Fire service historian and author
Roger Mardon
www.romar.org.uk
© Copyright Roger Mardon
www.romar.org.uk
All rights reserved
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Local government changes resulting in new fire authorities or brigades between the denationalisation of the fire service in 1948 and the major local government reorganisation in 1974 are noted here.
On 1 April 1967 the county borough of West Hartlepool and the borough of Hartlepool in County Durham merged to become the county borough of Hartlepool. Consequently the West Hartlepool Fire Brigade ceased to exist and a new Hartlepool Fire Brigade was established.
Hartlepool
Area: 19 sq. miles
Fire stations: 2
With effect from 1 April 1965, the area of London was enlarged from 117 square miles
to 620 square miles and the London County Council (LCC) was replaced by the Greater
London Council (GLC). The county of Middlesex, and the county boroughs of Croydon,
East Ham and West Ham were abolished, along with their fire brigades, and taken into
the enlarged area. Fifty-
For a more complete narrative of the way London government has affected the fire brigade, see London Government & the London Fire Brigade
London (GLC)
Area: 620 sq. miles
Fire stations: 122
Warley
Area: 15 sq. miles
Fire stations: 3
West Bromwich
Area: 18 sq. miles
Fire stations: 3
Wolverhampton
Area: 27 sq. miles
Fire stations: 4
Dudley
Area: 23 sq. miles
Fire stations: 3
Walsall
Area: 20 sq. miles
Fire stations: 4
A review of local government in the West Midlands resulted in the expansion of five county boroughs and the consequent establishment of new fire brigade areas with effect from 1 April 1966.
Dudley county borough took in from Staffordshire the urban district of Brierley Hill, most of Sedgley and part of Coseley and Amblecote urban districts, and part of Tipton borough.
Smethwick county borough took in Oldbury borough and part of Halesowen borough from Worcestershire, and Rowley Regis borough from Staffordshire. The enlarged authority became Warley county borough.
Walsall county borough took in from Staffordshire the urban district of Darlaston, most of Willenhall urban district and part of Wednesbury borough.
West Bromwich county borough took in from Staffordshire most of Tipton and Wednesbury boroughs, and part of Coseley urban district.
Wolverhampton county borough took in from Staffordfshire the borough of Bilston, Wednesfield urban district, parts of Coseley, Sedgley, Tettenhall and Willenhall urban districts, and parts of Seisdon and Cannock rural districts.
The joint fire brigade of Smethwick and West Bromwich ceased to exist and the new county borough brigades from
1 April 1966 were
On 1 April 1968 the county borough of Teesside was created by the amalgamation of
Middlesbrough county borough with the borough of Stockton-
Teesside
Area: 77 sq. miles
Fire stations: 6
On 1 April 1964 the boroughs of Luton (Bedfordshire) and Solihull (Warwickshire) acquired county borough status and established their own fire brigades.
Luton
Area: 17 sq. miles
Fire stations: 1
Solihull
Area: 21 sq. miles
Fire stations: 1
Also on 1 April 1968 the county borough of Torbay was created by the amalgamation of the borough of Torquay with the urban districts of Paignton and Brixham in Devon. The new authority entered into an arrangement with Devon County Council for the joint provision of a fire service and cover continued to be provided by Devon Fire Brigade.
ENGLAND Changes 1948 -
