A guide to local government records up to 1974 held at Durham Record Office.

Introduction

This guide provides an A to Z summary of the local government authorities (excluding education and poor law authorities) which existed in County Durham in the 19th and 20th centuries, up to 1974, and the records held at Durham Record Office. Where records are held by another archive in the North East region this is indicated.

The name of each local authority body is followed by the dates when it existed. Durham Record Office catalogue reference(s) are given, followed by brief details of the creation, abolition and any major changes to the authority.

The dates of the surviving records are summarised using the following categories:

‘minutes’ – minutes of, and reports to, the authority and its committees and joint committees
‘financial’ – ledgers, account books and abstracts of accounts
‘rating’ – valuation lists and rate books
‘building control’ – building plans and registers of building plans
‘other’ – all other records.

County Durham local authorities and records

Annfield Plain Urban District, 1896-1937
Catalogue ref: UD/Ann and UD/Sta

Created from part of Lanchester Rural District in 1896; abolished and became parts of Consett Urban District and Stanley Urban District in 1937. Records include:

Minutes 1896-1937
Rating 1934
Building control 1885-1923
Other 1910-1936.

Auckland Rural Sanitary District / Rural District, 1872-1937
Catalogue ref: UD/BA, RD/Au, D/X 1563 and RSA/Au

Created as Rural Sanitary District by 1872 Public Health Act; reconstituted as Rural District by 1894 Local Government Act; abolished and became parts of Bishop Auckland Urban District, Crook & Willington Urban District, Shildon Urban District, Spennymoor Urban District, Barnard Castle Rural District, Darlington Rural District, Sedgefield Rural District and Weardale Rural District in 1937. Records include:

Minutes 1872-1937
Financial 1884-1937
Rating 1909-1936
Building control 1872-1937
Other 1921.

Auckland District Highway Board, 1863-1896
Catalogue ref: UD/BA

Created under 1862 Highways Act. Records include:

Minutes 1863-1876
Financial 1869 – 1896.

Barnard Castle Highway Board, 1863-1896
Catalogue ref: RD/BC

Created under 1862 Highways Act. Records include:

Minutes 1879-1896.

Barnard Castle Local Board District/ Urban District, 1850-1974
Catalogue ref: UD/BC and RD/BC

Created as Local Board District in 1850; reconstituted as Urban District by 1894 Local Government Act; abolished and became part of Teesdale District in 1974. Records include:

Minutes 1850-1967
Financial 1850-1966
Rating 1840-1973
Building control 1891-1973
Other 1160-1970.

Barnard Castle Rural Sanitary District / Rural District, 1872-1974
Catalogue ref: RD/BC

Created as Rural Sanitary District by 1872 Public Health Act; reconstituted as Rural District by 1894 Local Government Act; abolished and became part of Teesdale District in 1974. Records include:

Minutes 1891-1930
Rating 1929-1973
Building control 1901-1963
Other 1895-1973.

Benfieldside Local Board District / Urban District, 1868-1937
Catalogue ref: UD/Ben and D/X 814

Created as Local Board District in 1868; reconstituted as Urban District by 1894 Local Government Act; abolished and became part of Consett Urban District in 1937. Records include:

Minutes 1896-1937
Financial 1888-1937
Rating 1929-1934
Other 1904-1932.

Billingham Urban District
records with Teesside Archives

Bishop Auckland Local Board District / Urban District, 1854-1974
Catalogue ref: UD/BA

Created as Local Board District in 1854; reconstituted as Urban District by 1894 Local Government Act; abolished and became part of Wear Valley District in 1974. Records include:

Minutes 1854-1974
Financial 1855-1946
Rating 1901-1961
Building control 1891-1960
Other 1854-1970.

Blaydon-on-Tyne/Blaydon Local Board District / Urban District
records with Tyne & Wear Archives

Boldon Urban District
records with Tyne & Wear Archives

Brandon & Byshottles Local Board District / Urban District, 1882-1974
Catalogue ref: UD/BB

Created as Local Board District in 1882; reconstituted as Urban District by 1894 Local Government Act; abolished and became part of City of Durham District in 1974. Records include:

Minutes 1882-1974
Financial 1908-1974
Building control 1901-1974
Other 1903-1974.

Castle Eden and Seaham Highway Board, 1863-1896
Catalogue ref: RD/Ea

Created under 1862 Highways Act. Records include:

Minutes 1863-1896.

Chester-le-Street Urban District, 1909-1974
Catalogue ref: UD/CS

Created from part of Chester-le-Street Rural District in 1909; abolished and became part of Chester-le-Street District in 1974. Records include:

Minutes 1909-1974
Financial 1923-1966
Rating 1927-1959
Other 1909-1972.

Chester-le-Street Rural Sanitary District / Rural District, 1872-1974
Catalogue ref: RD/CS and D/X 1970

Created as Rural Sanitary District by 1872 Public Health Act; reconstituted as Rural District by 1894 Local Government Act; abolished and became parts of Chester-le-Street District, Gateshead Metropolitan Borough and Sunderland Metropolitan Borough in 1974. Records include:

Minutes 1875-1974
Financial 1893-1974
Rating 1890-1942; 1944-1963
Other 1904-1957.

Consett Local Board District/ Urban District, 1866-1974
Catalogue ref: UD/Co

Created as Local Board District in 1866; reconstituted as Urban District by 1894 Local Government Act; abolished and became part of Derwentside District in 1974. Records include:

Minutes 1874-1974
Financial 1931-1955
Rating 1927-1974
Building control 1893-1955
Other 1866-1964.

Crook Urban District, 1898-1937
Catalogue ref: UD/Cr and UD/CW

Created from part of Auckland Rural District in 1898; abolished and became part of Crook & Willington Urban District in 1937. Records include:

Minutes 1898-1937
Rating 1934-1936
Building control 1898-1937
Other 1902-1939.

Crook & Willington Urban District, 1937-1974
Catalogue ref: UD/CW

Created from Crook UD and parts of Willington UD and Auckland Rural District in 1937; abolished and became part of Wear Valley District in 1974. Records include:

Minutes 1943-1974
Rating 1937-1973
Building control 1937-1949
Other 1936-1973.

Darlington Improvement Commissioners’ District / Local Board District / Municipal Borough / County Borough, 1850-1974
Catalogue ref: Da/

Created as Improvement Commissioners’ District in 1823; created as Local Board District in 1850; incorporated as Municipal Borough in 1867; constituted as County Borough in 1915; abolished and became part of Darlington District in 1974. Records include:

Minutes 1850-1968
Financial 1888-1968
Rating 1796-1950
Building control 1865-1966
Other 1850-1974.

Darlington District Highway Board, 1863-1894
Created under 1862 Highways Act

Darlington Rural Sanitary District / Rural District, 1872-1974
Catalogue ref: RD/Da

Created as Rural Sanitary District by 1872 Public Health Act; reconstituted as Rural District by 1894 Local Government Act; abolished and became part of Darlington District in 1974. Records include:

Minutes 1872-1974
Financial 1888-1968
Rating 1838-1958
Building control 1925-1948
Other 1872-1974.

Dawdon see Seaham Harbour

Durham Municipal Borough / Improvement Commissioners’ District, 1179/80-1974
Catalogue ref: Du/

Incorporated as Borough in 1179/80; created as Improvement Commissioners’ District in 1790; created as Local Board District in 1849; abolished and became part of City of Durham District in 1974. Records include:

Minutes 1602-1974
Financial 1720-1974
Rating 1790-1972
Building control 1900-1974
Other 1179/80-1974.

Durham Rural Sanitary District / Rural District, 1872-1974
Catalogue ref: RD/Du

Created as Rural Sanitary District by 1872 Public Health Act; reconstituted as Rural District by 1894 Local Government Act; abolished and became part of City of Durham District in 1974. Records include:

Minutes 1872-1974
Financial 1899-1965
Rating 1928-1964
Building control 1875-1974
Other 1888-1973.

Durham and Chester-le-Street Highway Board, 1863-1894
Catalogue ref: HB/DuCS

Created under 1862 Highways Act. Records include:

Financial 1863-1879.

Easington Rural Sanitary District / Rural District, 1872-1974
Catalogue ref: RD/Ea

Created as Rural Sanitary District by 1872 Public Health Act; reconstituted as Rural District by 1894 Local Government Act; abolished and became part of Easington District in 1974. Records include:

Minutes 1872-1974
Financial 1897-1972
Rating 1935-1956
Other 1931-1974.

Felling Local Board District / Urban District
records with Tyne & Wear Archives

Gateshead Municipal Borough /County Borough
records with Tyne & Wear Archives

Gateshead and South Shields Highway Board
records with Tyne & Wear Archives

Greta Bridge Highway Board, 1879-1896
Catalogue ref: HB/GB

Created under 1862 Highways Act. Records include:

Minutes 1879-1893
Financial 1879-1895.

Hartlepool Local Board District / Municipal Borough / County Borough
records with Teesside Archives

Hartlepool Rural District
records with Teesside Archives

Hebburn Local Board District / Urban District
records with Tyne & Wear Archives

Hetton Urban District
records with Tyne & Wear Archives

Houghton-le-Spring Local Board District /Urban District
records with Tyne & Wear Archives

Houghton-le-Spring and Sunderland Highway Board
records with Tyne & Wear Archives

Houghton-le-Spring Rural District
records with Tyne & Wear Archives

Jarrow Local Board District / Municipal Borough
records with Tyne & Wear Archives

Lanchester District Highway Board, 1863-1894
Catalogue ref: RD/La

Created under 1862 Highways Act. Records include:

Minutes 1884-1894.

Lanchester Rural Sanitary District / Rural District, 1872-1974
Catalogue ref: RD/La

Created as Rural Sanitary District by 1872 Public Health Act; reconstituted as Rural District by 1894 Local Government Act; abolished and became part of Derwentside District in 1974. Records include:

Minutes 1872-1973
Financial 1941-1949
Rating 1956-1973
Building control 1877-1951.

Leadgate Local Board District / Urban District, 1867-1937
Catalogue ref: UD/Le

Created as Local Board District in 1867; reconstituted as Urban District by 1894 Local Government Act; abolished and became parts of Consett Urban District and Stanley Urban District in 1937. Records include:

Minutes 1885-1937
Financial 1934-1937
Rating 1927
Building control 1867-1937
Other 1896.

Middleton-in-Stranton Local Board District
records with Teesside Archives

Ryton Local Board District / Urban District
records with Tyne & Wear Archives

Dawdon Local Board District / Seaham Harbour Urban District / Seaham Urban District, 1863-1974
Catalogue ref: UD/Sea

Created as Local Board District in 1863; reconstituted as Urban District by 1894 Local Government Act; renamed Seaham Urban District in 1937; abolished and became part of Easington District in 1974. Records include:

Minutes 1863-1973
Financial 1966-1970
Other 1848-1974.

Seaton Carew Local Board District
records with Teesside Archives

Sedgefield Rural Sanitary District / Rural District, 1872-1974
Catalogue ref: RD/Se

Created as Rural Sanitary District by 1872 Public Health Act; reconstituted as Rural District by 1894 Local Government Act; abolished and became part of Sedgefield District in 1974. Records include:

Minutes 1886-1974
Financial 1935-1974
Other 1932-1973.

Shildon & East Thickley / Shildon Local Board District / Urban District, 1877-1974
Catalogue ref: UD/Sh

Created as Local Board District in 1877; reconstituted as Urban District by 1894 Local Government Act; renamed Shildon Urban District in 1907; abolished and became part of Sedgefield District in 1974. Records include:

Minutes 1877-1974
Financial 1933-1974
Rating 1932-1962
Other 1895-1974.

South Shields Municipal Borough / County Borough
records with Tyne & Wear Archives

South Shields Rural District
records with Tyne & Wear Archives

Southwick-on-Wear Local Board District / Urban District
records with Tyne & Wear Archives

Spennymoor Local Board District / Urban District, 1864-1974
Catalogue ref: UD/Sp

Created as Local Board District in 1864; reconstituted as Urban District by 1894 Local Government Act; abolished and became part of Sedgefield District in 1974. Records include:

Minutes 1864-1974
Financial 1864-1975
Rating 1914-1948
Other 1913-1974.

Stanhope Local Board District / Urban District, 1875-1937
Catalogue ref: UD/St and RD/We

Created as Local Board District in 1875; reconstituted as Urban District by 1894 Local Government Act; abolished and became part of Weardale Rural District in 1937. Records include:

Minutes 1874-1937
Financial 1877-1936
Rating 1898-1930
Building control 1875-1900
Other 1875-1939.

Stanley Urban Sanitary District / Urban District, 1892-1974
Catalogue ref: UD/Sta

Created as Local Board District in 1892; reconstituted as Urban District by 1894 Local Government Act; abolished and became part of Derwentside District in 1974. Records include:

Minutes 1892-1974
Financial 1955-1972
Rating 1924-1978
Building control 1891-1948
Other 1910-1973.

Startforth Highway Board, 1867-1894
Catalogue ref: RD/St

Created under 1862 Highways Act. Records include:

Minutes 1867-1880.

Startforth Rural District, 1894-1974
Catalogue ref: RD/St

Constituted as Rural District by 1894 Local Government Act; abolished and became part of Teesdale District in 1974. Records include:

Minutes 1897-1970
Financial 1932-1970
Rating 1926-1966
Building control 1934-1974
Other 1912-1962.

Stockton-on-Tees Local Board District / Municipal Borough
records with Teesside Archives

Stockton and Hartlepool Highway Board
records with Teesside Archives

Stockton Rural District
records with Teesside Archives

Sunderland Municipal Borough / County Borough
records with Tyne & Wear Archives

Sunderland Rural District
records with Tyne & Wear Archives

Tanfield Urban District, 1895-1937
Catalogue ref: UD/Sta and UD/Tan

Created from part of Lanchester Rural District in 1895; abolished and became parts of Consett Urban District, Stanley Urban District and Chester-le-Street Rural District in 1937. Records include:

Minutes 1895-1937
Rating 1934-1945
Building control 1878-1930.

Teesdale Rural Sanitary District, 1872-1894
Catalogue ref: RD/St and RD/BC

Created as Rural Sanitary District by 1872 Public Health Act; abolished and became Startforth Rural District and Barnard Castle Rural District in 1894. Records include:

Minutes 1891-1894.

Teesside County Borough
records with Teesside Archives

Throston Local Board District
records with Teesside Archives

Tow Law Local Board District / Urban District, 1863-1974
Catalogue ref: UD/TL

Created as Local Board District in 1863; reconstituted as Urban District by 1894 Local Government Act; abolished and became part of Wear Valley District in 1974. Records include:

Minutes 1863-1965
Financial 1878-1965
Rating 1940-1972
Other 1914-1974.

Washington Urban District, 1922-1974
records with Tyne & Wear Archives

Weardale Rural Sanitary District / Rural District, 1872-1974
Catalogue ref: RD/We

Created as Rural Sanitary District by 1872 Public Health Act; reconstituted as Rural District by 1894 Local Government Act; abolished and became part of Wear Valley District in 1974. Records include:

Minutes 1873-1974
Financial 1873-1968
Rating 1906-1973
Other 1879-1973.

Weardale District Highway Board, 1863-1896
Catalogue ref: RD/We

Created under 1862 Highways Act. Records include:

Minutes 1873-1896.

West Hartlepool Improvement Commissioners District / Municipal Borough / County Borough
records with Teesside Archives

Whickham Urban District
records with Tyne & Wear Archives

Willington Local Board District / Urban District, 1881-1937
Catalogue ref: UD/Wi and UD/CW

Created as Local Board District in 1881; reconstituted as Urban District by 1894 Local Government Act; abolished and became parts of Bishop Auckland Urban District and Crook & Willington Urban District in 1937. Records include:

Minutes 1881-1937
Financial 1925-1936
Rating 1907-1935
Building control 1882-1937
Other 1897-1934.

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