History of Hale Parish Council

On the 8th of March 1894 The Local Government Act commenced enabling 6880 Parish, Rural and

District Councils to set up throughout Britain by the 8th of November 1894 or on such later date in 1894.

The legislation was also known as 

The earliest mention of a Parish Council is in the Widnes Weekly News issued on the 8th of December 1894

0n page 2, column 5 which reported the following nominations for Parish Councilors.

There is evidence of a Parish Council meeting on the 17th of January 1895 although the business of the meeting is not minuted, the records refere to Parish Councilors names and recent elections in 1894. The Act commenced on the 5th of March 1894 with elections set for the 8th of November 1894 or later in 1894 (local arrangements). Hale elections took place on the 7th of December 1894.

The old Precept Book referes to Local Government Act 1894 but the first entry is in 1900. Precepts were paid by the Overseers until 1927 when Hale`s Parent Authority became Whiston RDC. Prior to 1927, Hale Parish was in the West Derby Hundred which was part of the District of Prescot. The term "Hundred" referes to 100 men meeting at West Derby to administer the area.

Overseers - these are people in authority to oversee the poor of the parish of Hale. Up to 1980/1 about 10 poor people were helped by an annual payment from the William Part Dole.

During the years 1930/1 the Hale precept book referes to precepts made out on behalf of Speke Parish Council. There is no ide why - other than the Parish Clerk may have worked for both Speke and Hale Parish Councils

Accurate Parish Records exist since 1954 in the main minute book and in the Annual Parish Book since 1935 and so we have depended greatly upon the Older Precept book for earlier information concerning Council Membership. Therefore Council membership prior to 1945 is based on likely data from the Old Precept Book

Between 1894 and 1949 Councils were elected at special councli meetings when nominations were received by the Chairman of the meeting and a poll taken if necessary. Six members were elected to serve for 3 years.

In 1949 the Representatives of the Peoples Act introduced polling stations, polling booths and the full system as we know today for Parish Elections. Membership increased to 8 councilors in 1949.

In 1972 Parish Council membership increased to 10 members.

It is further reported in the Widnes Weekly News issued 11.12.1894, page 5, that "At Hale, Speke, Tarbock, Bold and Cronton, the councils were reelected at the meetings without much, if any, opposition".

The first election took place on 7th December 1894 in the Girls School (The Cocky School or Pepper Street School) and the first Chairman became Col. Robert Irelnad Blackburne on 17th January 1895.

The nominations were not opposed and no election was neccessary.

1895 - the earliest evidence of Parish Council meeting taking place is in the Freemans Archives dated 17th January 1895. This refers to a meeting, following recent elections, and mention is made of two Parish Councilors, namely Joseph Griffiths and Edwin W. Turton being present. Also present were John Halsall, George Rowlands, Thomas Naylor, John Turton, a Mr. Jennings and Mr. James Mercer, recently elected as District Council Chairmen and County Magistrate. It is noted that the Reverend R. Benson chaired the first Parish Council meeting before R. Ireland Blackburne was voted as the then first chaiman of Hale Parish Council.

The Local Government Act - 1894

Hale Parish Council History

"The Parish Councils Act"

Reverend B. Stewart Joseph Griffiths

Thomas Charnock Edwin T. Turton

Henry M. Williams Nathan Ford

Robert Ireland Blackburne

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The Lord Mayor of Hale, Benjamin Webb,

during a Freemans Ceremony in 1960

Reg Cumpsty, Chair of Hale Parish Council in 1982 with his wife Vere outside the gates of Buckingham Palce, having attended a Royal Garden Party

Dr Bill Howell being honoured for his hard work on behalf of Hale Village.

The Chairman then, in 1987. Frank Harman along with other Parish Councillors present at the opening of Howells Way, were Councillors Naylor, Smith, Sandland and Maddock

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