Newton Township
Early local government in Newton was closely tied in with the administration of the Manor of Newton and Fee of Makerfield. The local administrative unit was the Township of Newton, and this came under the Parish of Winwick. Lancashire parishes were much larger than in most other parts of the country, and were made up of several villages each.
Newton Improvement Act
The modern system of local government outside the municipal boroughs can be said to date back to 1848. In this year the first Public Health Act was passed, and this enabled 'Improvement Commissions' to be set up to improve local facilities.
In 1855 an Act of Parliament was passed, called:
An Act for the Improvement of the Town of Newton in Mackerfield and Neighbourhood in the County of Lancaster.
The preamble of the Act begins as follows: Whereas it would be of great local and public Advantage if the Town of Newton in Mackerfield and the Neighbourhood thereof in the Parish of Newton in Mackerfield in the County of Lancaster were sufficiently paved, drained, cleansed, lighted, regulated, and otherwise improved, and effectually supplied with Sewers and Water.......
In 1859 Newton adopted the provisions of the Local Government Act of 1858, which established a form of Town Council.
Town Halls
The Improvement Commissioners at first used to meet in the new Legh Arms Hotel (the present one built in 1852). This continued to be used after 1869 when a Town Council was first set up. The room soon proved inadequate and offices were added to the Assembly Rooms (later called the Civic Hall) in the High Street. This was given a rounded corner and another frontage, with the main entrance on Park Road North. This became known as Newton Town Hall.
The Building now known as the Town Hall, in Earlestown was built in 1892-3, and was originally known as the Public Hall. It only became the Town Hall in 1894, when Newton Urban District Council was formed. Since 1974 it has been an area office of St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council.
Early local government in Newton was closely tied in with the administration of the Manor of Newton and Fee of Makerfield. The local administrative unit was the Township of Newton, and this came under the Parish of Winwick. Lancashire parishes were much larger than in most other parts of the country, and were made up of several villages each.
Newton Improvement Act
The modern system of local government outside the municipal boroughs can be said to date back to 1848. In this year the first Public Health Act was passed, and this enabled 'Improvement Commissions' to be set up to improve local facilities.
In 1855 an Act of Parliament was passed, called:
An Act for the Improvement of the Town of Newton in Mackerfield and Neighbourhood in the County of Lancaster.
The preamble of the Act begins as follows: Whereas it would be of great local and public Advantage if the Town of Newton in Mackerfield and the Neighbourhood thereof in the Parish of Newton in Mackerfield in the County of Lancaster were sufficiently paved, drained, cleansed, lighted, regulated, and otherwise improved, and effectually supplied with Sewers and Water.......
In 1859 Newton adopted the provisions of the Local Government Act of 1858, which established a form of Town Council.
Town Halls
The Improvement Commissioners at first used to meet in the new Legh Arms Hotel (the present one built in 1852). This continued to be used after 1869 when a Town Council was first set up. The room soon proved inadequate and offices were added to the Assembly Rooms (later called the Civic Hall) in the High Street. This was given a rounded corner and another frontage, with the main entrance on Park Road North. This became known as Newton Town Hall.
The Building now known as the Town Hall, in Earlestown was built in 1892-3, and was originally known as the Public Hall. It only became the Town Hall in 1894, when Newton Urban District Council was formed. Since 1974 it has been an area office of St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council.