METROPOLITAN BOROUGH OF CAMBERWELL

The 'Metropolitan Borough of Camberwell' was a metropolitan borough in the County of London. It was created in 1900 by the London Government Act 1899, covering the area of the ancient parish of Camberwell. In 1965 it was amalgamated with the Metropolitan Borough of Southwark and the Metropolitan Borough of Bermondsey to form the London Borough of Southwark.
It included the following villages:

★ Camberwell

★ Dulwich

★ Nunhead

★ Peckham

Contents

Area and population

Coat of arms

Politics

References

Area and population

The area of the borough was 4,480 statute acres (18.13 square kilometres). The population, as recorded at the census, was:
'Civil Parishes 1801-1899'

Year[1]	1801	1811	1821	1831	1841	1851	1861	1871	1881	1891
Population	7,059	11,309	17,876	28,231	39,868	54,667	71,488	111,306	186,593	235,344

'Metropolitan Borough 1900-1961'

Year[2]	1901	1911	1921	1931	1941	1951	1961
Population	259,339	261,328	267,198	251,294	[3]	179,777	175,304

Coat of arms

The corporation was granted arms in 1901. The shield depicted the main areas of the borough. In the first and fourth quarter was a well, for Camberwell. The second quarter was for Dulwich: the chevron and cinquefoils from the arms of Edward Alleyn, founder of Dulwich College. The third quarter represented Peckham: the lion was from the arms of Robert, Earl of Gloucester, one time lord of the manor.
The crest depicted a wounded hart, symbol of St Giles, patron saint of Camberwell.
In 1927 the borough was additionally granted an heraldic badge and standard. The badge depicted a Camberwell Beauty butterfly.

Politics

From 1900 to 1934 the borough was controlled by the Municipal Reform Party (allied to the Conservatives). In 1934 the Labour Party gained control, which they retained until abolition in 1965.
For elections to Parliament, the borough was divided into three
constituencies:

★ Camberwell, Dulwich

★ Camberwell, North

★ Camberwell, Peckham
In 1918 the borough's representation was increased to four seats:

★ Camberwell, Dulwich

★ Camberwell, North

★ Camberwell, North-West

★ Camberwell, Peckham
In 1950 the number of seats was halved to 2:

★ Camberwell, Dulwich

★ Camberwell, Peckham

References

★ ''A Vision of Britain''
1. Statistical Abstract for London, 1901 (Vol. IV); Census tables for Metropolitan Borough of Camberwell
2. Census Tables for the Metropolitan Borough of Camberwell accessed 14 Jun 2007
3. ''The census was suspended for World War II