LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
Records of Wombridge court baron survive from 1697, 1708, 1711,
1717, and 1747, the matters dealt with being
mainly agricultural. (fn. 12) The manor court also
exercised a peculiar probate jurisdiction until
1857. (fn. 13) Priorslee was part of Shifnal manor and
parish (fn. 14) and Ketley Bank part of Leegomery
manor. (fn. 15)
A lock-up built at Snedshill in 1829 was in use
in 1841. Another was built at Oakengates in
1874. (fn. 16) The Priorslee District Association for the
Prosecution of Felons, formed between 1879 and
1885, remained in existence until the First World
War. (fn. 17)
As in all the coalfield parishes the number of
poor rose markedly as economic activity slumped
in the early 19th century, (fn. 18) and Wombridge parish
expenditure on relief reached a peak in 1817,
having doubled since 1816. The number of
immigrant workers in Wombridge led to
numerous settlement disputes. (fn. 19) Wombridge was
included in Wellington poor-law union
1836-1930, and in 1838 the appointment of an
assistant overseer was authorized. (fn. 20) Priorslee was
in Shifnal union 1836-1930. (fn. 21)
By the early 1890s four fifths of Oakengates
town lay in Wombridge parish, one fifth in
Shifnal parish. Authorities whose boundaries
crossed the town were responsible for sanitary
affairs; highway repair; street lighting; weights
and measures inspection; magistrates', police, and
county court business; and the registration of vital
statistics. Properties were variously rated and
proposals for a new water supply were held up.
Wombridge ratepayers had to deal with sewage
and industrial effluent flowing in from Priorslee,
and Priorslee children attended Ketley Bank
Board School though their parents paid no education rate. The town's principal street, Market
Street, was under two highway boards and usually
had two different levels; street traders could
evade the sanitary inspector's jurisdiction by
crossing it. Ten authorities had local government
powers in Oakengates, the result of their
operations being 'chaos' and the town's reputation
for dirt and neglect. (fn. 22)
The creation of Oakengates urban district in
1898 helped to improve municipal government,
the U.D. comprising the civil parishes of Wombridge, Priorslee, St. George's, and Wrockwardine
Wood. (fn. 23) Nevertheless Oakengates remained under
four education authorities until 1903 (fn. 24) and three
poor-law unions until 1930. (fn. 25) The urban district
council first met at the Coffee Palace but soon
moved to rented offices in Market Street. Its
offices were in Oxford Street c. 1905-c. 1940,
thereafter in Stafford Road. (fn. 26) Wellington U.D.
medical officer of health was employed from c.
1966. (fn. 27) Arms were granted to the council in 1960
and included a crest (out of a coronet composed of
four laurel leaves set upon a rim or a demi wolf
argent collared and lined gold and holding in the
forepaws a tower sable the battlements enflamed
proper) and the motto Haec sunt nostra robora. (fn. 28)
Oakengates Urban District
Or, an eagle displayed wings inverted azure grasping in the talons two abbots' crosiers sable, on a chief gules three acorns slipped and leaved gold.[Granted 1960]
The council's common seal was circular, 56 mm.
in diameter, depicting an oak between gates and
inscribed (roman) at the circumference THE SEAL
OF THE OAKENGATES URBAN DISTRICT COUNCIL. (fn. 29) In
the 1960s a new common seal was struck to
incorporate the council's arms; it was circular, 50
mm. in diameter, and inscribed (roman) at the
circumference OAKENGATES URBAN DISTRICT
COUNCIL. (fn. 30) The U.D. was abolished in 1974;
thereafter the area, not assigned to any C.P.,
coincided with three urban wards of the district of
the Wrekin, except that the northern part of the
former U.D. (Hortonwood) was included with
adjoining C.P.s in Hadley ward.
In 1968 Oakengates was included in the
designated area of Telford new town. (fn. 31)