the Isle of Ely Administrative County (pre-1974)

Created: 1889   Abolished: 1965

Statistics

Population

Population

Densities and rates of growth. Age structure: concentrations of young people, and of the old.
Industry

Industry

How people made their living: identifying farming communities, pit villages, mill towns and so on.
Social Structure

Social Structure

Social class and socio-economic groups. Concentrations of professionals, and of unskilled labourers.
Learning & Language

Learning & Language

How many people were at school. The distribution of graduates, and of the unqualified.
Agriculture & Land Use

Agriculture & Land Use

How we use the land; crops and farm animals.
Life & Death

Life & Death

Numbers of babies born. Deaths, especially infant deaths. Causes of death by age and gender.
Work & Poverty

Work & Poverty

Unemployment rates and poor relief. What proportions of men and of women did paid work?
Housing

Housing

Numbers of houses. Overcrowding: persons per room. Amenities: central heating, baths and WCs.
Birthplace & Religion

Birthplace & Religion

Numbers going to church, and the kinds of churches they went to. The different religions of modern Britain.
Place marker map of Great Britain and Ireland

The following alternate names exist for this unit:

Name Status Language Start End Authority
ISLE OF ELY Preferred English     F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 572.
ELY ISLE OF Alternate English     1951 Census of England and Wales, Table 3, 'Acreage, Population, Private Households and Dwellings', for 'AC, MB, UD, RD; Wards of CB, MB; CP, NT'.

This unit contained the following units:

Name Type Start End Authority
ELY RegD/PLU Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
NORTH WITCHFORD RegD/PLU Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
WHITTLESEY RegD/PLU Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
WISBECH RegD/PLU Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
CHATTERIS UD Local Government District 1894 1965 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 575.
ELY RD Local Government District 1894 1965 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 575.
ELY UD Local Government District 1894 1965 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 575.
MARCH UD Local Government District 1894 1965 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 575.
NORTH WITCHFORD RD Local Government District 1894 1965 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 575.
THORNEY RD Local Government District 1894 1965 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 575.
WHITTLESEY UD Local Government District 1894 1965 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 55.
WHITTLESEY RD Local Government District 1894 1926 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 575.
WISBECH RD Local Government District 1894 1965 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 575.
WISBECH MB Local Government District 1889 1965 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 573.
ELY Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
WISBECH Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project

This unit was part of the following units:

Name Type Start End Authority
ENGLAND Dep Country 1889 1965 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 572.

This unit was affected by the following changes:

Date Type of change Other unit involved Area transferred Authority
01 Apr 1933 was enlarged by gaining part of NORFOLK parts of Walsoken UD and Marshland RD Area: 1497 acres. Population in 1931: 3505.   1931 Census of England and Wales, Table B, 'Areas altered between 26th April, 1931 and 30th June, 1934, showing constitution as at the latter date, in terms of constitution as at the former date, together with particulars of acreage and population'.; M. of H. No. 76940. The Isle of Ely Review Order, 1933
01 Apr 1934 was reduced to enlarge NORFOLK part of Wisbech RD Area: 673 acres. Population in 1931: 475.   1931 Census of England and Wales, Table B, 'Areas altered between 26th April, 1931 and 30th June, 1934, showing constitution as at the latter date, in terms of constitution as at the former date, together with particulars of acreage and population'.; M. of H. Provisional Orders Confirmation (Ely, Holland and Norfolk) Act, 1933
01 Apr 1934 was reduced to enlarge NORFOLK part of Wisbech RD Area: 673 acres. Population in 1931: 475.   1931 Census of England and Wales, Table B, 'Areas altered between 26th April, 1931 and 30th June, 1934, showing constitution as at the latter date, in terms of constitution as at the former date, together with particulars of acreage and population'.; M. of H. Provisional Orders Confirmation (Ely, Holland and Norfolk) Act, 1933
01 Apr 1934 was reduced to enlarge PARTS OF HOLLAND part of Wisbech RD Area: 221 acres. Population in 1931: 26.   1931 Census of England and Wales, Table B, 'Areas altered between 26th April, 1931 and 30th June, 1934, showing constitution as at the latter date, in terms of constitution as at the former date, together with particulars of acreage and population'.; M. of H. Provisional Orders Confirmation (Ely, Holland & Norfolk) Act, 1933; 1.4.1935 M. of H. Prov. Order Conf. (Holland & Kesteven) Act, 1935; M. of H. Prov. Order Conf. (Holland & Lindsey) Act, 1935
01 Apr 1965 was abolished to create CAMBRIDGESHIRE AND ISLE OF ELY the whole except Thorney RD Area: 87839 acres.   1971 Census of England and Wales, Table 4, 'Intercensal changes of Boundary (between 23rd April, 1961, and 25th April, 1971)', for 'AC, LAA, CP, NT'.; The Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely Order, 1964; The Huntingdon and Peterborough Order, 1964
01 Apr 1965 was abolished to create HUNTINGDONSHIRE AND PETERBOROUGH Thorney RD Area: 9265 acres.   1971 Census of England and Wales, Table 4, 'Intercensal changes of Boundary (between 23rd April, 1961, and 25th April, 1971)', for 'AC, LAA, CP, NT'.; The Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely Order, 1964, and The Huntingdon and Peterborough order, 1964.

Boundary Map of the Isle of Ely Administrative County (pre-1974)

If the boundaries of the Administrative County changed over time, this map will show all the different boundaries.

Maps Census reports

How to reference this page:

GB Historical GIS / University of Portsmouth, the Isle of Ely Administrative County (pre-1974) through time, A Vision of Britain through Time.

URL: https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10061416

Date accessed: 08th April 2026