The district had its origins in the
Holbeach Poor Law Union, which had been established in 1835 covering Holbeach and several surrounding parishes. It was administered from the Holbeach Union Workhouse, which was built in 18361837 on Fleet Road in Holbeach. In 1872,
sanitary districts were established, with public health and local government responsibilities given to the existing
boards of guardians of poor law unions for areas without an existing urban authority. The Holbeach Rural Sanitary District therefore covered the area of the Holbeach Poor Law Union except for Holbeach itself,
Long Sutton, and
Sutton Bridge, each of which had a
local board of health and so formed their own urban sanitary districts. Under the
Local Government Act 1894, rural sanitary districts became rural districts from 28 December 1894. It was decided that the Holbeach Rural Sanitary District would be renamed at the same time, becoming the East Elloe Rural District, named after the historic
Elloe wapentake of Lincolnshire rather than being named after the town of Holbeach which it did not include. The neighbouring
Spalding Rural Sanitary District was similarly renamed at the same time to become the West Elloe Rural District, but lasted only a few months under that name before changing back to become the
Spalding Rural District. In 1932, East Elloe Rural District was enlarged when the former
urban districts of
Holbeach,
Long Sutton and
Sutton Bridge were incorporated into it. In its early years, the council met at the Holbeach Union Workhouse, which was latterly also known as The Shrubbery before becoming Fleet Hospital. In 1946 the council bought Mattimore House on Fleet Street, Holbeach, converting it to become their offices and meeting place, with the council chamber there being officially opened in November 1948. The council remained based at Mattimore House until its abolition in 1974. The council was abolished in 1974 under the
Local Government Act 1972, and its area went to form part of the new
South Holland district. Mattimore House was subsequently demolished, with 7882 Fleet Street and Mattimore Drive built on the site. ==References==