On the fiftieth anniversary of the infamous 1974 local government changes, the Yorkshire Ridings Society and the Historic Counties Trust have unveiled the first of a set of new road-signs marking the border of Yorkshire and the borders of its ridings.
The first “Historic North Riding of Yorkshire” sign was unveiled at 10.00am on 1st April 2024 in Croft, where the A167 crosses the River Tees from County Durham into Yorkshire. It is the first sign in a scheme to fully mark the borders of the ridings of Yorkshire, and the border of Yorkshire itself, on major routeways. Funds have been raised and plans are in place to pursue a roll-out of these signs over the next 12 months.
Nigel Wilkin (pictured above unveiling the sign) of the Yorkshire Ridings Society said,
“1st April 2024 marks 50 years to the day since the enactment of the Local Government Act 1972, which was intended only to change the pattern of local government in England and Wales. As a result of this Act, the Ridings County Councils were abolished along with many other local authorities across the country. However, this Local Government Act 50 years ago only changed the pattern of local government. It did not alter counties as cultural, geographic and historic places. The ridings of Yorkshire as places with a long, (1000+) year history continue to exist to this day.
The purpose of these new signs is to officially mark the border of Yorkshire and the ridings’ borders within it, to remind people of their identity as Yorkshire people and to show that historic counties continue to exist, alongside units of local government.”
The Yorkshire Ridings Society and the Historic Counties Trust wish to acknowledge and express their gratitude to North Yorkshire Council for its co-operation, significant help and support in order to make this project possible. The cost of the sign was met entirely by donation with no cost to public finances.
Peter Boyce of the Association of British Counties (ABC) said,
“One of the disastrous consequences of the 1974 local government changes, and the geographical confusion they unleased, was that many of the road signs which marked our historic counties were unceremoniously taken down and replaced by signs marking the then new local government areas. We are determined to see a full replacements of appropriate signage of the historic county borders, not just on roads, but footpaths, bridleways, canal paths and so on.
We are delighted that the Historic Counties Trust, ABC’s charity arm, has been asked by the Yorkshire Ridings Society to be part of the scheme to see a full restoration of signs marking the border of Yorkshire and of its ridings. It is great to have North Yorkshire Council’s support in this scheme. We will be seeking to work with other local authorities in Yorkshire to ensure that the county and riding borders are marked throughout Yorkshire. We will, of course, continue to seek the erection of historic county signs throughout the whole UK.”
Since 2015, following lobbying by ABC, the Government’s Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions have permitted the erection of signs on highways marking the borders of the historic counties throughout the UK. Since then, a growing number of such signs have been erected.
Peter Boyce continued,
“We are keen to work with local authorities, local groups and interested local people to see historic county border signs erected throughout the UK. In general such signs need to be funded by public donation. Any donations made to the Historic Counties Trust’s Border Signs Appeal will be used towards marking the borders of our historic counties and their traditional divisions throughout the UK.”
13 thoughts on “Yorkshire Ridings: Road-sign Rollout Begins”
Keep up the great work !
A belated Happy Cheshire Day (30th March) to you all
Thanks !
Fantastic News! As a regular traveller from Leeds, West Riding of Yorkshire, to Glasgow via the A66, Scotch Corner to Penrith, I always curse when passing Stainmore Summit, when I see the Cumbria sign westbound & the County Durham sign eastbound. Hopefully, this won’t be for much longer. I would also like to see a new Cumberland sign at Brougham, at the River Eamont crossing, which is the traditional Westmorland/Cumberland boundary. Your longlasting campaign is really gaining momentum, appropriately on the fiftieth anniversary of the 1974 Local Government Act. I am happy to have made a donation to the cause & all good luck for future progress.
Many thanks for your kind comments and your donation. The borders crossings you mention are on our list of desirables. Because North Yorkshire Council are behind marking the ridings, initially we’ll be focussing on getting up signs in this council area. But we’ll also be seeking the cooperation of other local authorities.
Thanks for you speedy reply.
This is great. So difficult (impossible?) to get a map of the Ridings. Although, it says ‘historic’, but these are actual existing counties….
I’d prefer it myself if the word “historic” was omitted from signs marking riding and true county boundaries. As you imply, it is a word that could mislead folks into assuming that the ancient division or county they are entering is not a current entity but rather an extinct one whose former borders people are being reminded or made aware of for reasons of historical interest.
It would infuriate the Middlesbrough folk to see a Yorkshire sign on the A19 coming southbound from the Billingham area. It would sadly probably be smashed or covered up as they ONLY want to be known as Teesside or Cleveland.
I would love this to happen but such is the hatred for Yorkshire in Middlesbrough no one would dare put anything “Yorkshire” on any signage entering their area.
Similarly, little Sedbergh “the Cumbrian Book Town In The Yorkshire Dales” which is how it markets itself LOVES Cumbria.
Wetsmorland & Furness and Cumberland councils REFUSE to take down any “Cumbria” signage and FOI requests have had both ‘new’ councils standing lke Siamese twins firm in the love of “Cumbria”.
I said that when “Cumbria” county council was to be abolished that Cumbria would be used and enforced more than ever. I was 100% right sadly.
Brand “Cumbria” is stronger than ever. The love of it has brainwashed everyone within it and it gets stronger all the time.
The Furness area are as pro-Cumbria as Carlisle, Alston and all parts within ‘it’.
They LOVE writing “Cumbria” on addresses throughout the abolished Cumbria county ouncil area.
It is incredible that the powerful love for a place that was invented in 1974 is etched in to everyone’s psyche and hearts both inside “Cumbria” and everywhere outside of it acknowledges “Cumbria” as a standard real County. Unbelievable but sadly true.
Hmm, I don’t everyone there is quite as gung-ho as you say, but even so, some education to free them from their brainwashing might not be a bad thing. A rollout of historical Yorkshire maps to remind people of their actual, true boundary lines wouldn’t be a bad idea imo.
We really want our property back after all these decades of silly, fictional experimentation. I don’t really care what Teessiders or Cumbria lovers say. They can be reabsorbed back into Yorkshire properly and if they don’t like it they can a. Lump it B. Move. It’s our land we want back.
Is there a County Durham sign on the Darlington side of Croft bridge
Sadly not. From Google Earth, I can see that there is a sign that reads “welcome to the Borough of Darlington” .
Fifty years is a long time.Most people born in the mid sixties have never known anything else but the dogs dinner of April 1st 1974.Cumbria really gets my blood boiling.A few years ago they described Stan Laurel as their most famous Cumbrian.😡😡.Stan was of course born in Ulverston Lancashire.I wish you well,but it will be difficult in some areas. I just hope no damage is done to the signs.Iain Leeds West Riding of Yorkshire.
Leaving Sunderland and heading South on the A19 at Seaham, we still have blue County Durham signs, when we’re already in said county. The signs need moving up to the River Tyne! At least the much despised northbound ‘County of Tyne and Wear’ signs were taken down in 1996! Good riddance too!
Hopefully there will be a sign where you enter Yorkshire on the M1 northbound just south of Woodall service station. Long overdue! Currently no signage at all, even for “South Yorkshire” or the Metropolitan Borough of Rotherham.