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
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Caernarfonshire Day – Sun 28th Nov 2021
Caernarfonshire Day is celebrated on 28th November, the date of death of Owain ap Gruffudd (1100 – 1170). In celebration we present a Map of Caernarfonshire and our portrait of the county. Caernarfonshire (Sir Gaernarfon) is a maritime county in north Wales. A large proportion … Continue reading

Bedfordshire Day – Sun 28th Nov 2021
#BedfordshireDay is celebrated on 28th November, the birthday of John Bunyan (b. Elstow 1628). In celebration we present a Map of Bedfordshire and our portrait of the county. Check out the Friends of Bedfordshire Society (also on Twitter and Facebook) for more information about Bedfordshire … Continue reading

Lancashire Day – 27th November
#LancashireDay is celebrated on 27th November. On this day in 1295 the first elected representatives from Lancashire were called to Westminster by King Edward I to attend what later became known as “The Model Parliament”. We present our portrait of the county and a Map … Continue reading

Essex Day – 26th October
Essex Day is celebrated on October 26th, the feast day of St Cedd, bishop of the East Saxons and the county’s patron saint. Cedd founded many churches, among them the Chapel of St Peter-on-the-Wall at Bradwell-on-Sea, one of the oldest intact Christian churches in England. … 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

Westmorland Day – 29th September
Westmorland Day is celebrated on 29th September. On this day in 1397, Ralph Neville was created the first Earl of Westmorland by Richard II. This date was chosen in a public vote at the Westmorland county show in 2013. Westmorland was one of the last … Continue reading

Monmouthshire Day – 25th September
Monmouthshire Day is celebrated on September 25th, the feast day of Saint Cadoc. We present our portrait of the county and a Map of Monmouthshire. Monmouthshire is a maritime county in south-east Wales. Monmouthshire was once the heart of the Kingdom of Gwent, then the … Continue reading

Local government naming that respects the historic counties
The Association of British Counties (ABC) promotes the importance of the historic counties of the UK to our history, heritage and culture. The biggest challenge facing the identities of the historic counties in England is the continued confusion of the historic counties with local government … Continue reading

Hampshire Day – July 15th
Hampshire Day is celebrated on 15th July, the feast day of St Swithin, an Anglo-Saxon bishop of Winchester. In celebration we present our portrait of the county along with our Map of Hampshire. Hampshire is a maritime county of the south coast of England. A … Continue reading