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Revision as of 04:45, 1 April 2006 editMais oui! (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers111,268 edits excellent rewrite: much, much more informative and neutral; just one clarification and a couple of links← Previous edit Revision as of 19:12, 1 April 2006 edit undo82.26.197.74 (talk) tiny tweak; administrative -> officialNext edit →
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'''Traditional counties''' are unofficial, informal and non-administrative divisions of the '''British Isles''' which are based on previous administrative divisions. '''Traditional counties''' are unofficial, informal and non-administrative divisions of the ] which are based on previous official divisions.


The ] have been divided into areas for administrative and geographical demarcation purposes for several hundred years, and these have been known as ''counties'' for various periods of time in the ]. Acts of Parliament in the last two centuries altered these county boundaries and created new units for administration (also known as counties). Those counties existing previous to these changes became known informally as ''traditional counties'', or "ancient counties", (or indeed by other names, listed below). The areas they refer to no longer have official use, but are still sometimes used in informal, non-administrative settings. The '''British Isles''' have been divided into areas for administrative and geographical demarcation purposes for several hundred years, and these have been known as ''counties'' for various periods of time in the constituent countries. Acts of Parliament in the last two centuries altered these county boundaries and created new units for administration (also known as counties). Those counties existing previous to these changes became known informally as ''traditional counties'', or "ancient counties", (or indeed by other names, listed below). The areas they refer to no longer have official use, but are still sometimes used in informal, non-administrative settings.


There is no single canonical set of "traditional" counties, as the boundaries have varied constantly over time. However, in ] and ], the phrase is often employed to refer to the (largely static) boundaries that existed between the 16th Century ] and the creation of ] in the ] of the late nineteenth century. There is no single canonical set of "traditional" counties, as the boundaries have varied constantly over time. However, the phrase is often employed to refer to the (largely static) boundaries that existed between the 16th Century ] and the creation of ] in the ] of the late nineteenth century.


Traditional counties are also sometimes referred to by the terms "ancient", "geographic", "ancient or geographic", "historic", "old", or "former" counties: Traditional counties are also sometimes referred to by the terms "ancient", "geographic", "ancient or geographic", "historic", "old", or "former" counties:

Revision as of 19:12, 1 April 2006

Traditional counties are unofficial, informal and non-administrative divisions of the British Isles which are based on previous official divisions.

The British Isles have been divided into areas for administrative and geographical demarcation purposes for several hundred years, and these have been known as counties for various periods of time in the constituent countries. Acts of Parliament in the last two centuries altered these county boundaries and created new units for administration (also known as counties). Those counties existing previous to these changes became known informally as traditional counties, or "ancient counties", (or indeed by other names, listed below). The areas they refer to no longer have official use, but are still sometimes used in informal, non-administrative settings.

There is no single canonical set of "traditional" counties, as the boundaries have varied constantly over time. However, the phrase is often employed to refer to the (largely static) boundaries that existed between the 16th Century Laws in Wales acts and the creation of administrative counties in the Local Government Acts of the late nineteenth century.

Traditional counties are also sometimes referred to by the terms "ancient", "geographic", "ancient or geographic", "historic", "old", or "former" counties:

An example of this usage in England is seen in the censuses of 1901, in which the county borders immediately previous to the Local Government Act 1888 are referred to as "ancient counties"

Some pressure groups (the "traditional counties movement") exist to promote the use of previous boundaries for current purposes; these include the Association of British Counties and County Watch.

See also

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