Old Ordnance Survey Maps of Wiltshire
This page summarises the local government organisation of Wiltshire since 1889.
Wiltshire County Council was formed in 1889, and in 1894 a network of boroughs, urban district and rural district councils was formed across the county.
Wiltshire already had several boroughs. These were Calne, Chippenham, Devizes, Malmesbury, Marlborough, Salisbury, and Wilton Municipal Boroughs. Westbury and Wootton Bassett boroughs had been abolished in 1886.
From 1894 there were also 6 Urban Districts: Bradford-on-Avon, Melksham, Old Swindon, Swindon New Town, Trowbridge, and Warminster. In 1899 a Westbury Urban District was formed. In 1900 Old Swindon and Swindon New Town were amalgamated to form Swindon Municipal Borough.
There were also 19 Rural District Councils covering the areas outside the major towns. These were: Amesbury, Bradford-on-Avon, Bramshaw, Calne, Chippenham,
Cricklade & Wootton Bassett, Devizes, Highworth, Malmesbury, Marlborough, Melksham, Mere, Pewsey, Ramsbury, Salisbury, Tisbury, Warminster, Westbury & Whorswellsdown,
and Wilton Rural Districts. Bramshaw was almost immediately (1895) absorbed by Hampshire's New Forest RDC.
In 1934 there was minor reorganisation when mergers led to Bradford-on-Avon & Melksham, Calne & Chippenham, Marlborough & Ramsbury, Salisbury & Wilton, Mere & Tisbury, and Warminster & Westbury RDCs.
In 1974 major reorganisation saw the urban and rural districts abolished and a 2-tier structure established, with the County Council and 5 Districts, Kennet, North Wiltshire, Salisbury, Thamesdown, and West Wiltshire. In 1997 Thamesdown (which was an amalgamation of Swindon
Municipal Borough and Highworth Rural District) became a unitary authority and was renamed Swindon. In 2009 the other districts were abolished and Wiltshire (excluding Swindon) also became a unitary authority. Salisbury retained a City Council with reduced powers.
Wootton Bassett was granted Royal status, becoming Royal Wootton Bassett, in 2011.
For a list of our Wiltshire maps go to the Wiltshire page, or for Swindon to the
Swindon page. For a full list of English maps, return to the England page
You can order maps direct from our On-line Mapshop.
Minor changes are not listed here, but please advise us of any significant errors or omissions.
Alan Godfrey Maps, Prospect Business Park, Leadgate, Consett, DH8 7PW. Tel 01207 583388
The Godfrey Edition / sales@alangodfreymaps.co.uk / 1 October 2016