COUNTIES (DETACHED PARTS) ACT 1844

The 'Counties (Detached Parts) Act 1844' (7 & 8 Vict. c. 61) was an act of Parliament of the United Kingdom which eliminated many outliers or exclaves of counties in England and Wales for civil purposes. The whole Act was repealed by the Local Government Act 1972.
The areas involved had already been reorganised for some purposes: The Reform Act 1832 had abolished the outliers for parliamentary constituencies, the Counties (Detached Parts) Act 1839 allowed Justices of the Peace to act for exclaves surrounded by their county, and constabularies established under County Police Act 1839 had jurisdiction over detached parts of other counties.
The text of the act read:
The Act went on to state that the parts transferred would be incorporated in an existing "hundred, wapentake, rape, lathe or other like divisions unless the Justices of the County declare it to be a new hundred or division."
The Act itself did not list the areas transferred, these had already been detailed in the Parliamentary Boundaries Act 1832 (2 & 3 Will. IV, c. 64).

Contents

Areas transferred

Sources

Areas transferred

The Act affected twenty-seven counties. The largest changes were to County Durham, which lost large areas to Northumberland, as well as a single parish to Yorkshire. By no means all detached areas were dealt with: seven counties still had exclaves. Many of these anomalies were dealt with in the 1890s following the passing of the Local Government Act 1894. Large detached blocks of Warwickshire and Worcestershire interspersed with Gloucestershire remained until 1931, while Flintshire retained a large exclave until its abolition in 1974.
===Bedfordshire===
Transferred to other counties:

★ The part of the hamlet of 'Tetworth' (in the parish of Everton) in Bedfordshire transferred to Huntingdonshire

★ The part of the parish of 'Ickleford' in Bedfordshire transferred to Hertfordshire
Transferred from other counties:

★ The part of the parish of 'Meppershall' in Hertfordshire

★ The part of the parish of 'Studham' in Hertfordshire

★ The part of the parish of 'Farndish' in Northamptonshire
===Berkshire===
Transferred to other counties:

★ The part of the parish of 'Great Barrington' in Berkshire transferred to Gloucestershire

★ The tithing and chapelry of 'Little Faringdon' (in the parish of Langford) transferred to Oxfordshire

★ The part of the parish of 'Shilton' in Berkshire transferred to Oxfordshire

★ The tithing of 'Oxenwood' (in the parish of Shalbourne) in Berkshire transferred to Wiltshire

★ The part of the parish of 'Inglesham' in Berkshire transferred to Wiltshire
Transferred from other counties:

★ The part of the parochial chapelry of 'Hurst' (in the parish of Sonning) in Wiltshire

★ The part of the parish of 'Shinfield' in Wiltshire

★ The part of the parish of 'Wokingham' in Wiltshire
===Buckinghamshire===
Transferred to other counties:

★ The hamlet of 'Studeley' (in the parish of Beckley) in Buckinghamshire transferred to Oxfordshire

★ The parish of 'Caversfield' transferred to Oxfordshire

★ The chapelry of 'Ackhampstead' (in the parish of Lewknor) transferred to Oxfordshire

★ The part of the extra-parochial place of 'Luffield Abbey' in Buckinghamshire transferred to Northamptonshire

★ The part of the chapelry of 'Stratton Audley' (in the parish of Bicester) in Buckinghamshire transferred to Oxfordshire
Transferred from other counties:

★ The parish of 'Lillingstone Lovell' in Oxfordshire

★ The township of 'Boycott' (in the parish of Stowe) in Oxfordshire

★ The part of the hamlet of 'Coleshill' (in the parish of Amersham) in Hertfordshire
===Cornwall===
Transferred to other counties:

★ The part of the parish of 'Bridgerule' in Cornwall transferred to Devon

★ The part of the parish of 'North Petherwin' in Cornwall transferred to Devon

★ The part of the parish of 'Werrington' in Cornwall transferred to Devon
Transferred from other counties:

★ The part of the parish of 'St John' in Devon

★ The part of the parish of 'Maker' in Devon

★ The part of the parish of 'North Tamerton' in Devon
===Denbighshire===
Transferred to other counties:

★ The township of 'Carreghova' (in the parish of Llanmynech) transferred to Montgomeryshire
===Derbyshire===
Transferred to other counties:

★ Part of the township of 'Foston and Scropton' (in the parish of Scropton) transferred to Staffordshire
Also:

★ The part of the parish of 'Glossop' on the Cheshire side of the River Goyt was declared to be in Derbyshire - its previous status was uncertain
===Devon===
Transferred to other counties:

★ The part of the parish of 'Maker' in Devon transferred to Cornwall

★ The part of the parish of 'St John' in Devon transferred to Cornwall

★ The part of the parish of 'North Tamerton' in Devon transferred to Cornwall

★ The parish of 'Thorncombe' transferred to Dorset
Transferred from other counties:

★ The part of the parish of 'Axminster' in Dorset

★ The part of the parish of 'Bridgerule' in Cornwall

★ The parish of 'Stockland' (including the hamlet of 'Dalwood') in Dorset

★ The part of the parish of 'North Petherwin' in Cornwall

★ The part of the parish of 'Werrington' in Cornwall
===Dorset===
Transferred to other counties:

★ The part of the parish of 'Axminster' in Dorset transferred to Devon

★ The parish of 'Stockland' (including the hamlet of 'Dalwood') transferred to Devon
Transferred from other counties:

★ The parish of 'Holwell' in Somerset

★ The parish of 'Thorncombe' in Devon
===County Durham===
Transferred to other counties:

★ 'Islandshire' (consisting of the chapelry of 'Ancroft', part of the parish of 'Belford', the township of 'Holy Island', the chapelry of 'Kyloe', the extra-parochial place of 'Monks House' and the chapelry of 'Tweedmouth') transferred to Northumberland

★ 'Bedlingtonshire' (the parish of 'Bedlington') transferred to Northumberland

★ 'Norhamshire' (the parish of 'Norham') transferred to Northumberland

★ The extra parochial 'Farne Islands' transferred to Northumberland

★ 'Craikshire' (the parish of 'Crayke') transferred to the North Riding of Yorkshire
===Gloucestershire===
Transferred to other counties:

★ The parish of 'Little Compton' transferred to Warwickshire

★ The township of 'Lea Lower' (in the parish of Lea) in Gloucestershire transferred to Herefordshire

★ The parish of 'Minety' transferred to Wiltshire

★ The parish of 'Shenington' transferred to Oxfordshire

★ The parish of 'Sutton-under-Brailes' transferred to Warwickshire

★ The parish of 'Widford' transferred to Oxfordshire
Transferred from other counties:

★ The hamlets of 'Alstone' and 'Little Washbourne' (both in the parish of Overbury) in Worcestershire

★ The part of the parish of 'Great Barrington' in Berkshire

★ 'Great Lemhill Farm' (in the parish of Broughton Poggs) in Oxfordshire (placed in the parish of Lechlade)

★ The parish of 'Icomb' (including the hamlet of 'Church Icomb') in Worcestershire

★ The parish of 'Kingswood' in Wiltshire

★ The parish of 'Poulton' in Wiltshire
===Hampshire===
Transferred to other counties:

★ The tithings of 'North Ambersham' and 'South Ambersham' (both in the parish of Steep) transferred to Sussex

★ The part of the parish of 'Rogate' in Hampshire transferred to Sussex
===Herefordshire===
Transferred to other counties:

★ Part of the township of 'Litton and Cascob' (in the parishes of Cascob and Presteigne) transferred to Radnorshire

★ The hamlet of 'Bwlch Trewyn' (in the parish of Cwmyoy) transferred to Monmouthshire

★ The chapelry of 'Farlow' (in the parish of Stottesden) transferred to Shropshire

★ The chapelry of 'Rochford' (in the parish of Tenbury) transferred to Worcestershire
Transferred from other counties:

★ The township of 'Lea Lower' (in the parish of Lea) in Gloucestershire

★ The parish of 'Welsh Bicknor' in Monmouthshire
===Hertfordshire===
Transferred to other counties:

★ The part of the hamlet of 'Coleshill' (in the parish of Amersham) in Hertfordshire transferred to Buckinghamshire

★ The part of the parish of 'Meppershall' in Hertfordshire transferred to Bedfordshire

★ The part of the parish of 'Studham' in Hertfordshire transferred to Bedfordshire
Transferred from other counties:

★ The part of the parish of 'Ickleford' in Bedfordshire
===Huntingdonshire===
Transferred from other counties:

★ The part of the hamlet of 'Tetworth' (in the parish of Everton) in Bedfordshire. (Tetworth, which became a separate civil parish, remained in two distinct parts, one of which was an exclave of Huntingdonshire until 1965.)
===Monmouthshire===
Transferred to other counties:

★ The parish of 'Welsh Bicknor' transferred to Herefordshire
Transferred from other counties:

★ The hamlet of 'Bwlch Trewyn' (in the parish of Cwmyoy) in Herefordshire
===Montgomeryshire===
Transferred from other counties:

★ The township of 'Carreghova' (in the parish of Llanymynech) in Denbighshire
===Northamptonshire===
Transferred to other counties:

★ The part of the parish of 'Farndish' in Northamptonshire transferred to Bedfordshire
Transferred from other counties:

★ The part of the extra-parochial place of 'Luffield Abbey' in Buckinghamshire
===Northumberland===
Transferred from other counties:

★ 'Islandshire' (consisting of the chapelry of 'Ancroft', part of the parish of 'Belford', the township of 'Holy Island', the chapelry of 'Kyloe', the extra-parochial place of 'Monks House' and the chapelry of 'Tweedmouth') transferred from County Durham

★ 'Bedlingtonshire' (the parish of 'Bedlington') transferred from County Durham

★ 'Norhamshire' (the parish of 'Norham') transferred from County Durham

★ The extra parochial 'Farne Islands' transferred from County Durham
===Oxfordshire===
Transferred to other counties:

★ 'Great Lemhill Farm' (in the parish of Broughton Poggs) transferred to Gloucestershire

★ The parish of 'Lillingstone Lovell' transferred to Buckinghamshire

★ The township of 'Boycott' (in the parish of Stowe) transferred to Buckinghamshire
Transferred from other counties:

★ The hamlet of 'Studeley' (in the parish of Beckley) in Buckinghamshire

★ The parish of 'Caversfield' in Buckinghamshire

★ The tithing and chapelry of 'Little Faringdon' (in the parish of Langford) in Berkshire

★ The chapelry of 'Ackhampstead' (in the parish of Lewknor) in Buckinghamshire

★ The parish of 'Shenington' in Gloucestershire

★ The part of the parish of 'Shilton' in Berkshire

★ The part of the chapelry of 'Stratton Audley' (in the parish of Bicester) in Buckinghamshire

★ The parish of 'Widford' in Gloucestershire
===Shropshire===
Transferred to other counties:

★ The townships of 'Halesowen', 'Cakemore', 'Hasbury', 'Hawne', 'Hill', 'Illey', 'Lapal', 'Ridgacre', 'Hunnington', 'Oldbury' and 'Romsley' (all in the parish of Halesowen) transferred to Worcestershire
Transferred from other counties:

★ The chapelry of 'Farlow' (in the parish of Stottesden) in Herefordshire
===Somerset===
Transferred to other counties:

★ The parish of 'Holwell' transferred to Dorset
===Staffordshire===
Transferred to other counties:

★ The parish of 'Broome' transferred to Worcestershire

★ The parish of 'Clent' transferred to Worcestershire
Transferred from other counties:

★ Part of the township of 'Foston and Scropton' (in the parish of Scropton) in Derbyshire
===Sussex===
Transferred from other counties:

★ The tithings of 'North Ambersham' and 'South Ambersham' (both in the parish of Steep) in Hampshire

★ The part of the parish of 'Rogate' in Hampshire
===Warwickshire===
Transferred to other counties:

★ The township of 'Tutnall and Cobley' (in the parish of Tardebigge) transferred to Worcestershire
Transferred from other counties:

★ The parish of 'Little Compton' in Gloucestershire

★ The parish of 'Sutton-under-Brailes' in Gloucestershire
===Wiltshire===
Transferred to other counties:

★ The part of the parochial chapelry of 'Hurst' (in the parish of Sonning) in Wiltshire transferred to Berkshire

★ The parish of 'Kingswood' transferred to Gloucestershire

★ The parish of 'Poulton' transferred to Gloucestershire

★ The part of the parish of 'Shinfield' in Wiltshire transferred to Berkshire

★ The part of the parish of 'Wokingham' in Wiltshire transferred to Berkshire
Transferred from other counties:

★ The part of the parish of 'Inglesham' in Berkshire

★ The parish of 'Minety' in Gloucestershire
===Worcestershire===
Transferred to other counties:

★ The parish of 'Icomb' (including the hamlet of 'Church Icomb') transferred to Gloucestershire

★ The hamlets of 'Alstone' and 'Little Washbourne' (both in the parish of Overbury) transferred to Gloucestershire
Transferred from other counties:

★ The parish of 'Broom' in Staffordshire

★ The parish of 'Clent' in Staffordshire

★ The townships of 'Halesowen', 'Cakemore', 'Hasbury', 'Hawne', 'Hill', 'Illey', 'Lapal', 'Ridgacre', 'Hunnington', 'Oldbury' and 'Romsley' (all in the parish of Halesowen) in Shropshire

★ The chapelry of 'Rochford' (in the parish of Tenbury) in Gloucestershire
===Yorkshire, North Riding===

★ The parish of 'Crayke' in County Durham

Sources

★ ''Counties (Detached Parts) Act 1844'', 7 & 8 Vict. c. 61, London

★ Moule, Thomas (1836) ''Moule's English Counties in the 19^th Century'', London : Simpkin & Marshall, republished (1990) as ''The County Maps of Old England by Thomas Moule'', London : Studio Editions Ltd, ISBN 1-85170-403-5

★ Youngs, Frederic A. (1979) ''Guide to the local administrative units of England'', Vol. 1: Southern England, Royal Historical Society, Guides and handbooks no. 10., London : University College, ISBN 0-901050-67-9

★ Youngs, Frederic A. (1991) ''Guide to the local administrative units of England'', Vol. 2: Northern England, Royal Historical Society, Guides and handbooks no. 17., London : University College, ISBN 0-86193-127-0