by the Local Government Act 1972, which reorganised council areas throughout England and Wales. The area it administered was split three ways: Billingley, Brierley, Great Houghton, Little Houghton, and Shafton going to the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley in South Yorkshire; Kirk Smeaton, Little Smeaton and Walden Stubbs going to the district of Selby in North Yorkshire, Ackworth, Badsworth, Havercroft with Cold Hiendley, Hessle and Hill Top, Huntwick with Foulby and Nostell, North Elmsall, Ryhill, South Elmsall, South Hiendley, South Kirkby, Thorpe Audlin, Upton and West Hardwick passed to the Metropolitan Borough of Wakefield in West Yorkshire. References Hemsworth RD at Vision of Britain Local Government Act 1972 Districts of England created by the Local Government Act 1894 Districts of England abolished by the Local Government Act 1972 Local government in Wakefield Rural districts of the West Riding of Yorkshire