Tower division

The Tower Division was a liberty, a historical form of local government, in the ancient county of Middlesex, England. It was also known as the Tower Hamlets, and took its name from being under the special jurisdiction of the Constable of the Tower of London. The name "Tower Hamlets" was subsequently used for the London Borough of Tower Hamlets created in 1965.

The Tower Division was one of four divisions of the Hundred of Ossulstone. The other divisions were named Finsbury, Holborn and Kensington. Unlike the other divisions, the Tower Division was outside the jurisdiction of the Lord Lieutenant of Middlesex, with the Constable of the Tower exercising lieutenancy powers ex-officio. The area's special status ceased in 1889 with the creation of the County of London, and the creation of a Lord Lieutenant for the new county.

In 1829 the Tower Division contained the following "parishes, townships, precincts and places":

• The parish of St Mary, Whitechapel
• The parish of Christchurch, Spitalfields
• The parish of St Leonard, Shoreditch
• The liberty of Norton Folgate
• The parish of St John, Hackney
• The parish of St Matthew, Bethnal Green
• The hamlet of Mile End Old Town
• The hamlet of Mile End New Town
• The parish of St Mary, Stratford Bow
• The parish of Bromley St Leonard
• The parish of All Saints, Poplar
• The parish of St Anne, Limehouse
• The hamlet of Ratcliff
• The parish of St Paul, Shadwell
• The parish of St John, Wapping
• The liberty of East Smithfield
• The precinct of St Catherine
• The liberty of His Majesty's Tower of London consisting of:
  • The liberty of the Old Artillery Ground
  • The parish of Trinity, Minories
  • The Old Tower precinct
  • The precinct of The Tower Within
  • The precinct of the Well Close

External links

• Map of Divisions of Ossulstone Hundred