Sections 1 to 25 of the act defined the divisions of those larger
counties of England which under the Reform Act 1832 were to be divided into two divisions. This did not include the seven counties which were to return three members each. Sections 26 and 27 and schedule M dealt with
detached parts of counties. It provided that
most detached parts (identified in schedule M) were to form part of the parliamentary county and division in which they were geographically located, rather than of the county to which they otherwise formed a part. Section 28 provided that
liberties and other places with a separate jurisdiction (but not the
counties corporate of
Bristol,
Exeter,
Lichfield,
Norwich, or
Nottingham) were to be included in the county and division in which they were geographically located. Sections 29 to 34 prescribed polling districts and polling places within each constituency. Sections 35 to 37 and schedule O defined the boundaries of each
parliamentary borough. In
ancient boroughs these replaced boundaries established by charter or
prescription, often centuries out of date. The commissioners favoured rational boundaries, encompassing an urban centre with some suburban room for growth. However, some of the smaller boroughs to escape disfranchisement were given large rural tracts to increase the represented population. ==See also==