brighouse was historically part of the township of hipperholme with brighouse in the large ancient parish of halifax. the township became a civil parish in 1866, but was abolished in 1894 and divided: brighouse became a municipal borough (and civil parish), hipperholme became an urban district and norwood green and coley became a civil parish in halifax rural district. the borough was expanded in 1915 when rastrick was absorbed, and in 1937 when clifton cp, hipperholme ud, norwood green and coley cp and part of southowram ud were added. brighouse borough and civil parish was abolished in 1974 when it became part of calderdale metropolitan borough. the mayor's mace was removed in 1974 to the town hall, halifax, where it is displayed in the mayor's parlour to denote the authority of the halifax mayor.