Metropolitan Essex
The term Metropolitan Essex refers to those parts of the ancient (or traditional) county of Essex which are part of London, the capital city of England, and administered as such.
Since 1965 it specifically refers to the five eastern boroughs: Newham, Waltham Forest, Barking and Dagenham, Redbridge and Havering which lie east of the River Lea, and are therefore part of the traditional extent of Essex. Although these areas are part of the ancient county of Essex, they are not part of the ceremonial or administrative county.
The term is no longer used on an official basis, but is used colloquially, for instance as a basis for sports leagues.[1][2]
There is not a comparable term for areas of the other ancient counties (Middlesex, Surrey, Kent, Hertfordshire) with parts administered as part of London.
Victorian period to 1965
In part due to the constraint presented by the River Lea, London didn’t grow into Essex until the mid-19th century, with the parish of West Ham first affected.
Despite strong campaigns, the urbanised areas of Essex weren’t included in the new County of London when it was created in 1889. This was a disadvantage in that these deprived East End areas didn’t have recourse to the same level of funding as comparable areas in the metropolitan parts of Middlesex, Kent and Surrey.
The term Metropolitan Essex was used more widely then now, including formally by Essex County Council,[3] but didn’t have a clear and consistent definition, partly as the area was developing so quickly. The area of Essex covered by the Metropolitan Police District was a useful shorthand,[4] (though the boundaries changed from time to time) as was the extent of the London postal district within Essex.
At this time most of Metropolitan Essex was part of the ancient, ceremonial and administrative county; the exceptions being the County Boroughs of West and East Ham, whose self government meant they were part of the ancient and ceremonial county, but were not part of any administrative county, neither Essex nor the County of London.
After 1965
After the creation of the five London Boroughs in the area, Metropolitan Essex could be defined precisely, but the term has been used less due to London’s clear responsibility for the areas.
Comparison with other Ancient Counties
A comparable term hasn’t been coined for areas of the other ancient counties (Middlesex, Surrey, Kent, Hertfordshire) with parts administered as part of London. Like Essex, Surrey and Kent have similar sized areas built up as part of London, but in those cases – and unlike Essex – the urbanised metropolitan areas were transferred to London control much earlier, on the establishment of the County of London in 1889 (with subsequently developed areas being transferred in 1965). Middlesex also had part transferred to London control in 1889, and there is the additional factor that in 1965 almost all of it came to be administered as part of London. Like Essex, Hertfordshire only had areas transferred to London administration in 1965, but the area transferred was very small so there was little need for such a term.
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- ^ "Essex Metropolitan Netball Association".
- ^ "Metropolitan Essex DCB Competitions". metessexcomps.play-cricket.com.
- ^ "Metropolitan Essex (Valuations) - Hansard". hansard.parliament.uk.
- ^ "Metropolitan Essex since 1850: Introduction | British History Online". www.british-history.ac.uk.