The
ancient boroughs were a historic unit of lower-tier local government in
England and Wales. The ancient
boroughs covered only important towns and were established by charters granted at different times by the
monarchy. Their history is largely concerned with the origin of such towns and how they gained the right of
self-government. Ancient boroughs were reformed by the
Municipal Corporations Act 1835, which introduced directly elected corporations and allowed the incorporation of new industrial towns. Municipal boroughs ceased to be used for the purposes of local government in 1974, with
borough status retained as an honorific title granted by
the Crown.