Waltham Holy Cross Urban District

The large ancient parish of Waltham Holy Cross adopted the Public Health Act 1848 and the Waltham Holy Cross Local Board of Health was formed in 1850.[3] The district was bounded on the west by the River Lea and contained a large part of Epping Forest.

The local government district became an urban district in 1894.

The district was within the Metropolitan Police District and part of the review area of the Royal Commission on Local Government in Greater London, however it did not form part of the proposed Greater London area,[4] because it was entirely within the Metropolitan Green Belt and had limited connection to the London built-up area.[5] The urban district was abolished by the Local Government Act 1972 on 1 April 1974, becoming part of the non-metropolitan district of Epping Forest. A successor parish was formed at the same time.[6] By resolution of the parish council, the parish was redesignated as Waltham Abbey with the status of a town, and accordingly is now governed by Waltham Abbey Town Council with its headquarters at Waltham Abbey Town Hall.[7]

The urban district council was granted a coat of arms on 9 November 1956. The black engrailed cross and four gold cross crosslets on a silver ground come from the arms of Waltham Abbey and the lion's face is from the attributed arms of King Harold Godwinson. The crest above the arms featured a stag for Epping Forest. In the stag's mouth was a seaxe, or distinctive notched sword, from the arms of Essex County Council. A heraldic fountain on the stag's shoulder represented the King George V Reservoir. The colours of the torse wreath and mantling were red and white: the livery colours of both Essex County Council and the City of London Corporation, custodians of Epping Forest.[8] The coat of arms of the urban district council were transferred to Waltham Abbey Town Council by Order in Council in 1974.[9]

Coat of arms of Waltham Holy Cross Urban District

Notes Granted 9 November 1956, to the Waltham Holy Cross Urban District Council. Crest Out of a Coronet composed of six Fleurs-de-Lys set upon a Rim Or a demi-Stag at gaze proper charged on the shoulder with a Fountain and holding in the mouth a Seaxe the blade Argent the hilt and pommel Or mantled Gules doubled Argent. Escutcheon Argent on a Cross engrailed Sable a Lion's Face between four Crosses bottonnée Or. Motto Sanctae Nomine Crucis [10]