In the early 1850s the population of the Marine Village of Bournemouth had grown to just under seven hundred souls. However, it came under the government of Christchurch, Hampshire, which lay a few miles away to the east. This meant that anyone needing to apply for poor relief, register a life event such as a birth, marriage or death had to travel there.
The Bournemouth Improvement Act Receives Royal Assent
So the influential gentlemen of Bournemouth decided it might be a good idea to begin the journey towards self government. To this end, they held a meeting on 29th August 1854 at the Belle Vue Hotel on the seafront. It was decided that they would apply for an Act of Parliament to give them powers to make improvements to the town. The improvements would be funded the inhabitants.
Within two years The Bournemouth Improvement Act 1856 had received Royal assent. The Act detailed the constitution and qualification requirements of the setting up of a new body of thirteen men called the Bournemouth Improvement Commissioners. Two of the Commissioners, the Lord of the Manor and someone nominated by him, were to be automatic members. The remaining eleven were to be elected by the local townsfolk and serve terms of three years.
The Area Covered by the 1856 Act of Parliament
The area covered by the 1856 Act was defined to be the circle with a radius of one mile centred on the front door of the Belle Vue Hotel. This included a stretch of sea which is just as well because, amongst other things, it allowed the Commissioners to build a pier and charge entrance fees to it if they wished.
Other powers given to the Commissioners included things like, sewers, lighting and the laying out of paths and roads. Although in the case of the lighting, they were not allowed to enter into contracts for the supply of gas or oil for that purpose for a period longer than three years. It did not give them any powers to lay on a water supply.
To pay for all these improvements the Act also gave the Commissioners the power to apply a rate of up to three shillings (15 pence in today’s currency) to the pound on the annual rateable value of properties in the area. They were also allowed to borrow a certain amount of money to pay for the building of the pier.
The First Meeting of the Bournemouth Improvement Commissioners
The inaugural meeting of the Bournemouth Commissioners took place on 30th July 1856. The first thing they did was to elect a chairman and a treasurer. They also elected in two paid officers in the form of a Clerk and a Surveyor and Inspector of Nuisances. Mr Thomas Kingdon was chosen as the clerk and Mr Christopher Crabb Creeke chosen to be the surveyor and inspector.
Thus began the self government of Bournemouth albeit it a small way and with limited scope. The thirteen men that made up the board of the Improvement Commissioners were instrumental in the way the town was to develop for the next thirty or so years. Their legacy and actions are still evident in the town today.
Sources:
- The Story of Bournemouth, DS Young, 1957
- Bournemouth 1810-1910, CH Mate and C Riddle, 1910
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