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Overview
township
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The smallest unit of local government, and an ancient one, largely synonymous with vill. In many parts of England parishes formed a single township, but in districts where parishes were large, e.g. the Pennines, they were subdivided into townships. In the 16th century townships or civil parishes were given responsibility for the poor and the highways. They were also units of taxation. Townships survived until the creation of urban and rural district councils in the late 19th century.
Subjects: History
