Small Town, or large Village?

Steam&Ink · Nov 19, 2009

Hi everybody!

I'm dealing with a little geographic/historical dissonance right now

My WIP is set in 1920s England, in a locality in Oxfordshire. I use the term "locality" because I'm not sure whether the population of circa 1000 would have made it, in those days in England, a "small town" or a "large village".

Does anyone know roughly, when a a village become a town in early 20th century England?
If it's a question of having a town hall, etc, that's fine. It's an invented village so I have all the latitude I want to put up and tear down buildings.
I mostly just need to get a feel for population sizes.

Thanks

Carmy · Nov 19, 2009

You could probably makes a guess after reading this site: http://www.localhistories.org/oxford.html

This site could also be useful: http://users.ox.ac.uk/~malcolm/genuki/big/eng/OXF/

pdr · Nov 19, 2009

There are...

specific figures for when a village becomes a town, which I can't remember, but 1,000 is a village.

stephenf · Nov 20, 2009

It's not numbers, it's politics.A town has elected counsels that sit in a town Hall.But villages do not have autonomy they are controlled by Some other body.Parish counsel,county counsel, or, like were I live,there are a number of villages in the area controlled by Brighton&hove city council .

Shakesbear · Nov 20, 2009

I am not prepared to offer any information - I live in Norfolk and we do things differently here!

crazynance · Nov 22, 2009

I miss Oxford and shire..

"Daddy, shall we go to Banbury?"

pdr · Nov 23, 2009

Actually...

It's not numbers, it's politics.A town has elected counsels that sit in a town Hall.But villages do not have autonomy they are controlled by Some other body.Parish counsel,county counsel, or, like were I live,there are a number of villages in the area controlled by Brighton&hove city council .

That's only part of it! A village may apply to become a town if the population is sufficient to support the infrastructure.

stephenf · Nov 23, 2009

That's only part of it! A village may apply to become a town if the population is sufficient to support the infrastructure.[/QUOTE]

This is true,but there are some big villages about.Cottenham in Cambridgeshire has a population of over 6000.However, the city of Ely, in the same county, has a population of 17000 which is smaller than most English towns.

Steam&Ink · Nov 23, 2009

Thanks for your help, everybody! It seems most likely I have a village on my hands (and since I can invent the political situation myself, I think I'll go for that).

I might even bump the population up a little, just so the "who knows/doesn't know whom" feels more natural.

I'm planning on making a trip over, next year, to do more on-the-spot research (read: holidaying), and I'm reeeeallly looking forward to it

Thanks for the links, Carmy. The second one was especially helpful.

Small Town, or large Village?

Steam&Ink

sekrit superhero

Carmy

pdr

stephenf

Shakesbear

knows a hawk from a handsaw

crazynance

~call me Mrs Writer ~

pdr

stephenf

Steam&Ink

sekrit superhero