View source for Metropolitan Borough of Hackney

{{Short description|Borough of the County of London from 1900 to 1965}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox historic subdivision
 | Start=      1900 
 | End=        1965
 | Map=        [[File:Metropolitan Borough of Hackney.svg|250px]]<br />Hackney within the historic [[County of London]]
 | Name=       Hackney 
 | Origin=     [[Hackney (parish)|Hackney parish]]
 | Status=     [[Metropolitan boroughs of the County of London|Metropolitan borough]]
 | HQ=         Mare Street
 | Government= Hackney Borough Council
 | Replace=    [[London Borough of Hackney]]
 | Image=      hackney town hall 1.jpg
 | image_caption=     [[Hackney Town Hall]]
 | Motto=      ''Justitia Turris Nostra'' (Justice is our tower)  
 | Arms=       [[Image:Hackneymbarms.png|200px|Arms of the metropolitan borough]]<br />Arms of the borough council
| footnotes=     {{maplink|raw={{Wikipedia:Map data/Metropolitan Borough of Hackney}}|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=250|frame-height=245}} Map of borough boundary
}}
The '''Metropolitan Borough of Hackney''' was a [[Metropolitan boroughs of the County of London|metropolitan borough]] of the [[County of London]] from 1900 to 1965.  Its area became part of the [[London Borough of Hackney]].

==Formation and boundaries==
The borough was one of twenty-eight metropolitan boroughs created by the [[London Government Act 1899]]. It was the successor to the [[vestry]] of the [[Hackney (parish)|parish of Hackney]], which had been the local authority since 1894. Between 1855 and 1894 the parish had been administered with Stoke Newington as the [[Hackney District (Metropolis)|Hackney District]].<ref name=vchlg>{{cite web | editor=T F T Baker  | title=Hackney: Local Government| url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=22709  | work=A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 10: Hackney  | publisher=British History Online | year=1995 | access-date= 2009-04-30}}</ref>

The boundaries of Hackney with the neighbouring boroughs were adjusted slightly in 1900: Hackney gained the east side of Bethune Road from [[Metropolitan Borough of Stoke Newington|Stoke Newington]] and the south side of Balls Pond Road from Islington; it lost the west side of Southgate Road to Islington. The boundary with [[Metropolitan Borough of Shoreditch|Shoreditch]] was altered to run along the [[Regents Canal]], Albion Road and Brougham Road, while the boundary with [[Metropolitan Borough of Bethnal Green|Bethnal Green]], which had formed a straight line, was changed to follow the line of Gore Road. A further adjustment was made in 1908, when areas were exchanged with [[Municipal Borough of Tottenham|Tottenham Urban District]], [[Middlesex]].<ref>{{cite web | editor=T F T Baker  | title=Hackney: Introduction | url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=22692  | work=A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 10: Hackney  | publisher=British History Online | year=1995 | access-date= 2009-04-30}}</ref> It had a border with [[Municipal Borough of Leyton|Leyton Urban District]] (a municipal borough from 1926) in [[Essex]] to the east and to the north, from which it was divided by [[Hackney Marshes]].

The metropolitan borough was coterminous with the ancient parish of Hackney and included the districts of [[Hackney Central]], [[Clapton, London|Clapton]], [[Stamford Hill]], [[Homerton]], [[Dalston]] and [[Kingsland, London|Kingsland]]. It also included [[Stoke Newington Common]], and the entire eastern side of Stoke Newington High Street.

==Population and area==
The metropolitan borough was almost coterminous with the ancient parish of Hackney. Statistics were compiled by the [[London County Council]] in 1901 to show population growth in London over the preceding century.

The area of the borough in 1901 was {{convert|3289|acre|km2|1}}. The populations recorded in National Censuses were:

'''Hackney Vestry 1801&ndash;1899'''
{| class="wikitable" 
! Year<ref>Statistical Abstract for London, 1901 (Vol. IV).</ref> 
|| 1801 || 1811 ||1821 || 1831 || 1841 || 1851 || 1861 || 1871 || 1881 || 1891
|-
! Population || 12,730|| 16,771||22,494|| 31,047|| 37,771|| 53,589|| 76,687|| 115,110|| 163,681|| 198,606
|}
'''Metropolitan Borough 1900&ndash;1961'''
{| class="wikitable" 
! Year<ref>[http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit_census_page.jsp?u_id=10001821&c_id=10001043 Hackney MetB: Census Tables] at ''Vision of Britain'' accessed on 14 Dec 2006</ref>
|| 1901 || 1911 || 1921 || 1931 || 1941 || 1951 || 1961 
|-
! Population || 219,272|| 222,533 || 222,142 || 215,333 ||<ref>''The census was suspended for [[World War II]]''</ref>|| 171,342 || 171,342
|}

By comparison, after amalgamation with [[Metropolitan Borough of Shoreditch|Shoreditch]] and [[Metropolitan Borough of Stoke Newington|Stoke Newington]], to form the modern [[London Borough of Hackney]], the combined area became 19.06&nbsp;km² - approximately {{convert|4710|acre|km2}}; in 2005, this had a population of 207,700,<ref>2005 estimate</ref> or a population density of 10,900/km². In 1901 Hackney the population density was 16,475/km².

==Politics==
===Incorporated vestry===
[[File:Hackney Met. B Ward Map 1916.svg|thumb|A map showing the wards of Hackney Metropolitan Borough as they appeared in 1916.]]
Under the [[Metropolis Management Act 1855]] any parish that exceeded 2,000 [[Rates in the United Kingdom|ratepayers]] was to be divided into wards; as such the parish of St John at Hackney within the [[Hackney District Board of Works]] was divided into seven wards (electing [[vestrymen]]): No. 1 or Stamford Hill (15), No. 2 or West (18), No. 3 or De Beauvoir Town (18), No. 4 or Dalston (18), No. 5 or Hackney (18), No. 6 or Homerton (15) and No. 7 or South (18).<ref>{{cite book|title=The London Gazette Issue: 21802|date=20 October 1855|pages=3905–3907|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/21802/page/3905|access-date=9 April 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=H.M.S.O. Boundary Commission Report 1885 Hackney Map|url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/maps/sheet/bc_reports_1885/Hackney_1885|website=Vision of Britain|access-date=9 April 2015}}</ref>

The Hackney Vestry was controlled  by the Progressive Party, the grouping linked with the parliamentary [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal Party]]. Opposition on the body was provided by the [[Conservative party (UK)|Conservative]]-backed Moderate Party. The vestry had 119 members, with one third elected annually.

In 1894 as its population had increased the incorporated vestry was re-divided into eight wards (electing [[vestrymen]]): Stamford Hill (15), West (18), Kingsland (12), Hackney (12), Mare Street (15), South (15), Clapton (12) and Homerton (21).<ref>{{cite book|title=The London Gazette Issue: 26542|date=14 August 1894|pages=4713–4715|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/26542/page/4713|access-date=9 April 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The London Gazette Issue: 26563|date=23 October 1894|page=5937|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/26563/page/5937|access-date=9 April 2015}}</ref>

===Borough council===
The London Government Act 1899 replaced the incorporated vestries with borough councils consisting of a [[mayor]], [[alderman|aldermen]] and councillors. All councillors were to be elected every three years. There was one alderman for every six councillors, and these were elected by the council itself.

Boundary commissioners were appointed under the London Government Act 1899 to divide the new boroughs into wards, and to apportion councillors to each ward. It was decided to continue to use the eight vestry wards. The Moderates claimed that Stamford Hill and West Hackney wards were under-represented and should be given nine councillors, with the remaining six wards having six each.<ref>{{cite news |title=The New London Boroughs |work=[[The Times]] |page=6 |date=3 April 1900 }}</ref> In the event, the commissioners apportioned 60 councillors between the eight wards: Clapton Park, Hackney, Homerton and Stamford Hill having nine councillors and Downs, Kingsland, South and West wards having six a piece. With 10 aldermen, the borough council thus had 70 members.<ref name=vchlg/>

====1900&ndash;1919====
The boundary changes seem to have favoured the Moderates, as at the first elections to the council on 1 November 1900 they won a majority with 37 seats to 18 won by the [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal Party]] and Progressives, with 3 independent Conservative and 2 independent councillors also returned.<ref>''The London borough elections'', The Times, November 3, 1900, p.14</ref> At the next election in 1903 the Progressives won control with 49 seats to 11 Conservatives.<ref>''London borough council elections'', The Times November 4, 1903</ref> Three years later the Conservatives ran under the [[Municipal Reform Party|Municipal Reform]] label. Municipal Reformers won 18 seats and independents supported by them won 20, giving them a majority over the Progressives with 22 seats.<ref>''London borough council elections'', The Times, November 3, 1906</ref> The Progressives regained the council in 1909 with a narrow majority, losing power to the Municipal Reform party again in 1912.<ref>''London borough council elections'', The Times November 3, 1909; ''The London borough elections'', The Times, November 4, 1912</ref>

====1919&ndash;1937====
The next elections, [[Elections and Registration Act 1915|postponed until 1919]] due to the [[First World War]], were won by the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]]: Labour won 32 seats, Municipal Reform 15 and Progressives 13.<ref>''Borough council elections - Extensive Labour gains'', The Times, November 4, 1919</ref> At the next elections in 1922 a "Progressive Reform" anti-Labour alliance won all seats on the council, and held them at the subsequent polls in 1925.<ref>''Labour rout in London'', The Times, November 3, 1922; ''The borough elections, a slight Labour advance'', November 4, The Times, 1925</ref> The 1928 election was partly run on party lines: the Municipal Reform party won control with 31 seats, other Anti-Labour candidates won 15, Labour won 12 and Progressives 1.<ref>''The municipal elections'', The Times, November 3, 1928</ref> In 1931 Municipal Reformers won all but one seat, which was held by Labour.<ref>''The borough elections – Labour routed'', The Times, November 4, 1931</ref> Labour gained control of the borough council in 1934, and held power for the rest of the borough's existence. In 1934 they won 45 seats to 15 won by Municipal Reformers.<ref>''The municipal elections – more Labour gains in London'', The Times, November 3, 1934</ref>

====1937&ndash;1965====
In 1937 the borough's ward boundaries were redrawn: sixteen wards were created (Chatham, Culford, Dalston, Downs, Graham, Leaside, Marsh, Maury, Park, Ridley, Southwold, Springfield, Stamford, Town Hall, Tudor and Wick), each represented by three councillors. To the forty-eight councillors thus elected were added 8 aldermen.<ref name=vchlg/> Labour won 41 seats in 1937 to Municipal Reform's 7.<ref>''The new London councils – state of parties'', The Times, November 3, 1937</ref> Local elections were postponed due to the [[Second World War]], and from 1945 the only non-Labour councillors were [[Communist Party of Great Britain|Communists]]: 1 was elected in 1945, and 2 in 1949.<ref>''The Municipal Elections - Results in London Boroughs'', The Times, November 3, 1945; ''More councils won by conservatives – Heavy Labour losses in London'', The Times, May 14, 1949</ref> At the last four elections to the council in 1953, 1956, 1959 and 1962 Labour won all the seats.<ref>''The municipal elections, Changes in London boroughs'', The Times, May 9, 1953; ''Labour gains in London poll'', The Times, May 12, 1956; ''Borough elections – London results'', The Times, May 9, 1959; ''Election results in the boroughs'', The Times, May 11, 1962</ref>

===Parliament constituency===
For elections to [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Parliament]], the borough was divided into three constituencies:
*[[Hackney Central (UK Parliament constituency)|Hackney Central]]
*[[Hackney North (UK Parliament constituency)|Hackney North]]
*[[Hackney South (UK Parliament constituency)|Hackney South]]
In 1950 the borough's representation was reduced to one and a half seats, when part of it was merged with [[Metropolitan Borough of Stoke Newington|Stoke Newington]]:
*[[Hackney North and Stoke Newington (UK Parliament constituency)|Hackney North and Stoke Newington]]
*[[Hackney South (UK Parliament constituency)|Hackney South]]
In 1955 the borough's representation was reduced to one and two half seats, when another part of it was merged with [[Metropolitan Borough of Bethnal Green|Bethnal Green]]:
*[[Hackney Central (UK Parliament constituency)|Hackney Central]]
*[[Hackney North and Stoke Newington (UK Parliament constituency)|Hackney North and Stoke Newington]]
*[[Bethnal Green (UK Parliament constituency)|Bethnal Green]]

==Coat of arms==
The seal of the Hackney Vestry bore a representation of [[St Augustine's Tower, Hackney|St Augustine's Tower]], the remains of the 13th-century parish church. When the metropolitan borough was formed in 1900, the vestry seal was altered by the addition of the [[Latin]] [[motto]] ''Justitia Turris Nostra'' or ''Justice is our tower'', which can be paraphrased as meaning ''Fairness is our strength''.<ref>Cap badge details https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/british-military-cap-badge-10th-3822203219</ref><ref name=crossley>{{cite book |title=London's Coats of Arms and the Stories They Tell |last=Crossley |first=Richard  |year=1928 |publisher=Robert Scott |location=London |pages=100–103 }}</ref>

In January 1924 the borough council resolved to seek a formal grant of armorial bearings from the [[College of Arms]]. These were duly made by [[letters patent]] dated 31 May 1924.<ref name=crossley/> The arms were [[blazon]]ed as follows:
<blockquote>Per fesse, the chief per pale gules and per fesse Sable and Argent, and the base barry wavy of six Argent and Azure, in the dexter chief a representation of the Hackney Tower proper and in the sinister chief a Maltese Cross per fesse Argent and Gules.<br />
Crest: On a Wreath of the Colours a representation of the Hackney Tower Or.<ref name=crossley/><ref name=ben>{{cite book |title=London 1900-1964. Armorial bearings and regalia of the London County Council, The Corporation of London and The Metropolitan Boroughs |last=Beningfield |first=T J |year=1964 |publisher=Ed J Burrow & Co. Ltd |location=London |pages=89–91 }}</ref> </blockquote>

The "Hackney Tower" appeared in the upper portion of the shield, and formed the crest, placed on a helm and mantling. The 1900 motto was also retained. The [[Maltese Cross]] represented the [[Knights Templar]] and the [[Knights Hospitaller]]. These orders successively held the manor of Hackney, until the [[English Reformation|Reformation]]. The Templars wore red crosses on white mantles, and the Hospitallers white crosses on black: these were combined in the design. The wavy white and blue bars at the base of the shield represented the [[River Lee (England)|River Lea]] and the many canals crossing the borough.<ref name=crossley/><ref name=ben/>

These arms gave much inspiration to the [[coat of arms of the London Borough of Hackney]] when the London borough was created in 1965.

==Town hall==
[[File:Hackney town hall1.jpg|thumb|250px|left|[[Hackney Town Hall]]. Headquarters of the Metropolitan borough, still used by the [[London Borough of Hackney|London borough]] (October 2005)]] The borough council was initially based in a "French-Italian" style town hall in Hackney Grove, dating from 1866. The building was extended in 1898.<ref name=vchlg/> A new [[Art Deco]] [[Hackney Town Hall|town hall]] in Mare Street was begun in 1934, and opened in 1937. It is now the headquarters of the London Borough of Hackney.<ref name=vchlg/> 
{{clear}}

==See also==
*[[London Government Act 1899]]
*[[Metropolis Management Act 1855]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book |chapter=London: Hackney |chapter-url= https://books.google.com/books?id=Br0ZAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA25 |title= Municipal Year Book of the United Kingdom for 1907 |editor=Robert Donald |editor-link=Robert Donald |location=London |publisher=Edward Lloyd |year=1907 }}

==External links==
*[http://www.subbrit.org.uk/rsg/sites/h/hackney1/ Hackney WW2 ARP Control Centre & Post War Borough Control]

{{London Government Act 1963}}
{{History of the formation of Hackney}}
{{Coord|51.5451|-0.0564|type:adm3rd_dim:7000_region:GB-HCK|display=title}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hackney, Metropolitan Borough of}}
[[Category:Metropolitan boroughs of the County of London]]
[[Category:History of the London Borough of Hackney]]
[[Category:1900 establishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:1965 disestablishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Districts abolished by the London Government Act 1963]]
[[Category:Hackney, London|Metropolitan Borough of]]