The axing of Cumbria County Council has passed its last legal hurdle. The Cumbria (Structural Changes) Order 2022 received Royal Assent on 18th March 2022. On 1st April 2023 Cumbria County Council and the district councils in its area will be abolished and replaced by … Continue reading
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Support Historic Somerset – Give an appropriate name for Somerset’s newest council
A new online petition Support Historic Somerset – give an appropriate name for Somerset’s newest council is calling for the new unitary council replacing Somerset County Council to be given a name which does not undermine the identity of Somerset itself. From April 2023, the … Continue reading
A tale of three Somersets
Among the many outrages of the Local Government Act 1972 was the naming of “Somerset County Council”. Whilst this local authority does cover a large part of the historic county of Somerset, it does not cover the highly populated north of the county. Nonetheless, for … Continue reading
Boost for the historic counties – ‘Cumbria’ is axed!
Moves towards unitary local government in England provide the perfect opportunity to clear up the longstanding confusion between the historic counties and local government, to the advantage of both. Is this opportunity going to be grasped? The latest news about local government changes in the … Continue reading
ABC on social media
A reminder to our supporters that you can also follow ABC on social media at: Twitter: @britishcounties Facebook: @abcounties There are very many social media channels promoting or celebrating an history county or some aspect of an historic county’s history or culture. Some of our … Continue reading
Monmouthshire – geographical confusion taken to its illogical conclusion
The biggest challenge facing the identities of the historic counties is their continued confusion with local government areas. Whilst moves towards unitary local government in England provide an opportunity to clear up this longstanding confusion, a quick look at the local government map of Wales … Continue reading
Devon Day – 4th June
Devon Day is celebrated on 4th June, the feast day of Saint Petroc. In anticipation we present our Map of Devon and a portrait of the county. Devon is a maritime county in the West Country of England. In the south west of Devon lies … Continue reading
Leicestershire Flag Competition – Time to Press ‘Pause’
Leicestershire is the only historic county of England which does not yet have a flag registered with the Flag Institute. We were delighted, therefore, when BBC Radio Leicester agreed to run a Flag of Leicestershire competition, endorsed by the Flag Institute, to select a flag … Continue reading
Caernarfonshire Day – 28th Nov
Caernarfonshire (Sir Gaernarfon) is a maritime county in north Wales. A large proportion of the population is Welsh-speaking. The county may be reckoned to have three distinctive areas: the coastal lands (Arfon and the coast to the River Conwy), Snowdonia and the Llŷn Peninsula. The … Continue reading
Bedfordshire Day 28th Nov
Bedfordshire is an inland county in the south-eastern Midlands of England. The southern end of the county is swept by the chalk ridge of the Chiltern Hills. The rest of the shire is part of the broad drainage basin of the River Great Ouse and … Continue reading