Wiltshire Administrative County (pre-1974)

Created: 1889   Abolished: 1974

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

This unit contained the following units:

Name Type Start End Authority
AMESBURY RegD/PLU Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
BRADFORD ON AVON RegD/PLU Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
CALNE RegD/PLU Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
CHIPPENHAM RegD/PLU Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
CRICKLADE AND WOOTTON BASSETT RegD/PLU Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
DEVIZES RegD/PLU Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
MALMESBURY RegD/PLU Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
MARLBOROUGH RegD/PLU Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
MERE RegD/PLU Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
PEWSEY RegD/PLU Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
SALISBURY RegD/PLU Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
SWINDON AND HIGHWORTH RegD/PLU Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
TISBURY RegD/PLU Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
TROWBRIDGE AND MELKSHAM RegD/PLU Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
WARMINSTER RegD/PLU Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
WESTBURY AND WHORWELLSDOWN RegD/PLU Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
WILTON RegD/PLU Poor Law Union/Reg. District     Ministry of Health, Persons in Receipt of Poor-Law Relief (England and Wales) (H.M.S.O.)
AMESBURY RD Local Government District 1894 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 705.
BRADFORD AND MELKSHAM RD Local Government District 1934 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 705.
BRADFORD ON AVON RD Local Government District 1894 1934 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 705.
BRADFORD ON AVON UD Local Government District 1894 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 705.
BRAMSHAW RD Local Government District 1894 1895 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 532.
CALNE MB Local Government District 1835 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 701.
CALNE RD Local Government District 1894 1934 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 705.
CALNE AND CHIPPENHAM RD Local Government District 1934 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 705.
CHIPPENHAM MB Local Government District 1835 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 701.
CHIPPENHAM RD Local Government District 1894 1934 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 705.
CRICKLADE AND WOOTTON BASSETT RD Local Government District 1894 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 705.
DEVIZES RD Local Government District 1894 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 705.
DEVIZES MB Local Government District 1835 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 702.
HIGHWORTH RD Local Government District 1894 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 705.
MALMESBURY MB Local Government District 1886 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 702.
MALMESBURY RD Local Government District 1894 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 705.
MARLBOROUGH RD Local Government District 1894 1934 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 705.
MARLBOROUGH MB Local Government District 1835 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 702.
MARLBOROUGH AND RAMSBURY RD Local Government District 1934 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 705.
MELKSHAM UD Local Government District 1894 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 706.
MELKSHAM RD Local Government District 1894 1934 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 706.
MERE RD Local Government District 1894 1934 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 706.
MERE AND TISBURY RD Local Government District 1934 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 706.
OLD SWINDON UD Local Government District 1894 1900 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 706.
PEWSEY RD Local Government District 1894 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 706.
RAMSBURY RD Local Government District 1894 1934 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 706.
SALISBURY RD Local Government District 1894 1934 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 706.
SALISBURY MB Local Government District 1835 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 702.
SALISBURY AND WILTON RD Local Government District 1934 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 706.
SWINDON MB Local Government District 1900 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 702.
SWINDON NEW TOWN UD Local Government District 1894 1900 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 706.
TETBURY RD Local Government District 1894 1930 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 612.
TISBURY RD Local Government District 1894 1934 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 706.
TROWBRIDGE UD Local Government District 1894 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 706.
WARMINSTER RD Local Government District 1894 1934 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 706.
WARMINSTER UD Local Government District 1894 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 706.
WARMINSTER AND WESTBURY RD Local Government District 1934 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 706.
WESTBURY UD Local Government District 1899 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 706.
WESTBURY AND WHORWELLSDOWN RD Local Government District 1894 1934 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 706.
WILTON RD Local Government District 1894 1934 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 706.
WILTON MB Local Government District 1885 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 702.
AMESBURY Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
CALNE Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
CHIPPENHAM Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
DEVIZES Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
MELKSHAM Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
SALISBURY Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
SWINDON Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project
TROWBRIDGE Urban Labour Market     Great Britain Historical GIS Project

This unit was associated with the following other units:

Nature of association Other unit involved Type of unit Authority
was preceded by WILTSHIRE Ancient County F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 705.
was preceded by WILTSHIRE Poor Law/Registration County F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 705.
was succeeded by WILTSHIRE Modern (post 1974) County Census of Population (2001 Key Statistics)

This unit was part of the following units:

Name Type Start End Authority
ENGLAND Dep Country 1889 1974 F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England (London: Royal Historical Society, 1979), p. 700.

This unit was affected by the following changes:

Date Type of change Other unit involved Area transferred Authority
01 Apr 1937 was reduced to enlarge SOMERSET part of Warminster and Westbury RD Area: 218 acres.   1951 Census of England and Wales, Table 5, 'Intercensal changes of Boundary (between 30th June, 1934, and 8th April, 1951)', for 'Administrative Areas (excluding Wards)'.; M. of H. Provisional Order Confirmation (Somerset and Wilts.) Act, 1937
01 Apr 1937 was reduced to enlarge SOMERSET part of Warminster and Westbury RD Area: 218 acres.   1951 Census of England and Wales, Table 5, 'Intercensal changes of Boundary (between 30th June, 1934, and 8th April, 1951)', for 'Administrative Areas (excluding Wards)'.; M. of H. Provisional Order Confirmation (Somerset and Wilts.) Act, 1937
01 Apr 1966 was reduced to enlarge GLOUCESTERSHIRE part of Malmesbury RD Area: 200 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 Bristol Order, 1966; The South Western Counties Order, 1965
01 Apr 1966 was enlarged by gaining part of GLOUCESTERSHIRE part of Tetbury RD Area: 48 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 South Western Counties Order, 1965
01 Apr 1966 was reduced to enlarge GLOUCESTERSHIRE part of Malmesbury RD Area: 200 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 Bristol Order, 1966; The South Western Counties Order, 1965
01 Apr 1966 was reduced to enlarge SOMERSET part of Mere and Tisbury RD Area: 69 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 Bristol Order, 1966; The South Western Counties Order, 1965
01 Apr 1966 was reduced to enlarge SOMERSET part of Mere and Tisbury RD Area: 69 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 Bristol Order, 1966; The South Western Counties Order, 1965
01 Apr 1966 was enlarged by gaining part of SOMERSET part of Frome RD Area: 16 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 South Western Counties Order, 1965

Boundary Map of Wiltshire 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, Wiltshire Administrative County (pre-1974) through time, A Vision of Britain through Time.

URL: https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10107386

Date accessed: 08th April 2026