837 and between 1839 and 1841 built
the Union Workhouse in Low Leighton. Interestingly, New Mills,
Derbyshire, did not join the Hayfield Union until 1885.
Historically,
local government had been based upon ecclesiastical parishes with the
power to levy a rate for the relief of the poor established by an act
of 1601. This replaced an earlier feudal system of government. The
19th
century saw numerous reforms including the establishment of civil
parishes in 1866. These
followed common boundaries but population movement and growth led to
many changes. 1894 saw the establishment of Rural and Urban District
Councils which took over most of the powers of the civil parishes.
The map extracts
below from wikishire.co.uk and the Association of British Counties
websites indicate the traditional pre-1936 boundaries. It is
interesting to note, and perhaps a surprise that Cheshire has a
boundary with Yorkshire.
The third map has
been coloured to show the modern Cheshire and the former Derbyshire;
the unshaded area being that including Furness Vale and Whaley
Bridge,and which changed counties.