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http://boar.org.uk/ariwxo3PBCBoston.htm Latest edit 31 Jul 2007.
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The Parliamentary Boundary Commissioners’ Report on
Report on the Borough of
[REPORT ON THE] BOROUGH OF BOSTON [page] 97
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THE Borough of Boston extends over the whole Parish of Boston : There
are several; patches of extra-parochial Land within the outline of the Parish,
but whether they share in the privileges and burthens of the Borough, is at
this time a matter of dispute, and, we believe, under legal investigation.
There are several large insulated Tracts at a considerable distance from
The Town lies chiefly within the Borough, and close upon the Eastern
Boundary. The Parish extends far beyond the Town on the West. In answer to an
application for the number of £.10 Houses, &c. we were informed that there
are about 910 qualifying Houses, &c. within the Borough.
Particular attention must be paid to the following Boundaries; viz.
Bargate Drain, or Maude Foster’s Drain, on the East, and South Forty-foot Drain
on the South.
These Boundaries are not the actual Boundaries of the Borough ; they coincide, however, so nearly with them, and
are so much better defined, that we think an alteration to this extent may be assumed as certain.
By assuming the South Forty-foot Drain for part of the Southern
Boundary, in lieu of the Old Hammond Beck, an old and continuous portion of the
Town, which is at present excluded, will be brought into the Borough, a better
contour is obtained, and a superb straight Canal substituted for an
insignificant crooked ditch.
We should therefore recommend, instead of following the course of Old
Hammond Beck from the point where it intersects the South forty-foot Drain (E)
to the River Witham (H) that a line should be drawn from the first mentioned
point (E) along the South Forty-foot Drain until it falls into the Witham (F).
The present Eastern Boundary* may be considered as identical with
Bargate Drain, and we feel considerable difficulty in recommending another and
more extended limit.
The Population certainly shows a tendency to extend itself to the East
of Bargate Drain, and there are several Houses on the
[page] 98 REPORT ON THE [BOROUGH OF BOSTON]
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In favour of the ancient Boundary, it may be urged, that it is
distinct and strongly marked, and advantage which cannot be obtained for any
new arbitrary line ; that the present Borough is very
large and populous ; and finally, that the increase of the Town in this
direction is supposed to arise from a wish to escape the burthens of the
Borough, as there is undoubtedly much open building ground within its limits.
On the other hand, the Houses on the East of the Drain are, from their
situation, a portion of the Town, and the Inhabitants are for the most part now
actively engaged in trade, or retired from it. If this should appear sufficient
motive for extending the Borough on the East, then we recommend the new
boundary line to be drawn as follows :
From the Hospital Foot Bridge (A) in an Easterly direction along the
Hospital Bridge Lane, to the point (B) where the said Lane meets the Highway
from Boston to Spilsby ; thence, in a Southerly direction, to the Easternmost
corner (C) of a Cottage in the Low Road to Frieston [sic] , now in the occupation of William Scotney, also called the first of
Cave’s Cottages, on the Low Frieston Road ; thence in a southerly direction to
the Eastern Gable of the Chancel of
Skirbeck Church, and to be prolonged in the same direction, to the Haven or
River Witham (D).
This Line appears to us to be, upon the whole, the least liable to
objection, and the
simplest that we can discover. There are three or four pretty
good Houses upon the Spilsby Road left out, but it would be difficult to take
them in and stop short of Burton Corner, evidently too remote and too much
insulated to be considered a part of the Town.
It may be stated that the agricultural ground thus included is rich
pasture, in the occupation of non-residents.
The Number of qualifying Houses, &c. within the Boundary thus
extended, is 63. The amount of Assessed Taxes, £.76.
12. 9.
It appears to us to be one of the difficult cases which is rather to
be determined by what is done in similar instances, or by the wishes and
feelings of the parties interested (a consideration not within our province)
than upon any obvious showing of its own, and we are upon the whole inclined,
though with great doubt, to propose the Bargate Drain for the eastern Boundary,
in preference to the extended and arbitrary line ; and we therefore recommend
the following Boundary for the future Borough of Boston.
From the Easternmost point (E) at which Old Hammond Beck leaves South
Forty-foot Drain, Eastward along South Forty-foot Drain to the Easternmost
point (F) at which the Boundary of the Parish of Boston leaves the same ;
thence, Eastward, along the Boundary of the Parish of Boston to the point (K)
at which the same meets the Drain called Bargate Drain or Maude Foster’s drain
; thence, Northward, along Bargate Drain or Maude Foster’s Drain to the
Northernmost point (A) at which the Boundary of the Parish of Boston leaves the
same ; thence, Westward, along the Boundary of the Parish of Boston to the
point first described.
R. Sheepshanks.
Wm Edwd Tallents.
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*Several patches of Land, too small to be distinguished on the Map, on the West of Bargate Drain, are in the Parish of Skirbeck, the Drain being of later date than the division of the Parishes. On the South-west, the present boundary is a disused watercourse, called Old Hammond Beck.
[Plan of the Boundaries of the
Parishes of Boston (green) and Skirbeck (beige) and the Boundary Proposals for
Boston Borough (red).]
Larger, high resolution version of the map.
Detail of the parts of the boundary which the report discusses more fully.
[REPORT ON THE] BOROUGH OF BOSTON [page] 99
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SUMMARY
of all the Information relative to the Borough of
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1. – Limits : The same as in the Population Returns, 1821*. Parl. Ret 106.
2. -- Population : In 1821. In 1831.
Of the Borough - - - - 10,373 - 11,240 Parl. Ret. 65.362.
3. – Number of Houses : Taxed at Worth
1821. 1831. £10/year & up £10/year & up
In the Borough - - - 2,231 2,631 446 910 Parl. Ret. 65. 74. Parl. Rep. vi. Rep.
Within the extended Southern Boundary - - - - - - 27 Rep.
Within the extended Eastern Boundary - - - - - - 63 Rep
4. – Amount of Assessed Taxes Paid:
1828. 1829. 1830.
£. s. d £. s. d. £. s. d.
By the Borough - 3,064 13 6 - - 2,979 1 6H - - 2,953 6 7 Parl. Ret. 325.
Within the extended Southern Boundary - - - - - - 45 0
4 Rep.
Within
the extended Eastern Boundary - - - - - - 76 12 9 Rep.
5. – Greatest Number of Electors polled within the last 30 Years : Parl. Ret. 106.
Five Hundred and Three, in 1830.
6. – Right of Voting :
Mayor, Aldermen, Common Councilmen, and Freemen resident, paying Scot Parl. Rep. Abs.
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* Parish of