Middlesex
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{{infobox historic subdivision|
|Name= Middlesex
|HQ= ''see text''
|Government= Middlesex County Council (1889–1965)
|Origin= [[Middle Saxons]]
|Status= [[Ceremonial counties of England|Ceremonial county]] (until 1965)<br>[[Administrative counties of England|Administrative county]] (1889–1965)
|Start= [[Historic counties of England|In antiquity]]
|End=
|Code= MDX
|CodeName= [[Chapman code]]
|Replace= 1889: part to [[County of London]]<br>1965: [[Greater London]] and<br>parts to [[Surrey]] and [[Hertfordshire]]
|Motto=
|Divisions= [[hundred (country subdivision)|hundreds]] (ancient)
|Image=
|Map= [[Image:EnglandMiddlesexTrad.png|150px|Ancient extent of Middlesex]][[Image:EnglandMiddlesex1890.png|150px|Middlesex in 1889]]<br>''Ancient and 1889 extent of Middlesex''
|Arms= [[Image:Middx arms.png|150px]]<br>''Arms of Middlesex County Council''
|Civic=
|PopulationFirst= 818,129<ref name=vic_pop>{{cite web | url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=22159 | title=Table of population, 1801-1901 | publication=A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 22 | year=1911 | accessdate= 2008-02-20}}</ref>
|PopulationFirstYear= 1801
|AreaFirst= {{convert|181320|acre|km2|0}}<ref name=vic_pop/>
|AreaFirstYear= 1801/1881
|DensityFirst= 4.5/acre
|DensityFirstYear= 1801
|PopulationSecond= 2,920,485<ref name=vic_pop/>
|PopulationSecondYear= 1881
|AreaSecond=
|AreaSecondYear=
|DensitySecond= 16.1/acre
|DensitySecondYear= 1881
|PopulationThird= 1,126,465<ref name=vision_mddx>{{cite vob|name=Middlesex|population=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/data_cube_table_page.jsp?data_theme=T_POP&data_cube=N_TPop&u_id=10061441&c_id=10001043&add=N | area= http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/data_cube_table_page.jsp?data_theme=T_POP&data_cube=N_AREA_A&u_id=10061441&c_id=10001043&add=Y | density=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/data_rate_page.jsp?u_id=10061441&c_id=10001043&data_theme=T_POP&id=0 | accessdate=2008-02-20}}</ref>
|PopulationThirdYear= 1911
|AreaThird= {{convert|148701|acre|km2|1}}<ref name=vision_mddx/>
|AreaThirdYear= 1911
|DensityThird= 7.6/acre
|DensityThirdYear= 1911
|PopulationLast= 2,234,543<ref name=vision_mddx/>
|PopulationLastYear= 1961
|AreaLast= {{convert|148691|acre|km2|1}}<ref name=vision_mddx/>
|AreaLastYear= 1961
|DensityLast= 15/acre
|DensityLastYear= 1961
}}
'''Middlesex''' is one of the 39 [[Historic counties of England|historic counties]] of [[England]] and the [[List of counties of England by area in 1831|second smallest by area]].<ref name=census_1831>{{cite vob| population=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/census/table_page.jsp?tab_id=GB1831ABS_M%5B1%5D&u_id=10001043&show=DB&min_c=1&max_c=5 | name=1831 Census | accessdate=2008-02-20}}</ref> The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent [[City of London]] on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time.<ref name=rural_old>The Proceedings of the Old Bailey - [http://www.oldbaileyonline.org/history/london-life/rural-middlesex.html Rural Middlesex]. Retrieved on 20 February 2008.</ref> The county was significantly affected by the expansion of the metropolitan area of [[London]] in both the 18th and 19th centuries; such that from 1855 the south east was administered as part of [[Metropolitan Board of Works|the metropolis]].<ref name=saint>Saint, A., ''Politics and the people of London: the London County Council (1889-1965)'', (1989)</ref> When [[county council]]s were initially introduced in England in 1889 around 20% of the area of Middlesex, and a third of its population, was transferred to the [[County of London]], and the remainder formed a smaller county, in the north west, under the control of Middlesex County Council.<ref name=barlow>Barlow, I., ''Metropolitan Government'', (1991)</ref>
In the [[Interwar period|interwar years]] urban London had further expanded, with increasing suburbanisation, improvement and expansion of public transport,<ref name=wolmar>Wolmar, C., ''The Subterranean Railway'', (2004)</ref> and the setting up of [[Second Industrial Revolution|new industries]] outside the inner London area. After [[World War II]] the population of the County of London<ref name=lcc_pop/> and inner Middlesex was in steady decline, with new population growth only experienced in the outer suburbs.<ref name=census_1961/> After a [[Royal Commission on Local Government in Greater London]], almost all of the original area was incorporated into an enlarged [[Greater London]] in 1965, with small parts transferred to neighbouring [[Hertfordshire]] and [[Surrey]].<ref name=vision_mx/> Despite the abolition of the county, Middlesex is still used informally as an area name and was retained as a [[Postal counties of the United Kingdom|postal county]]; which is now an optional component of postal addresses.<ref name=mail>Royal Mail, ''Address Management Guide'', (2004)</ref>
==Etymology and geography==
The name means ''territory of the [[middle Saxons]]'' and refers to the reputed ethnic origin of its inhabitants.<ref name=mills>Mills, A., ''Dictionary of London Place Names'', (2001)</ref> Its first recorded use was in 704 as ''Middleseaxan''. The county lay within the [[London Basin]]<ref name=nature>Natural England - [http://www.english-nature.org.uk/Science/natural/profiles%5CnaProfile66.pdf London Basin Natural Area]. Retrieved on 23 February 2008.</ref> and the most significant feature was the [[River Thames]], which formed the southern boundary. The [[River Lee (England)|River Lee]] and the [[River Colne, Hertfordshire|River Colne]] formed natural boundaries to the east and west. In the south west of the county the Thames meandered enough to make "Middlesex bank" more descriptively accurate than "north bank"; a distinction used during the [[The Boat Race]]. In the north the boundary was mostly formed by a ridge of hills broken by Barnet valley and a long protrusion of Hertfordshire into the county.<ref name=physical>{{cite web | url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=22094 | title=The Physique of Middlesex | publication=A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 1 | year=1969 |accessdate=2008-02-20}}</ref> The county was thickly wooded,<ref name=nature/> with much of it covered by the ancient [[Forest of Middlesex]]. The highest point was the High Road by [[Bushey Heath]] at {{convert|502|ft|0}},<ref name=height_history>The Mountains of England and Wales - [http://www.hill-bagging.co.uk/CountyTopsHistoric.php Historic County Tops]. Retrieved on 20 February 2008.</ref> which is now one of the [[List of highest points in London|highest points in London]].<ref name=height_london>The Mountains of England and Wales - [http://www.hill-bagging.co.uk/LondonBoroughs.php London Borough Tops]. Retrieved on 2 February 2008.</ref>
==Early settlement and economy==
{{see|List of places in Middlesex}}
[[Image:Gray1824.middlesex.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Map of Middlesex, 1824]]
Middlesex was recorded in the [[Domesday Book]] as being divided into the six [[hundred (country subdivision)|hundreds]] of [[Edmonton (hundred)|Edmonton]], [[Elthorne]], [[Gore (hundred)|Gore]], Hounslow ([[Isleworth (hundred)|Isleworth]] in all later records),<ref name=isleworth>{{cite web | url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=22269 | title=The hundred of Isleworth | publication=A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 3 | year=1962 | accessdate=2008-02-20 }}</ref> [[Ossulstone]] and [[Spelthorne (hundred)|Spelthorne]]. The [[City of London]], which has been self-governing since the [[13th century|thirteenth century]], was geographically within the county and it also included [[Westminster]], which had a high degree of autonomy. Of the six hundreds, Ossulstone contained the districts closest to the City of London. During the 17th century it was divided into four divisions, which, along with the [[Liberty of Westminster]], largely took over the administrative functions of the hundred. The divisions were named [[Finsbury division|Finsbury]], [[Holborn division|Holborn]], [[Kensington division|Kensington]] and [[Tower division|Tower]].<ref name=ossulstone>{{cite vob|url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/relationships.jsp?u_id=10031163|name=Ossulstone hundred|accessdate=2008-02-20}}</ref> The county had [[Parliamentary representation from Middlesex|parliamentary representation]] from the 13th century. The title [[Earl of Middlesex]] was created twice, in 1622 and 1677 but became extinct in 1843.<ref name=eb1911/>
The economy of the county was dependent on the City of London and was primarily agricultural.<ref name=rural_old/> All manner of goods were provided for the City, including crops such as grain and hay, livestock and building materials. Tourism in early resorts such as Hackney, Islington and [[Highgate]] also formed part of the early economy. However, during the 18th century the inner parishes of Middlesex started to instead function as suburbs of the City and were increasingly urbanised.<ref name=rural_old/>
==Modern history==
===Expansion of the metropolis===
{{see|Population of Middlesex (1801–1881)}}
During the 19th century, the [[East End of London]] had expanded to the eastern boundary with Essex and the Tower division had reached a population of over a million.<ref name=vic_pop/> Following the coming of the railways, the north-western suburbs of London had steadily covered large parts of the county.<ref name=wolmar/> The areas closest to London were served by the [[Metropolitan Police Service|Metropolitan Police]] from 1829 and from 1840 the entire county was included in the [[Metropolitan Police District]].<ref name=met>Order in Council enlarging the Metropolitan Police District (SI 1840 5001)</ref> Local government in the county was unreformed by the [[Municipal Corporations Act 1835]] and civic works were instead carried out by individual parish vestries or ad-hoc [[improvement commissioners]].<ref>''Local Government Areas 1834 -1945'', V D Lipman, Oxford, 1949 </ref><ref>Joseph Fletcher, ''The Metropolis; its Boundaries, Extent, and Divisions for Local Government'' in ''Journal of the Statistical Society of London'', Vol. 7, No. 2. (June 1844), pp. 103-143.</ref> In 1855 the parishes of the densely populated area to the south east, but excluding the City of London, came within the responsibility of the [[Metropolitan Board of Works]].<ref name=saint/> Despite this innovation, the system was described by commentators at the time as one "in chaos".<ref name=barlow/> In 1889, under the [[Local Government Act 1888]], the metropolitan area of approximately {{convert|30000|acre|0}} became part of the [[County of London]].<ref name=eb1911/> The Act also provided that the part of Middlesex in the administrative county of London should be "severed from [Middlesex], and form a separate county for all non-administrative purposes".
[[Image:Middlesex 1851 and 1911.png|200px|thumb|Map showing boundaries of Middlesex in 1851 and 1911. Aside from minor realignments, the area to the north is Monken Hadley, transferred to Hertfordshire in 1889 and to the south east is the area transferred to the County of London.]]
[[Image:1882 Reynolds Map.jpg|thumb|Map in 1882 shows complete urbanisation of the East End]]
The part of the County of London that had been transferred from Middlesex was divided in 1900 into [[metropolitan borough]]s, which were merged in 1965 to form seven of the present-day [[inner London]] boroughs, such that [[London Borough of Camden|Camden]] was formed from the metropolitan boroughs of [[Metropolitan Borough of Hampstead|Hampstead]], [[Metropolitan Borough of Holborn|Holborn]] and [[Metropolitan Borough of St Pancras|St Pancras]]; [[London Borough of Hackney|Hackney]] was formed from the metropolitan boroughs of [[Metropolitan Borough of Hackney|Hackney]], [[Metropolitan Borough of Shoreditch|Shoreditch]] and [[Metropolitan Borough of Stoke Newington|Stoke Newington]]; [[London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham|Hammersmith and Fuham]] was formed from the metropolitan boroughs of [[Metropolitan Borough of Hammersmith|Hammersmith]] and [[Metropolitan Borough of Fulham|Fulham]]; [[London Borough of Islington|Islington]] was formed from the metropolitan boroughs of [[Metropolitan Borough of Finsbury|Finsbury]] and [[Metropolitan Borough of Islington|Islington]]; [[Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea|Kensington and Chelsea]] was formed from the metropolitan boroughs of [[Metropolitan Borough of Chelsea|Chelsea]] and [[Metropolitan Borough of Kensington|Kensington]]; [[London Borough of Tower Hamlets|Tower Hamlets]] was formed from the metropolitan boroughs of [[Metropolitan Borough of Bethnal Green|Bethnal Green]], [[Metropolitan Borough of Poplar|Poplar]] and [[Metropolitan Borough of Stepney|Stepney]]; and [[City of Westminster|Westminster]] was formed from the metropolitan boroughs of [[Metropolitan Borough of Paddington|Paddington]], [[Metropolitan Borough of St Marylebone|St Marylebone]] and [[Metropolitan Borough of Westminster|Westminster]]. <ref name=saint/>
===Extra-metropolitan area===
{{see|History of local government districts in Middlesex}}
Middlesex outside the metropolitan area remained largely rural until the middle of the nineteenth century, and so local government was slow to develop. Other than the Cities of London and Westminster, there were no ancient [[borough]]s. The importance of the hundred courts declined, and such local administration as there was divided between "county business" conducted by the [[justice of the peace|justices of the peace]] meeting in [[quarter sessions]], and the local matters dealt with by parish vestries. As the suburbs of London spread into the area, unplanned development and outbreaks of [[cholera]] forced the creation of [[local board of health|local boards]] or [[improvement commissioners]] to govern the growing towns. In rural areas, parishes began to be grouped for different administrative purposes. From 1875 these local bodies were designated as urban or rural sanitary districts.<ref>Royston Lambert, ''Central and Local Relations in Mid-Victorian England: The Local Government Act Office, 1858-71'', ''Victorian Studies'', Vol. 6, No. 2. (Dec., 1962), pp. 121-150.</ref>
Following the Local Government Act 1888, the remaining county came under the control of Middlesex County Council except for the parish of [[Monken Hadley]], which became part of [[Hertfordshire]].<ref name=hadley>{{cite vob|url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/relationships.jsp?u_id=10020530&c_id=10001043|name=Monken Hadley|accessdate=2008-02-20}}</ref> The area of responsibility of the [[Lord Lieutenant of Middlesex]] was reduced accordingly. Middlesex did not contain any [[county borough]]s, so the county and [[administrative county]] (the area of county council control) were identical.
The [[Local Government Act 1894]] divided the administrative county into four [[rural district]]s and thirty-one [[urban district]]s, based on existing [[sanitary district]]s. One urban district, [[South Hornsey]] was a detached part of Middlesex within the [[County of London]] until 1900, when it was transferred to the latter county.<ref name=youngs>Frederic Youngs, ''Guide to the Local Administrative Units of England'', Vol.I : Southern England, London, 1979 </ref> The rural districts were [[Hendon Rural District|Hendon]], [[Potters Bar Urban District|South Mimms]], [[Staines Rural District|Staines]] and [[Uxbridge Rural District|Uxbridge]]. Because of increasing urbanisation these had all been abolished by 1934.<ref name=vision_mx>{{cite vob|name=Middlesex|url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/relationships.jsp?u_id=10061441|accessdate=2008-02-20}}</ref> Urban districts had been created, merged, and many had gained the status of municipal borough by 1965. The districts as at the 1961 census were:<ref name=census_1961>{{cite vob | name=Census 1961: Middlesex | population=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/census/table_page.jsp?tab_id=EW1961COU_M3&u_id=10061441&show=&min_c=1&max_c=5as | accessdate=2008-02-20}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" align="center"
|<ol>
<li>[[Potters Bar Urban District|Potters Bar]]</li>
<li>[[Municipal Borough of Enfield|Enfield]]</li>
<li>[[Municipal Borough of Southgate|Southgate]]</li>
<li>[[Municipal Borough of Edmonton|Edmonton]]</li>
<li>[[Municipal Borough of Hendon|Hendon]]</li>
<li>[[London Borough of Harrow|Harrow]]</li>
<li>[[Friern Barnet Urban District|Friern Barnet]]</li>
<li>[[Municipal Borough of Finchley|Finchley]]</li>
<li>[[Municipal Borough of Uxbridge|Uxbridge]]</li>
<li>[[Ruislip-Northwood Urban District|Ruislip-Northwood]]</li>
<li>[[Municipal Borough of Wood Green|Wood Green]]</li>
<li>[[Municipal Borough of Tottenham|Tottenham]]</li>
<li>[[Municipal Borough of Hornsey|Hornsey]]</li>
</ol>
| [[Image:Middlesex numbered 1961.PNG|360px|]]
| <ol start=14>
<li>[[Municipal Borough of Wembley|Wembley]]</li>
<li>[[Municipal Borough of Willesden|Willeseden]]</li>
<li>[[Municipal Borough of Ealing|Ealing]]</li>
<li>[[Hayes and Harlington Urban District|Hayes and Harlington]]</li>
<li>[[Municipal Borough of Acton|Acton]]</li>
<li>[[Municipal Borough of Southall|Southall]]</li>
<li>[[Yiewsley and West Drayton Urban District|Yiewsley and West Drayton]]</li>
<li>[[Municipal Borough of Brentford and Chiswick|Brentford and Chiswick]]</li>
<li>[[Municipal Borough of Heston and Isleworth|Heston and Isleworth]]</li>
<li>[[Feltham Urban District|Feltham]]</li>
<li>[[Staines Urban District|Staines]]</li>
<li>[[Municipal Borough of Twickenham|Twickenham]]</li>
<li>[[Sunbury-on-Thames Urban District|Sunbury-on-Thames]]</li>
</ol>
|}
After 1889 the growth of London did not cease and the county became almost entirely urbanised by its suburbs with a significant rise in population density. This process was accelerated by the [[Metro-land]] developments, which covered a large part of the county.<ref>Royston, J., ''Revisiting the Metro-Land Route'', Harrow Times. Retrieved on 20 February 2008.</ref> Public transport in the county, including the extensive network of trams,<ref name=reed>Reed, J., ''London Tramways'', (1997)</ref> buses and the London Underground came under control of the [[London Passenger Transport Board]] in 1933<ref name=lpt>Office of Public Sector Information - ''[http://www.uk-legislation.hmso.gov.uk/RevisedStatutes/Acts/ukpga/1933/cukpga_19330014_en_1 London Passenger Transport Act 1933 (as amended)]''. Retrieved on 20 February 2008.</ref> and a [[New Works Programme]] was devised in order to further enhance services during the 1930s.<ref name=wolmar/> Because of its proximity to the capital, the county had a significant role during World War II. The county was subject to [[The Blitz|aerial bombardment]] and contained part of a series of bases, such as [[RAF Uxbridge]] and [[Heston Aerodrome|RAF Heston]], which were involved in the [[Battle of Britain]].<ref name=battle>Royal Air Force - [http://www.raf.mod.uk/bob1940/september28.html Battle of Britain Campaign Diary]. Retrieved on 20 February 2008.</ref>
===Arms of Middlesex County Council===
[[Image:Middx arms.png|thumb|Coat of arms of Middlesex County Council]]
[[Coat of arms|Coats of arms]] were attributed by the medieval [[officers of arms|heralds]] to the Kingdoms of the [[Anglo-Saxons|Anglo-Saxon]] [[Heptarchy]]. That assigned to the [[Kingdom of Essex|Kingdom of the Middle and East Saxons]] depicted three "seaxes" or short notched swords on a red background. The seaxe was a weapon carried by Anglo-Saxon warriors, and the term "Saxon" may be derived from the word.<ref name=armoury>Doherty, F., ''[http://www.myarmoury.com/feature_seax.html The Anglo Saxon Broken Back Seax]''. Retrieved on 20 February 2008</ref><ref name=saxon>Online Etymology Dictionary - [http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=Saxon Saxon]. Retrieved on 20 February 2008.</ref> These arms became associated with the two counties that approximated to the kingdom: Middlesex and [[Essex]]. County authorities, militia and volunteer regiments associated with both counties used the attributed arms. In 1910 it was noted that the county councils of Essex and Middlesex and the [[High Sheriff of the County of London|Sheriff's Office]] of the [[County of London]] were all using the same arms.
The Middlesex County Council decided to apply for a formal grant of arms from the [[College of Arms]], with the addition of an heraldic "difference" added to the attributed arms. Colonel Otley Parry, a [[Justice of the Peace]] for Middlesex and author of a book on military badges, was asked to devise an addition to the shield. The chosen addition was a "Saxon Crown", derived from the portrait of King [[Athelstan of England|Athelstan]] on a silver penny of his reign, stated to be the earliest form of crown associated with any English sovereign. The grant of arms was made by [[letters patent]] dated [[7 November]] [[1910]].<ref name=times_armorial>''Armorial bearings of Middlesex'', The Times. 7 November 1910.</ref><ref name=fox>''The Book of Public Arms'', A.C. Fox-Davies, 2nd edition, London, 1915</ref><ref name=scott>''Civic Heraldry of England and Wales'', W.C. Scott-Giles, 2nd edition, London, 1953</ref> The [[blazon]] of the arms was:
<blockquote>''Gules, three seaxes fessewise points to the sinister proper, pomels and hilts and in the centre chief point a Saxon crown or.''</blockquote>
The undifferenced arms of the Kingdom were eventually granted to Essex County Council in 1932.<ref name=civic_essex>Civic Heraldry of England and Wales - ''[http://www.civicheraldry.co.uk/essex.html#essex_cc Essex County Council]''. Retrieved on 20 February 2008.</ref> Seaxes were also used in the insignia of many of the boroughs and urban districts in the county, while the Saxon crown came to be a common heraldic charge in English civic arms.<ref>Civic Heraldry of England and Wales - ''[http://www.civicheraldry.co.uk/middlesex.html Middlesex (obsolete)]''. Retrieved on 20 February 2008</ref><ref name=scott_giles>C W Scott-Giles, ''Royal and Kindred Emblems'', ''Civic Heraldry of England and Wales'', 2nd edition, London, 1953, p.11</ref> On the creation of the [[Greater London Council]] in 1965 a Saxon crown was introduced in its coat of arms.<ref name=glc>Civic Heraldry of England and Wales - ''[http://www.civicheraldry.co.uk/obs_county.html#glc Greater London Council]''. Retrieved on 20 February 2008.</ref> Seaxes appear in the arms of several [[London borough|London borough council]]s and of [[Spelthorne|Spelthorne Borough Council]], whose area was in Middlesex.<ref>Civic Heraldry of England and Wales - ''[http://www.civicheraldry.co.uk/surrey.html#spelthorne_bc Spelthorne Borough Council]''. Retrieved on 20 February 2008</ref><ref name=civic_glondon>Civic Heraldry of England and Wales - ''[http://www.civicheraldry.co.uk/great_london.html Greater London]''. Retrieved on 20 February 2008.</ref>
===Creation of Greater London===
The population of the County of London was in decline since its creation in 1889, and following [[World War II]] the exodus continued.<ref name=lcc_pop>{{cite vob|population=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/data_cube_table_page.jsp?data_theme=T_POP&data_cube=N_TPop&u_id=10041790&c_id=10001043&add=N|name=County of London|accessdate=2008-02-20}}</ref> In contrast, the population trend of Middlesex had seen steady increase during that period.<ref mdx_pop>{{cite vob|population=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/data_cube_table_page.jsp?data_theme=T_POP&data_cube=N_TPop&u_id=10061441&c_id=10001043&add=N
|name=Middlesex|accessdate=2008-02-20}}</ref> From 1951 to 1961 the population of the inner districts of the county started to drop and growth was experienced only in eight of the suburban outer districts.<ref name=census_1961/> According to the 1961 census, Ealing, Enfield, Harrow, Hendon, Heston and Isleworth, Tottenham, Wembley, Willesden and Twickenham had all reached a population of greater than 100,000, which would usually have entitled them to seek [[county borough]] status. If granted to all these boroughs, it would have reduced the population of the administrative county of Middlesex by over half, to just shy of a million.
Following the [[Royal Commission on Local Government in Greater London]] nearly all the remainder of Middlesex became part of [[Greater London]] in 1965 and formed the new [[outer London]] boroughs of [[London Borough of Barnet|Barnet]] (part only), [[London Borough of Brent|Brent]], [[London Borough of Ealing|Ealing]], [[London Borough of Enfield|Enfield]], [[London Borough of Haringey|Haringey]], [[London Borough of Harrow|Harrow]], [[London Borough of Hillingdon|Hillingdon]], [[London Borough of Hounslow|Hounslow]] and [[London Borough of Richmond upon Thames|Richmond upon Thames]] (part only).<ref name=schedule>Office of Public Sector Information - [http://www.opsi.gov.uk/RevisedStatutes/Acts/ukpga/1963/cukpga_19630033_en_1 London Government Act 1963 (as amended)]. Retrieved on 20 February 2008.</ref> The remaining areas were [[Potters Bar Urban District]], which became part of [[Hertfordshire]], while [[Sunbury-on-Thames Urban District]] and [[Staines Urban District]] became part of [[Surrey]].<ref name=vision_mx/> Following the changes, local acts of Parliament relating to Middlesex were henceforth to apply to the entirety of the nine "North West London Boroughs".<ref name=local_law>The Local Law (North West London Boroughs) Order 1965 (S.I. 1965 No. 533)</ref> In 1974, the three [[urban districts]] that had been transferred to Hertfordshire and Surrey were abolished and became the districts of [[Hertsmere]] (part only) and [[Spelthorne]] respectively.<ref name>The English Non-metropolitan Districts (Definition) Order 1972 (SI 1972/2038)</ref> In 1995 the village of [[Poyle]] was transferred from Spelthorne to the [[Berkshire]] borough of [[Slough]].<ref name=poyle>Office of Public Sector Information - [http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1994/Uksi_19940330_en_1.htm Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Surrey (County Boundaries) Order 1994]. Retrieved on 20 February 2008.</ref> Additionally, since 1965 the Greater London boundary to the west and north has been subject to a significant [[List of Greater London boundary changes|number of small changes]].<ref>Office of Public Sector Information - [http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1993/Uksi_19931342_en_1.htm The Heathrow Airport (County and London Borough Boundaries) Order 1993]. Retrieved on 23 February 2008.</ref><ref>Office of Public Sector Information - [http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1993/Uksi_19931391_en_1.htm The Greater London and Surrey (County and London Borough Boundaries) (No. 4) Order 1993]. Retrieved on 23 February 2008.</ref>
==Legacy==
Middlesex is used in the names of organisations based in the area such as [[Middlesex County Cricket Club]]<ref name=mccc>[http://www.middlesexccc.com/ Middlesex County Cricket Club]. Retrieved on 20 February 2008.</ref> and [[Middlesex University]].<ref name=uni>Middlesex University - [http://www.mdx.ac.uk/aboutus/history.asp About Us: Our History]. Retrieved on 20 February 2008.</ref> There is a [[Middlesex County Football Association]] and two teams that are now within Surrey, [[Staines Town F.C.|Staines Town]] and [[Ashford Town F.C. (Middlesex)|Ashford Town (Middlesex)]] as well as [[Potters Bar Town F.C.|Potters Bar Town]] in Hertfordshire,<ref name=bar>Potters Bar Town F.C. - [http://www.pbtfc.degz.co.uk/index1.htm Fixtures]. Retrieved on 20 February 2008.</ref> compete in the Middlesex County Cup.<ref name=cup>Mitoo - [http://football.mitoo.co.uk/FixtResMonth.cfm?TblName=Matches&DivisionID=743&LeagueCode=MCFA2006&MonthNo=11 2006–2007 Season: Middlesex County Football Association]. Retrieved on 20 February 2008.</ref> [[John Betjeman|Sir John Betjeman]], a native of [[North London]] and [[Poet Laureate]], published several poems about Middlesex and the suburban experience. Many were featured in the televised readings ''[[Metro-land (TV)|Metroland]]''.<ref name=wilson>Wilson, A., ''Betjeman'', (2006)</ref> As part of a 2002 marketing campaign, the plant conservation charity [[Plantlife]] chose the [[Anemone nemorosa|wood anemone]] as the [[county flower]]. In 2003, an [[early day motion]] with two signatures noted that [[16 May]] is the anniversary of the [[Battle of Albuera]] and in recent years has been celebrated as ''Middlesex Day'', commemorating the valiant efforts of the [[Middlesex Regiment]] (the "Die-hards") in that battle. The idea is to recognise and celebrate the historic county.<ref name=early_day>Randall, J., [http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=22809 Early Day Motion 13 May 2003]. Retrieved on 20 February 2008.</ref> On its creation in 1965, Greater London was divided into five [[commission area]]s for the administration of justice. One was named "Middlesex" and consisted of the boroughs of Barnet, Brent, Ealing, Enfield, Haringey, Harrow, Hillingdon and Hounslow.<ref name=justice_act>Administration of Justice Act 1964 (1964 C. 42)</ref> This was abolished on [[1 July]] [[2003]].<ref name=commission_2003>Office of Public Sector Information - [http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2003/20030640.htm ''The Commission Areas (Greater London) Order 2003'' (Statutory Instrument 2003 No. 640)]. Retrieved on 20 February 2008.</ref>
===County town===
[[Image:middlesex.guildhall.london.arp.jpg|thumb|The Middlesex Guildhall at Westminster]]
Middlesex does not have a single established historic county town, with different locations having been used for different county purposes. The [[Assize Court|County Assizes]] for Middlesex were held at the [[Old Bailey]] in the [[City of London]].<ref name=rural_old/> Until 1889 the [[High Sheriff of Middlesex]] was chosen by the [[City of London Corporation]]. The sessions house for the Middlesex Quarter Sessions was at [[Clerkenwell Green]] from the early eighteenth century. The quarter sessions at the former [[Middlesex Sessions House]] performed most of the administration of the county until the creation of the Middlesex County Council in 1889.
[[New Brentford]] was first described as the county town in 1789, on the basis that it was the location of elections of knights for the shire (or [[Member of Parliament|Members of Parliament]]) from 1701.<ref name=ealing_brentford>{{cite web | url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=22575&strquery=ealing%20growth | title=Ealing and Brentford: Growth of Brentford | publication =A History of the County of Middlesex: Volume 7| year=1982 | accessdate=2008-02-20}}</ref><ref name=eb1911>Encyclopedia Britannica, 1911 Edition</ref> In 1795, New Brentford was "considered as the county-town; but there is no town-hall or other public building".<ref name=environ_brentford>{{cite web | url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=45404&strquery=brentford | title=Brentford | publication=The Environs of London: volume 2: County of Middlesex | year=1795| accessdate=2008-02-20}}</ref> Middlesex County Council, which took over the administrative duties of the Quarter Sessions in 1889, was based at the [[Middlesex Guildhall]], in [[Westminster]]. This was in the [[County of London]], and thus outside the council's area of jurisdiction.
===Former postal county=== <!-- linked from [[Postal counties of the United Kingdom]] -->
Middlesex (abbreviated Middx)<ref name=digest>Royal Mail - [ftp://ftp.royalmail.com/Downloads/public/cmwalk/doc/active/doc21800003/PAF_Digest_Dec_03.pdf PAF Digest Issue 6.0]. Retrieved 20 February 2008.</ref> is also defined as a [[Postal counties of the United Kingdom|former postal county]]; an element of postal addressing in routine use until 1996 and now an optional component.<ref name=mail/> The postal county was retained after 1965 because [[Royal Mail]] was unable to follow all the changes to county boundaries and could not adopt ''Greater London'' as a postal county.<ref name=times_postal>{{cite news|title=G.P.O. To Keep Old Names. London Changes Too Costly.|publisher=The Times|date=April 12, 1966}}</ref> However, much of inner Middlesex (Willesden, Hornsey etc.)<ref name=hmso_postal>HMSO, ''[http://www.londonancestor.com/po/1map-w.htm Names of Street and Places in the London Postal area]'', (1930). Retrieved on 20 February 2008.</ref> was within the [[London postal district]], within which addresses already included "LONDON" and did not include a county. The transfer of Potters Bar to Hertfordshire was adopted by the Royal Mail, but the transfers of Staines and Sunbury to Surrey were not. The remaining postal county consisted of two unconnected areas (Enfield and the rest) and comprised the following post towns:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Postcode area || Post towns || rowspan="5" | {{Location map+|Greater London
|caption =
|float = left
|width = 250
|places =
{{location map~|Greater London|label=|mark=Blue_pog.svg|position=right|width=250|lat=51.654269 |long=-0.067104|caption=|float=}}
{{location map~|Greater London|label=|position=right|lat=51.551203 |long=-0.305375|caption=|float=}}
{{location map~|Greater London|label=|position=right|lat=51.579387 |long=-0.338849|caption=|float=}}
{{location map~|Greater London|label=|position=right|lat=51.569952 |long=-0.410764|caption=|float=}}
{{location map~|Greater London|label=|position=right|lat=51.594759 |long=-0.386264|caption=|float=}}
{{location map~|Greater London|label=|position=right|lat=51.532869 |long=-0.422853|caption=|float=}}
{{location map~|Greater London|label=|position=right|lat=51.611271 |long=-0.310952|caption=|float=}}
{{location map~|Greater London|label=|position=right|lat=51.611195 |long=-0.273635|caption=|float=}}
{{location map~|Greater London|label=|mark=Green_pog.svg|position=right|lat=51.446290|long=-0.354664|caption=|float=}}
{{location map~|Greater London|label=|mark=Green_pog.svg|position=right|lat=51.465369|long=-0.388126|caption=|float=}}
{{location map~|Greater London|label=|mark=Green_pog.svg|position=right|lat=51.487270|long=-0.306795|caption=|float=}}
{{location map~|Greater London|label=|mark=Green_pog.svg|position=right|lat=51.469711|long=-0.292083|caption=|float=}}
{{location map~|Greater London|label=|mark=Green_pog.svg|position=right|lat=51.423363|long=-0.369683|caption=|float=}}
{{location map~|Greater London|label=|mark=Green_pog.svg|position=right|lat=51.438956|long=-0.401703|caption=|float=}}
{{location map~|Greater London|label=|mark=Green_pog.svg|position=right|lat=51.453545|long=-0.421919|caption=|float=}}
{{location map~|Greater London|label=|mark=Green_pog.svg|position=right|lat=51.431095|long=-0.458671|caption=|float=}}
{{location map~|Greater London|label=|mark=Green_pog.svg|position=right|lat=51.415626|long=-0.416711|caption=|float=}}
{{location map~|Greater London|label=|mark=Green_pog.svg|position=right|lat=51.398213|long=-0.448003|caption=|float=}}
{{location map~|Greater London|label=|mark=Green_pog.svg|position=right|lat=51.427404|long=-0.503474|caption=|float=}}
{{location map~|Greater London|label=|mark=Black_pog.svg|position=right|lat=51.515635|long=-0.373093|caption=|float=}}
{{location map~|Greater London|label=|mark=Black_pog.svg|position=right|lat=51.505177|long=-0.425165|caption=|float=}}
{{location map~|Greater London|label=|mark=Black_pog.svg|position=right|lat=51.543023|long=-0.376803|caption=|float=}}
{{location map~|Greater London|label=|mark=Black_pog.svg|position=right|lat=51.538692|long=-0.340432|caption=|float=}}
{{location map~|Greater London|label=|mark=Black_pog.svg|position=right|lat=51.503823|long=-0.469547|caption=|float=}}
{{location map~|Greater London|label=|mark=Black_pog.svg|position=right|lat=51.535992|long=-0.474034|caption=|float=}}
}}
|-
| [[Image:Blue pog.svg|10px]] [[EN postcode area|EN]] (part) || ENFIELD
|-
| [[Image:Red pog.svg|10px]] [[HA postcode area|HA]] || EDGWARE • HARROW • NORTHWOOD • PINNER • RUISLIP • STANMORE • WEMBLEY
|-
| [[Image:Green pog.svg|10px]] [[TW postcode area|TW]] (part) || ASHFORD • BRENTFORD • FELTHAM • HAMPTON • HOUNSLOW† • ISLEWORTH • SHEPPERTON • STAINES • SUNBURY-ON-THAMES • TEDDINGTON • TWICKENHAM†
|-
| [[Image:Black pog.svg|10px]] [[UB postcode area|UB]] || GREENFORD • HAYES • NORTHOLT • SOUTHALL • UXBRIDGE • WEST DRAYTON
|}
† = postal county was not required
The postal county included many anomalies where the [[post town]]s it consisted of encroached on neighbouring counties, such as the village of [[Denham, Buckinghamshire]], which is included in the post town of [[Uxbridge]]<ref name=mail/> and was therefore within the postal county of Middlesex; conversely, [[Hampton Wick]] was not included in the Middlesex postal county as it was served by post towns associated with Surrey.<ref name=ind1>The Independent, ''[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20030529/ai_n12685375 The difference a postcode makes]'', 29 May 2003</ref><ref name=ind2>The Independent, ''[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20030529/ai_n12685374 Property boom fuels calls to reform 'postcode lottery']'', 29 May 2003</ref> This gave rise to the misconception that [[Hampton Court Palace]] was located in Surrey.<ref name=palace>Historic Royal Palaces - [http://www.hrp.org.uk/HamptonCourtPalace/planyourvisit/gettingthere.aspx Hampton Court: How to find us]. Retrieved on 20 February 2008.</ref> [[Wraysbury]], Berkshire and [[Egham Hythe]], Surrey are served by the Staines post town<ref name=mail/> and thus were also included in the Middlesex postal county.
==Bibliography==
* ''Middlesex: The Jubilee of the County Council 1889–1939'' by C W Radcliffe <ref name=radcliffe>From a copy of the book in question published by Evan Brothers [[London]] - No date or ISBN, believed published in early 1940s - It contains many black and white plates and colour armorial plates</ref>
==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
==External links==
* [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/place.aspx?gid=66®ion=1 Victoria County History of Middlesex]
* [http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/showflat.php?Number=1033993 Historic boundary as layer for Google Earth]
* Maps of [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/image.aspx?compid=22200&filename=fig06.gif&pubid=84 Middlesex] subdivisions: [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/image.aspx?compid=26930&filename=fig08.gif&pubid=87 Edmonton], [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/image.aspx?compid=22381&filename=fig01.gif&pubid=86 Elthorne], [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/image.aspx?compid=26876&filename=fig01.gif&pubid=87 Gore], [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/image.aspx?compid=22269&filename=fig04.gif&pubid=85 Isleworth] and [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/image.aspx?compid=22200&filename=fig07.gif&pubid=84 Spelthorne]
**[http://www.british-history.ac.uk/image.aspx?compid=22489&filename=fig01.gif&pubid=88 Ossulstone]: [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/image.aspx?compid=22489&filename=fig02.gif&pubid=88 Outer Finsbury], [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/image-publicationMap.aspx?pubid=30 Inner Finsbury], [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/image.aspx?compid=22544&filename=fig02.gif&pubid=89 Outer Kensington], [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/image.aspx?compid=28683&filename=fig82b.gif&pubid=182 Inner Kensington], [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/image.aspx?compid=22631&filename=fig02.gif&pubid=90 Holborn] and [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/image.aspx?compid=22692&filename=fig02.gif&pubid=91 Tower]
{{England counties}}
{{Local government in London}}
{{LGA1963}}
[[Category:Middlesex|*Middlesex]]
[[Category:Historic counties of England]]
[[Category:Former administrative counties]]
[[cy:Middlesex]]
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[[fr:Middlesex]]
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[[ja:ミドルセックス州]]
[[no:Middlesex]]
[[nn:Middlesex]]
[[pt:Middlesex (Inglaterra)]]
[[ro:Middlesex]]
[[sk:Middlesex (Anglicko)]]
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