This video discusses the history of London's boroughs, explaining why the city is divided into 32 sections. The narrator notes that prior to 1965, London was divided into 86 authorities, which were often confusing and inefficient. To address this issue, the government decided to merge and reorganize the authorities into a more manageable number.
The process of creating the new boroughs was complex and often contentious, with some areas resisting changes to their boundaries or names. The narrator highlights the challenges faced by Keith Sinjohn Joseph, the Minister for Housing and Local Government, who was tasked with overseeing the reorganization.
The video also explores the process of naming the new boroughs, which was often influenced by local politics and historical significance. Some boroughs chose to retain their existing names, while others adopted new ones that were often unflattering or confusing.
The narrator also notes the exception of the City of London, which was allowed to retain its unique status and separate government due to its historical importance.
The video concludes by setting the stage for a second part, which will explore how the London boroughs are run today and the differences between them.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. New York City is divided into 5 iconic boroughs.
2. Paris is divided into 20 arrondissements.
3. London is divided into 32 boroughs.
4. Greater London has a population similar to that of Switzerland.
5. If Greater London were run by one council, it would be the largest in England.
6. A single council for Greater London would be bureaucratic and inefficient.
7. Different parts of London have different needs, and decisions should be made locally.
8. Before 1965, the area now known as Greater London was made up of 86 authorities.
9. These authorities were based mostly on ancient church parishes, many dating back to the Middle Ages.
10. The City of London is a separate entity with its own police force, taxes, and Lord Mayor.
11. The corporation that runs the City of London is of unknown age, with the oldest document dating back to around 1200.
12. In 1957, Sir Edwin Herbert proposed a new map of London with 52 boroughs.
13. Minister for Housing and Local Government Keith Sinjohn Joseph rejected the proposal, citing that the boroughs were too small.
14. Joseph wanted boroughs to have a natural center, good communication lines, and a population of at least 200,000.
15. The final solution was to merge the old 86 authorities into 32 new boroughs.
16. Keith Sinjohn Joseph allowed the new boroughs to suggest their own names, but with certain rules.
17. The rules included giving clear indication of location, no silly or made-up words, and no double-barreled or unwieldy long names.
18. Most boroughs chose one of their existing names, usually the one with the biggest population or historical significance.
19. The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea was allowed to keep its name, despite breaking the rules.
20. The name "Haringey" was chosen for a borough, despite being named after a small neighborhood and having a confusing spelling.
21. The name "Brent" was chosen for a borough, despite already being the name of a tube station in a different location.
22. The name "Redbridge" was chosen for a borough, despite being named after a red bridge that was demolished in 1921.
23. The name "Tower Hamlets" was chosen for a borough, despite being an ancient name that few people were familiar with.
24. The name "Havering" was chosen for a borough, despite being an ancient name that few people were familiar with.
25. The name "Hillingdon" was chosen for a borough, despite being chosen because a civil servant's grandfather was a rector of the parish with that name.
26. The ministry relaxed the ban on using "and" in borough names in 1979, allowing Hammersmith to become "Hammersmith and Fulham" and Barking to become "Barking and Dagenham".