Real Counties | Historic Counties

Calling somewhere by its historic county is not nostalgia. It is geographical accuracy.

Today we’ve published our first response to the Government’s announcements on 14 of the 16 remaining local government reorganisation areas. We’re now working through the proposals in detail - mapping the new authorities, identifying the historic counties affected and preparing a clear visual analysis. This kind of work takes time, research and careful checking. If you value accurate, independent county information, help us build more of it. Become a monthly supporter of the Historic Counties Institute: RealCounties.com/support

@juneslater17 Altrincham is a Cheshire market town. On the outskirts of Manchester? Yes. IN Manchester? No… Detailed interactive map showing the legal boundaries of the geographic counties, with tools to compare council areas and lieutenancies at RealCounties.com

Weddings and parties cancelled The Cresta Court Hotel in Altrincham, Manchester, Is to be the home of 300 male migrants. Andrew Pierce reports that they are being assigned a private physician , so they don't impact on The NHS . Presumably the private Physician charges the government his usual fee of between £80-120 per consultation plus prescription costs

Same name. Completely different map. Denbighshire is a historic county. “Denbighshire” Council is an administrative body bearing little resemblance to it. Watch the boundaries change - then tell us: should councils use county names for areas that are not the counties? Explore the difference at RealCounties.com.

@GraemeDavis Agreed - the naming problem is real. Council areas need distinctive administrative names, but simply joining place names with “and” often creates something clumsy rather than meaningful.

@RealCounties we need a root and branch change in the way we need council areas. This one illustrates a real problem - what name do we give to the council areas? Names with AND in them are usually bad.

@cassand07959039 In what way?

@RealCounties Don’t tell Denbighshire Council about Tenby. That will play havoc with your maps.

@MotorsportMark Wonderful! Lambeth was (and is) in Surrey after all! More info and detailed interactive map showing the legal boundaries of Surrey and other geographic counties at RealCounties.com

@RealCounties The place of birth on my great-great grandfather’s birth certificate is shown as “Lambeth, Surrey”.

You've probably been told: "Croydon used to be in Surrey, but isn't anymore." But is that really true? The county hasn't changed - only administration has. Follow @RealCounties for more county myths and facts.

Quite right: Croydon was a county borough, meaning it ran its own local government independently of Surrey County Council. But it remained geographically in Surrey - administrative independence did not remove it from the county. Just as its administration now does not remove it from its geographic county. More info and detailed interactive map showing the legal boundaries of Surrey and other geographic counties at RealCounties.com

@RealCounties Slight clarification. Croydon was a " County Borough" independent of Surrey County Council, when I was a boy. Its been trying for City status since the Fifties, the centre of Croydon really does feel like a separate city.

Local Government Reorganisation: decisions announced The Government has now confirmed the outcome for 14 of the 16 areas still under consideration, with two decisions yet to be finalised. These changes will reshape local administration across large parts of England. We will now examine the results carefully - including their treatment of county names, boundaries and identities - and share our analysis in due course. Follow @RealCounties for updates.

England’s historic counties are far older than many people realise. We have been working through a 1692 edition of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, with its Latin translation, to refine our timeline of when England’s counties first appear as shires or counties. That has allowed us to tighten several early dates - including Hampshire, Wiltshire, Dorset, Somerset, Devon and Berkshire - and strengthen the central point: Most of England’s historic counties were already in existence before the Norman Conquest in 1066. This timeline is the result of careful source-led work through chronicles, census reports and medieval records - separating county history from later council boundaries, and early kingdoms from later shires. England’s county story is not a Victorian invention. It is written deep into the earliest records of the country.

Which boundary is the real East Riding? ▶️ The riding ▶️ The council area ▶️ The lieutenancy Same name. Three different boundaries. Watch the map… Should administrative bodies stop borrowing historic county and riding names?

Quick question... If someone asks where you're from... Do you answer with: 🏛️ Your county? 🏙️ Your town or city? 🏡 Your village? 🌍 Something else? We'd love to know what people naturally say first. 👇

You don't have to take our word for it. Since 1974, successive governments have repeatedly confirmed that traditional counties continue to exist and remain an important part of our national identity. We've brought those official statements together in one place. Read them here: RealCounties.com/official-state… Which government statement surprises you most?

@LancashirePics Great question - can't wait to see the results!! 🫡

Lancashire Hotpot debate. 🌹 Are you choosing the classic potato lid… or are you firmly on team pastry lid? No sitting on the fence - which one belongs on a proper Lancashire hotpot? 👇

Today is #HampshireDay! Celebrated on the feast of Hampshire native St Swithun (Swithin), born in Winchester in 800 and counsellor to Kings Egbert and Ethelwulf. Bishop of Winchester for the last 10 years of his life, Swithin died in 863.

@zabges Yes, that’s the Middlesex and Hertfordshire boundary. Easier to check precise boundaries of the geographic counties on our interactive map showing their legal boundaries at RealCounties.com

@RealCounties What was going on here with this bit of Hertfordshire? (Barnet?)

Calling somewhere by its historic county is not nostalgia. It is geographical accuracy.

No need to feel sad - your town is *still* in the West Riding! ‘South Yorkshire’ was created as a council area (which was disbanded in 1986 after just twelve years in existence). And SY is actually *not* Yorkshire at all. While most of its area is the West Riding, parts of it are Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire! Administrative changes (councils etc) do not result in geographic changes. ‘South Yorkshire’ = 50 years of admin West Riding = 1,000+ years of geography More info and detailed interactive map showing the legal boundaries of the geographic counties (and subdivisions like ridings) at RealCounties.com

@RealCounties My home, when I was born, was in the West Riding, and since 1974 it has been South Yorkshire. The change makes me sad