All Topics  
Local Government Act 1888

 

 
   Email Print
   Bookmark   Link
 

 

Local Government Act 1888
 
 
  Topics Local Government Act 1888 Topic Home

The Local Government Act 1888 (51 & 52 Vict. c.41) was an Act
Act of Parliament

An act of Parliament is a statute wikt:enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. It is broadly equivalent to an act of Congress in the United States....
 of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
Parliament of the United Kingdom

The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislature in the United Kingdom and British overseas territories....
, which established county council
County council

A County council is the elected administrative body governing an area known as a county. This term has slightly different meanings in different countries....
s and county borough
County borough

County borough is a term introduced in 1889 in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland , to refer to a borough or a city independent of county council control....
 councils in England and Wales
England and Wales

England and Wales is a legal unit within the United Kingdom. It consists of England and Wales, two of the four countries of the United Kingdom....
. It came into effect on 1 April 1889 except for the County of London
County of London

The County of London was a ceremonial counties of England and administrative counties of England of England from 1889 to 1965. It bordered Middlesex to the north and west, Essex to the north east, Kent to the south east and Surrey to the south....
 which came into existence on 21 March at the request of the London County Council
London County Council

London County Council was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889-1965 existence, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected....
.
owing the 1886 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1886

The 1886 UK general election took place from 1–27 July 1886. It resulted in a major reversal of the results of the United Kingdom general election, 1885 as the Conservative Party , led by Robert Arthur Talbot Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury in an electoral pact with the breakaway Unionist wing of the Liberals -...
, a Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)

The Conservative and Unionist Party, more commonly known as the Conservative Party, is a conservative political party in the United Kingdom....
 administration headed by Lord Salisbury
Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury

Robert Arthur Talbot Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury, Order of the Garter, Royal Victorian Order, Privy Council of the United Kingdom , known as Lord Robert Cecil before 1865 and as Viscount Cranborne from 1865 until 1868, was a United Kingdom statesman and thrice Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, serving for a total...
 was formed. However the Conservatives did not have a majority of seats and had to rely on the support of the Liberal Unionist Party
Liberal Unionist Party

The Liberal Unionists were a United Kingdom political party that split away from the Liberal Party in 1886. Led by Spencer Compton Cavendish, 8th Duke of Devonshire and Joseph Chamberlain the party formed a political alliance with the Conservative Party in opposition to Ireland Home Rule#Irish home rule ....
.






Discussion
Ask a question about 'Local Government Act 1888'
Start a new discussion about 'Local Government Act 1888'
Answer questions from other users
Full Discussion Forum



Encyclopedia


The Local Government Act 1888 (51 & 52 Vict. c.41) was an Act
Act of Parliament

An act of Parliament is a statute wikt:enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. It is broadly equivalent to an act of Congress in the United States....
 of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
Parliament of the United Kingdom

The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislature in the United Kingdom and British overseas territories....
, which established county council
County council

A County council is the elected administrative body governing an area known as a county. This term has slightly different meanings in different countries....
s and county borough
County borough

County borough is a term introduced in 1889 in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland , to refer to a borough or a city independent of county council control....
 councils in England and Wales
England and Wales

England and Wales is a legal unit within the United Kingdom. It consists of England and Wales, two of the four countries of the United Kingdom....
. It came into effect on 1 April 1889 except for the County of London
County of London

The County of London was a ceremonial counties of England and administrative counties of England of England from 1889 to 1965. It bordered Middlesex to the north and west, Essex to the north east, Kent to the south east and Surrey to the south....
 which came into existence on 21 March at the request of the London County Council
London County Council

London County Council was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889-1965 existence, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected....
.

The Bill

Following the 1886 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1886

The 1886 UK general election took place from 1–27 July 1886. It resulted in a major reversal of the results of the United Kingdom general election, 1885 as the Conservative Party , led by Robert Arthur Talbot Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury in an electoral pact with the breakaway Unionist wing of the Liberals -...
, a Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)

The Conservative and Unionist Party, more commonly known as the Conservative Party, is a conservative political party in the United Kingdom....
 administration headed by Lord Salisbury
Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury

Robert Arthur Talbot Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury, Order of the Garter, Royal Victorian Order, Privy Council of the United Kingdom , known as Lord Robert Cecil before 1865 and as Viscount Cranborne from 1865 until 1868, was a United Kingdom statesman and thrice Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, serving for a total...
 was formed. However the Conservatives did not have a majority of seats and had to rely on the support of the Liberal Unionist Party
Liberal Unionist Party

The Liberal Unionists were a United Kingdom political party that split away from the Liberal Party in 1886. Led by Spencer Compton Cavendish, 8th Duke of Devonshire and Joseph Chamberlain the party formed a political alliance with the Conservative Party in opposition to Ireland Home Rule#Irish home rule ....
. As part of the price for this support the Liberal Unionists demanded that a bill be introduced placing county government under the control of elected councils, modelled on the borough councils introduced by the Municipal Corporations Act 1835
Municipal Corporations Act 1835

The Municipal Corporations Act 1835 - sometimes known as the Municipal Reform Act, was an Act of Parliament of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that reformed local government in the the incorporated boroughs of England and Wales....
.

Accordingly, the Local Government (England and Wales) Bill was introduced to the House of Commons
British House of Commons

The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the British monarchy and the House of Lords ....
 on 19 March 1888, by the President of the Local Government Board
President of the Local Government Board

The President of the Local Government Board was a ministerial post, frequently a Cabinet position, in the United Kingdom, established in 1871. The Local Government Board itself was established in 1871 and took over supervisory functions from the Board of Trade and the Home Office, including the Local Government Act Office that had been esta...
, Charles Ritchie
Charles Thomson Ritchie

Charles Thomson Ritchie, 1st Baron Ritchie of Dundee , was a United Kingdom politician....
. The Bill proposed the creation of elected county councils to take over the administrative functions of the magistrates of the Quarter Sessions
Quarter Sessions

The Courts of Quarter Sessions or Quarter Sessions were periodic courts held in each county and county borough in England and Wales until 1972, when together with the Assize courts they were abolished by the Courts Act 1971 and replaced by a single permanent Crown Court of England and Wales for England and Wales....
 courts, that ten large boroughs should be "counties of themselves" for the purposes of local government and that each county was to be divided into urban and rural districts, based on existing sanitary district
Sanitary district

Sanitary Districts were established in England and Wales in 1875 and in Ireland in 1878. The districts were of two types, based on existing structures:...
s, governed by a district council. The county and district councils were to consist partly of directly elected "elective councillors" and partly of "selected councillors", chosen by the elective councillors in a similar manner to aldermen
Alderman

An alderman is a member of a Municipal government assembly or council in many jurisdictions. Historically the term could also refer to local municipal judges in small legal proceedings ....
 in municipal borough
Municipal borough

Municipal boroughs were a type of local government which existed in England and Wales between 1835 and 1974, in Northern Ireland from 1840 to 1973 and in the Republic of Ireland from 1840 to 2002....
s.

The counties to be used for local government were to be the historic counties of England
Historic counties of England

The historic counties of England are ancient subdivisions of England established for administration by the Normans and in most cases based on earlier Anglo-Saxons kingdoms and shires....
 and Wales. A county council was to be formed for each of the ridings of Yorkshire
Yorkshire

Yorkshire is a Historic counties of England of northern England and the largest in Great Britain. Because of its great size, over time functions were increasingly undertaken by its subdivisions, which have been subject to History of local government in Yorkshire....
 and the three divisions of Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire

Lincolnshire is a Counties of England in the east of England. It borders Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Rutland, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, South Yorkshire, and the East Riding of Yorkshire....
 (Holland
Holland, Lincolnshire

Holland is an area of south-east Lincolnshire, England. The name is still recognised locally and survives in the district of South Holland, Lincolnshire....
, Kesteven
Kesteven

The Parts of Kesteven are a traditional subdivision of Lincolnshire, England. This subdivision had long had a separate county administration , along with the other two parts Lindsey and Holland, Lincolnshire)....
 and Lindsey
Lindsey

Lindsey was a unit of local government until 1974 in Lincolnshire, England, covering the northern part of the county. The Isle of Axholme, which is on the west side of the River Trent, has normally formed part of it....
), leading to the creation of fifty-six county councils. A new County of London
County of London

The County of London was a ceremonial counties of England and administrative counties of England of England from 1889 to 1965. It bordered Middlesex to the north and west, Essex to the north east, Kent to the south east and Surrey to the south....
 was to be formed from the area of the Metropolitan Board of Works
Metropolitan Board of Works

The Metropolitan Board of Works was the principal instrument of London-wide government from 1855 until the establishment of the London County Council in 1889....
. The boundaries of the counties were to be those used for parliamentary purposes, adjusted to include urban sanitary districts on county borders within a single county.

The ten boroughs which were to be "dealt with as separate counties" were named as Liverpool
Liverpool

Liverpool [] is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a History of borough status in England and Wales in 1207 and was granted City status in the United Kingdom in 1880....
, Birmingham
Birmingham

Birmingham is a city status in the United Kingdom and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. Birmingham is the most populous of England's English Core Cities Group, and is the List of United Kingdom cities by population British city after London, with a population of 1,010,200 ....
, Manchester
Manchester

Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. Manchester was granted City status in the United Kingdom in 1853....
, Leeds
Leeds

Leeds is located on the River Aire in West Yorkshire, England. It is the urban core and administrative centre of the wider metropolitan borough of the City of Leeds....
, Sheffield
Sheffield

Sheffield is a city status in the United Kingdom and metropolitan borough in South Yorkshire, England. It is so named because of its origins in a field on the River Sheaf that runs through the city....
, Bristol
Bristol

Bristol is a City status in the United Kingdom, unitary authority area and Ceremonial counties of England in South West England, west of London, and east of Cardiff....
, Bradford
Bradford

Bradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield....
, Nottingham
Nottingham

Nottingham is one of the three major city status in the United Kingdom in the East Midlands and is in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire, England....
, Kingston-on-Hull
Kingston upon Hull

Kingston upon Hull , almost invariably referred to as Hull, is a City status in the United Kingdom and unitary authority area in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England....
, Newcastle-on-Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne

Newcastle upon Tyne is a City status in the United Kingdom and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Situated on the north bank of the River Tyne, the city developed from a Roman Empire settlement called Pons Aelius, though it owes its name to the Newcastle Castle built in 1080, by Robert Curthose, the eldest son of...
.

Existing urban and rural sanitary districts, created in 1872, were to be redesignated as urban and rural districts. Urban districts which lay across county boundaries were to be included in the county in which the greater part of the population lay in the 1881 census
Census

A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population....
. Existing rural sanitary districts were to split on county lines to form rural districts.

Passage through parliament

There were a large number of changes to the Bill as it passed through parliament. The terms administrative county
Administrative county

An administrative county was an administrative division in England and Wales and Ireland used for the purposes of local government. They are now abolished, although in Northern Ireland their former areas are used as the basis for lieutenancy....
 and county borough
County borough

County borough is a term introduced in 1889 in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland , to refer to a borough or a city independent of county council control....
 were introduced to designate the new areas of local government, while the "selected councillors" became "county aldermen". The government withdrew the sections relating to the creation of district councils, which were eventually brought into existence by the Local Government Act 1894
Local Government Act 1894

The Local Government Act 1894 was an act of parliament of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales outside the County of London....
.

Members of both houses made representations on behalf of counties and boroughs, and this led to an increase in the number of local authorities.
  • The eastern and western divisions of Sussex
    Sussex

    Sussex , from the Old English Su?seaxe , is a Historic counties of England in South East England England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex....
     became administrative counties
  • The Isle of Ely
    Isle of Ely

    The Isle of Ely is a historic region around the city of Ely now in Cambridgeshire, England but previously a county in its own right....
     was separated from Cambridgeshire
  • The eastern
    East Suffolk

    East Suffolk, along with West Suffolk, was created in 1888 as an administrative county of England. The administrative county was based on the eastern quarter sessions division of Suffolk....
     and western
    West Suffolk

    West Suffolk was an administrative county of England created in 1889 from part of the county of Suffolk. It survived until 1974 when it was rejoined with East Suffolk....
     divisions of Suffolk
    Suffolk

    Suffolk is a Non-metropolitan counties of England of Historic counties of England in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south....
     were divided for local government purposes.
  • The Soke of Peterborough
    Soke of Peterborough

    The Soke of Peterborough is an historic area of England that is traditionally associated with the Peterborough and Anglican Diocese of Peterborough, but considered part of Northamptonshire....
     was separated from the remainder of Northamptonshire.


Attempts to create administrative counties for the Cinque Ports
Cinque Ports

The Confederation of Cinque Ports is a historic series of coastal towns in Kent and Sussex, at the eastern end of the English Channel where the crossing to the continent is narrowest....
 and Staffordshire Potteries
Stoke-on-Trent

Stoke-on-Trent is a City status in the United Kingdom in Staffordshire, England, which forms a linear conurbation almost 12 miles long, with an area of ....
 were not successful.

The population limit for county boroughs was lowered twice, firstly to 100,000, then to 50,000. A number of smaller counties corporate were also given county borough status. Mr Ritchie conceded on on 8 June:

"Now that they had gone down so far in population as 50,000 there arose a question as to the admission of boroughs which had not so large a population as 50,000, but which had very peculiar claims. He referred to the counties of cities."...

"Two or three of these cities had so small a population that he did not propose to deal with them in this way. The best course was to give the names of the cities which he proposed to include. They were Exeter, Lincoln, Chester, Gloucester, Worcester, and Canterbury."

The effect of these changes was to increase the number of county boroughs from ten to fifty-nine. With a population of around 50,000 at the 1881 census, the City of London
City of London

The City of London is a geographically small city status in the United Kingdom within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which, along with Westminster, the modern conurbation grew....
 was initially proposed for county borough status.

County councils

The councils were subject to triennial
Triennial

Excess long comment to prevent listing on...
 elections, the first taking place in January 1889. The county councils elected in 1889 were known as "provisional" councils until coming into their powers on 1 April. Every administrative county was divided into electoral divisions, each returning a single councillor. Following the election, the county councillors then elected county aldermen, there being one alderman for every six councillors. The councillors appointed a chairman and vice chairman, who had a one year term of office.

Powers

The powers and responsibilities transferred from the quarter sessions to the councils were enumerated in the Act. These included:
  • Making and levying of rates
  • Borrowing of money
  • Passing of county accounts
  • Maintenance and construction of county buildings such as shire halls, county halls, court houses and police stations
  • Licensing of places of entertainment and of race courses
  • Provisions of asylums for pauper lunatics
  • Establishment and maintenance of reformatory and industrial schools
  • Repair of county roads and bridges†
  • Appointment, dismissal and setting of salaries for county officers
  • Division of the county into polling places for parliamentary elections, and the provision of polling stations
  • Control of contagious diseases in animals, and of destructive insects
  • Fish conservancy and control of wild birds
  • Weights and measures


† The council could also declare a road a "main road" and take over its maintenance, and purchase existing bridges or build new ones.

County borough corporations also exercised these powers, in addition to those of a municipal borough.

Standing joint committees

Control of the county police was to be exercised jointly by the quarter sessions and the county council through a standing joint committee. The committees were replaced by police authorities
Police authority

A police authority in the United Kingdom, is a body charged with securing efficient and effective policing of a police area served by a territorial police force or the area and/or activity policed by a special police force....
 by the Police Act 1964
Police Act 1964

The Police Act 1964 was an Act of Parliament of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that updated the legislation governing police forces in England and Wales, constituted new police authorities, gave the Home Secretary new powers to supervise local constabularies, and allowed for the Consolidation of existing forces into more efficient uni...
.

Counties for other purposes

The Act also altered what it calls the "counties", ensuring that the boundaries used for what it terms "non-administrative purposes" would be synchronised with the borders between the administrative counties.

The non-administrative purposes were stated to be "sheriff
High Sheriff

The High Sheriff is, or was, a law enforcement position in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States. In England and Wales, the High Sheriff is an unpaid, partly ceremonial post appointed by The Crown through a Warrant from the Privy Council....
, lieutenant
Lord Lieutenant

The title Lord Lieutenant is given to the British monarch's personal representatives in the United Kingdom, usually in a county or similar circumscription, with varying tasks throughout history....
, custos rotulorum
Custos rotulorum

Custos rotulorum , Latin for "keeper of the rolls", the keeper of the England county records, is by virtue of that office the highest civil officer in the county....
, justices, militia, coroner, or other", thus approximating to the functions of modern ceremonial counties.

County boroughs were included within their geographic county for such purposes and the counties of Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Suffolk, Sussex and Yorkshire were undivided so far as they were one county at the passing of the Act. The three ridings of Yorkshire and a number of boroughs thus retained their existing lieutenancies and shrievalties.

Other provisions

Under section 48 of the Act all liberties
Liberty (division)

A Liberty was a local government unit in England. Originating in the Middle Ages, liberties were areas of widely variable extent which were independent of the usual system of Hundred and boroughs for a number of different reasons, usually to do with peculiarities of land tenure....
 and franchises, with the exception of those which became separate administrative counties, were to be merged with the county of which they formed part for parliamentary elections. The Cinque Ports, which for some purposes (such as lieutenacy) were considered a distinct county, were to become part of the county in which they were situate. Section 49 allowed for the creation by provisional order of a council for the "Scilly Islands" to be established as a unitary authority outside the administrative county of Cornwall. This was duly formed in 1890 as the Isles of Scilly Rural District.

List of administrative counties and county boroughs created in 1889


England

Geographical county Administrative county County boroughs
Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire

Bedfordshire is a county in England that forms part of the East of England Regions of England.Its county town is Bedford, Bedfordshire. It borders Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire....
 		Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire

Bedfordshire is a county in England that forms part of the East of England Regions of England.Its county town is Bedford, Bedfordshire. It borders Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire....
 		 
Berkshire
Berkshire

Berkshire is a Home Counties in the South East England of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1958, and Letters patent issued confirming...
 		Berkshire
Berkshire

Berkshire is a Home Counties in the South East England of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1958, and Letters patent issued confirming...
 		Reading
Reading, Berkshire

Reading is a town in England, located at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, midway between London and Swindon off the M4 motorway....
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire

Buckinghamshire is a Ceremonial counties of England and Metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties of England home counties Counties of England in South East England England....
 		Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire

Buckinghamshire is a Ceremonial counties of England and Metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties of England home counties Counties of England in South East England England....
 		 
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire

Cambridgeshire is a Counties_of_the_United_Kingdom#England in England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the northeast, Suffolk to the east, Essex, England and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the west....
 		Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire

Cambridgeshire is a Counties_of_the_United_Kingdom#England in England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the northeast, Suffolk to the east, Essex, England and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the west....
 		 
Isle of Ely
Isle of Ely

The Isle of Ely is a historic region around the city of Ely now in Cambridgeshire, England but previously a county in its own right....
 		 
Cheshire
Cheshire

Cheshire is a Counties of England in North West England. The county town, and the location of the county council, is the City status in the United Kingdom of Chester, although Cheshire's largest town in terms of area and population is Warrington....
 		Cheshire
Cheshire

Cheshire is a Counties of England in North West England. The county town, and the location of the county council, is the City status in the United Kingdom of Chester, although Cheshire's largest town in terms of area and population is Warrington....
 		Birkenhead
Birkenhead

Birkenhead is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral in Merseyside, England. It is on the Wirral Peninsula, along the west bank of the River Mersey, opposite the city of Liverpool....
, Chester
Chester

Chester is the county town of Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, Wales, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider local government district of the Chester , which had a population of 118,210 according to the United Kingdom Census 2001....
, Stockport
Stockport

Stockport is a large town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on elevated ground on the River Mersey at the influx of the rivers River Goyt and River Tame, Greater Manchester, southeast of the city of Manchester....
 (part)
Cornwall
Cornwall

Cornwall , constitutional Duchy and palatine, is a metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties of England of England, United Kingdom, located at the tip of the south-western peninsula of Great Britain....
 		Cornwall
Cornwall

Cornwall , constitutional Duchy and palatine, is a metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties of England of England, United Kingdom, located at the tip of the south-western peninsula of Great Britain....
 		 
Cumberland
Cumberland

Cumberland is one of the 39 historic counties of England. It formed an Administrative counties of England from 1889 to 1974 and now forms part of Cumbria....
 		Cumberland
Cumberland

Cumberland is one of the 39 historic counties of England. It formed an Administrative counties of England from 1889 to 1974 and now forms part of Cumbria....
 		Carlisle
Carlisle

Carlisle is in the City of Carlisle, a district of Cumbria in North West England. It is located at the confluence of the rivers River Eden, Cumbria, River Caldew and River Petteril, south of the Anglo-Scottish border....
Derbyshire
Derbyshire

Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains....
 		Derbyshire
Derbyshire

Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains....
 		Derby
Derby

Derby is a city status in the United Kingdom in the East Midlands region of England in the United Kingdom. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent, Derbyshire and is located in the south of the non-metropolitan county of Derbyshire....
Devon
Devon

Devon is a large Counties of England in South West England. The county is also referred to as Devonshire, but that is an entirely unofficial name, rarely used inside of the county but often indicating a shire....
 		Devon
Devon

Devon is a large Counties of England in South West England. The county is also referred to as Devonshire, but that is an entirely unofficial name, rarely used inside of the county but often indicating a shire....
 		Devonport
Devonport, Devon

Devonport, formerly named Plymouth Dock or just Dock, is a district of Plymouth in the England county of Devon, although it was, at one time, the more important settlement....
, Exeter
Exeter

Exeter Exeter was the most south-westerly Roman fortified settlement in Roman Britain and has existed since time immemorial. Exeter Cathedral, founded in 1050 is Anglicanism....
, Plymouth
Plymouth

Plymouth is a City status in the United Kingdom and unitary authority on the coast of Devon, England, about south west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers River Plym to the east and River Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound....
Dorset
Dorset

Dorset , is a Counties of England in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester, Dorset, situated in the south of the county at ....
 		Dorset
Dorset

Dorset , is a Counties of England in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester, Dorset, situated in the south of the county at ....
 		 
Durham
County Durham

County Durham is a Metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties of England of Historic counties of England in North East England England. The county town is Durham.The largest settlement in the county is the town of Darlington....
 		Durham
Durham

Durham is a city in North East England. It lies at the heart of the City of Durham local government district. It is the county town of County Durham....
 		Gateshead
Gateshead

Gateshead is a town in Tyne and Wear, England. It lies on the southern bank of the River Tyne, England, opposite Newcastle upon Tyne. Gateshead town centre and Newcastle city centre are very close to one another, and together they form the urban core of Tyneside....
, South Shields
South Shields

South Shields is a coastal town in Tyne and Wear, England, located at the mouth of the River Tyne, England. The town has a population of about 90,000 and is part of the Metropolitan_borough of South Tyneside, which includes the riverside towns of Jarrow and Hebburn and the villages of Boldon, Cleadon and Whitburn....
, Sunderland
Sunderland

Sunderland is a city in Tyne and Wear, England. It was formerly a county borough but now forms part of the City of Sunderland. It is situated at the mouth of the River Wear....
Essex
Essex

Essex is a counties of England in the East of England England. The county town is Chelmsford, and the highest point of the county is Chrishall Common near the village of Langley, Essex, close to the Hertfordshire border, which reaches ....
 		Essex
Essex

Essex is a counties of England in the East of England England. The county town is Chelmsford, and the highest point of the county is Chrishall Common near the village of Langley, Essex, close to the Hertfordshire border, which reaches ....
 		West Ham
County Borough of West Ham

West Ham was a local government district in the extreme south west of Essex from 1886 to 1965, forming part of the built-up area of London, although outside the County of London....
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire

Gloucestershire is a Counties of England in South West England England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
 		Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire

Gloucestershire is a Counties of England in South West England England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
 		Bristol
Bristol

Bristol is a City status in the United Kingdom, unitary authority area and Ceremonial counties of England in South West England, west of London, and east of Cardiff....
 (part), Gloucester
Gloucester

Gloucester is a city status in the United Kingdom, Non-metropolitan district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West England region of England....
Herefordshire
Herefordshire

Herefordshire is a Historic counties of England and Ceremonial counties of England Counties of England in the West Midlands Regions of England of England....
 		Herefordshire
Herefordshire

Herefordshire is a Historic counties of England and Ceremonial counties of England Counties of England in the West Midlands Regions of England of England....
 		 
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire

Hertfordshire is a Ceremonial counties of England and Metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties of England Counties of England in the East of England region of England....
 		Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire

Hertfordshire is a Ceremonial counties of England and Metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties of England Counties of England in the East of England region of England....
 		 
Huntingdonshire
Huntingdonshire

Huntingdonshire is a Non-metropolitan district of Cambridgeshire, covering the area around Huntingdon. Historic counties of England it was a Counties of England in its own right....
 		Huntingdonshire
Huntingdonshire

Huntingdonshire is a Non-metropolitan district of Cambridgeshire, covering the area around Huntingdon. Historic counties of England it was a Counties of England in its own right....
 		 
Kent
Kent

Kent is a Counties of England in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the River Thames estuary....
 		Kent
Kent

Kent is a Counties of England in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the River Thames estuary....
 		Canterbury
Canterbury

Canterbury lies at the heart of the City of Canterbury, a local government district of Kent, in South East England. It lies on the River Stour....
Lancashire
Lancashire

Lancashire is a Metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties of England of Historic counties of England in the North West England of England, bounded to the west by the Irish Sea....
 		Lancashire
Lancashire

Lancashire is a Metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties of England of Historic counties of England in the North West England of England, bounded to the west by the Irish Sea....
 		Barrow, Blackburn
Blackburn

Blackburn is a large town in Lancashire, England. It lies to the north of the West Pennine Moors on the southern edge of the Ribble Valley, east of the city of Preston, and north-northwest of the city of Manchester....
, Bolton
Bolton

Bolton is a large town in Greater Manchester, in the North West England region of England.Situated close to the West Pennine Moors, north west of the city of Manchester, it is the largest and most populous settlement of the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, the former county borough of Bolton has a population of 139,403, though this figure d...
, Bootle cum Linacre
Bootle

Bootle is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton, in Merseyside, England. It is 4 miles  to the north of Liverpool city centre, and has a total resident population of 77,640....
, Burnley
Burnley

Burnley is a large market town in the Burnley in Lancashire, England, with a population of around 73,500. It lies east of Blackburn and east of Preston, at the confluence of the River Calder, Lancashire and River Brun....
, Bury
Bury

Bury is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on the River Irwell, east of Bolton, west-southwest of Rochdale, and north-northwest of the city of Manchester....
, Liverpool
Liverpool

Liverpool [] is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a History of borough status in England and Wales in 1207 and was granted City status in the United Kingdom in 1880....
, Manchester
Manchester

Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. Manchester was granted City status in the United Kingdom in 1853....
, Oldham
Oldham

Oldham is a large town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amongst the Pennines on elevated ground between the rivers River Irk and River Medlock, south-southeast of Rochdale, and northeast of the city of Manchester....
, Preston
Preston

Preston is a city and non-metropolitan district of Lancashire, in North West England. It is located on the north bank of the River Ribble, and was granted City status in the United Kingdom in 2002, becoming England's 50th city in the 50th year of Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom's reign....
, Rochdale
Rochdale

Rochdale is a large market town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amongst the foothills of the Pennines on the River Roch, north-northwest of Oldham, and north-northeast of the city of Manchester....
, St Helens
St Helens, Merseyside

St Helens is a large town in Merseyside, England. It is the largest settlement of the Metropolitan Borough of St Helens with a population of just over 100,000 of an urban area with a total population of 176,843 at the time of the United Kingdom Census 2001....
, Salford
Salford

Salford lies at the heart of the City of Salford, a metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, in North West England. Salford is located by a meander of the River Irwell, which forms its boundary with the city of Manchester to the east....
, Stockport
Stockport

Stockport is a large town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on elevated ground on the River Mersey at the influx of the rivers River Goyt and River Tame, Greater Manchester, southeast of the city of Manchester....
 (part), Wigan
Wigan

Wigan is a large town in Greater Manchester in England. It stands on the River Douglas, south of Preston, west-northwest of Manchester, and east-northeast of Liverpool....
Leicestershire
Leicestershire

Leicestershire County Hall, situated in Glenfield, Leicestershire, about 3 miles northwest of Leicester city centre, is the seat of Leicestershire County Council and the headquarters of the county authority....
 		Leicestershire
Leicestershire

Leicestershire County Hall, situated in Glenfield, Leicestershire, about 3 miles northwest of Leicester city centre, is the seat of Leicestershire County Council and the headquarters of the county authority....
 		Leicester
Leicester

Leicester is a city status in the United Kingdom and unitary authority area in the East Midlands of England. It is the county town of Leicestershire....
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire

Lincolnshire is a Counties of England in the east of England. It borders Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, Rutland, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, South Yorkshire, and the East Riding of Yorkshire....
 		Lincolnshire, Parts of Holland
Holland, Lincolnshire

Holland is an area of south-east Lincolnshire, England. The name is still recognised locally and survives in the district of South Holland, Lincolnshire....
 		 
Lincolnshire, Parts of Kesteven
Kesteven

The Parts of Kesteven are a traditional subdivision of Lincolnshire, England. This subdivision had long had a separate county administration , along with the other two parts Lindsey and Holland, Lincolnshire)....
 		 
Lincolnshire, Parts of Lindsey
Lindsey

Lindsey was a unit of local government until 1974 in Lincolnshire, England, covering the northern part of the county. The Isle of Axholme, which is on the west side of the River Trent, has normally formed part of it....
 		Lincoln
Lincoln, Lincolnshire

Lincoln is a cathedral city and county town of Lincolnshire, England.The non-metropolitan district of Lincoln has a population of around 101,000 - the 2001 census gave the entire urban area of Lincoln a population of 120,779....
London
County of London

The County of London was a ceremonial counties of England and administrative counties of England of England from 1889 to 1965. It bordered Middlesex to the north and west, Essex to the north east, Kent to the south east and Surrey to the south....
 London
County of London

The County of London was a ceremonial counties of England and administrative counties of England of England from 1889 to 1965. It bordered Middlesex to the north and west, Essex to the north east, Kent to the south east and Surrey to the south....
 City of London
City of London

The City of London is a geographically small city status in the United Kingdom within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which, along with Westminster, the modern conurbation grew....
: remained a separate county, but returned members to the London County Council, which exercised some powers within the City.
Middlesex
Middlesex

Middlesex , from the Old English Middelseaxe , is one of the 39 Historic counties of England of England and the List of counties of England by area in 1831....
 		Middlesex
Middlesex

Middlesex , from the Old English Middelseaxe , is one of the 39 Historic counties of England of England and the List of counties of England by area in 1831....
 		 
Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire (historic)

Monmouthshire , also known as the County of Monmouth , is one of thirteen Historic counties of Wales of Wales and a former Administrative divisions of Wales....
 		Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire (historic)

Monmouthshire , also known as the County of Monmouth , is one of thirteen Historic counties of Wales of Wales and a former Administrative divisions of Wales....
 		Newport
Newport

Newport is a City status in the United Kingdom and Administrative divisions of Wales in Wales, in the United Kingdom. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, located roughly between Cardiff and Bristol, it is the cultural capital and largest urban area in the Historic counties of Wales of Monmouthshire and is governed by the unitary authori...
‡
Norfolk
Norfolk

Norfolk is a low-lying Counties of England in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and with Suffolk to the south....
 		Norfolk
Norfolk

Norfolk is a low-lying Counties of England in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and with Suffolk to the south....
 		Norwich
Norwich

Norwich , is a city status in the United Kingdom in Norfolk, East Anglia which is in Eastern England. It is the regional administrative centre and county city of Norfolk....
, Great Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth

Great Yarmouth, often known to locals as Yarmouth, is a coastal town in Norfolk, England. It is at the mouth of the River Yare, 20 miles east of Norwich....
 (part)
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire

Northamptonshire is a landlocked Counties of England in the England East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the United Kingdom Census 2001....
 		Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire

Northamptonshire is a landlocked Counties of England in the England East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the United Kingdom Census 2001....
 		Northampton
Northampton

Northampton is a large market town and Non-metropolitan district in the East Midlands region of England. It is about north-west of London and around south-east of Birmingham, and lies on the River Nene....
Soke of Peterborough
Soke of Peterborough

The Soke of Peterborough is an historic area of England that is traditionally associated with the Peterborough and Anglican Diocese of Peterborough, but considered part of Northamptonshire....
 		 
Northumberland
Northumberland

Northumberland is a Counties of England in the North East England of England. The non-metropolitan counties of England of Northumberland borders Cumbria to the west, County Durham to the south and Tyne and Wear to the south east, as well as having a border with the Scottish Borders council area to the north, and nearly eighty miles of Nort...
 		Northumberland
Northumberland

Northumberland is a Counties of England in the North East England of England. The non-metropolitan counties of England of Northumberland borders Cumbria to the west, County Durham to the south and Tyne and Wear to the south east, as well as having a border with the Scottish Borders council area to the north, and nearly eighty miles of Nort...
 		Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne

Newcastle upon Tyne is a City status in the United Kingdom and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Situated on the north bank of the River Tyne, the city developed from a Roman Empire settlement called Pons Aelius, though it owes its name to the Newcastle Castle built in 1080, by Robert Curthose, the eldest son of...
Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire

Nottinghamshire is an Counties of England in the East Midlands, which borders South Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire and Derbyshire. The county town is traditionally Nottingham, though the council is now based in West Bridgford, a suburb of Greater Nottingham ....
 		Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire

Nottinghamshire is an Counties of England in the East Midlands, which borders South Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire and Derbyshire. The county town is traditionally Nottingham, though the council is now based in West Bridgford, a suburb of Greater Nottingham ....
 		Nottingham
Nottingham

Nottingham is one of the three major city status in the United Kingdom in the East Midlands and is in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire, England....
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire

Oxfordshire is a county in the South East England region, bordering on Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, and Warwickshire....
 		Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire

Oxfordshire is a county in the South East England region, bordering on Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, and Warwickshire....
 		Oxford
Oxford

Oxford is a City status in the United Kingdom, and the county town of Oxfordshire, in South East England. It has a population of 151,000. The rivers River Cherwell and River Thames run through Oxford and meet south of the city centre....
Rutland
Rutland

Rutland is a Counties of England of mainland England, bounded on the west and north by Leicestershire, northeast by Lincolnshire, and southeast by Peterborough and Northamptonshire....
 		Rutland
Rutland

Rutland is a Counties of England of mainland England, bounded on the west and north by Leicestershire, northeast by Lincolnshire, and southeast by Peterborough and Northamptonshire....
 		 
Salop (Shropshire) Salop (Shropshire)  
Somerset
Somerset

Somerset is a Counties of England in South West England. The county town is Taunton, which is in the south of the county. The Ceremonial counties of England of Somerset borders the counties of Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west....
 		Somerset
Somerset

Somerset is a Counties of England in South West England. The county town is Taunton, which is in the south of the county. The Ceremonial counties of England of Somerset borders the counties of Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west....
 		Bath
Southampton
Hampshire

Hampshire , sometimes historically Southamptonshire, Hamptonshire, , or the County of Southampton, is a Counties of England on the south coast of England....
 (Hampshire) 		Southampton
Hampshire

Hampshire , sometimes historically Southamptonshire, Hamptonshire, , or the County of Southampton, is a Counties of England on the south coast of England....
 (Hampshire) † 		Portsmouth
Portsmouth

Portsmouth city status in the United Kingdom located in the Counties of England of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is the UK's only island city and is located on Portsea Island....
, Southampton
Southampton

Southampton is the largest City status in the United Kingdom in the ceremonial county of Hampshire, on the south coast of England, and is sited around 100 km south-west of London and 30 km north-west of Portsmouth....
Staffordshire
Staffordshire

Staffordshire is a landlocked Counties of England in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Stafford. Part of the National Forest, England lies within its borders....
 		Staffordshire
Staffordshire

Staffordshire is a landlocked Counties of England in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Stafford. Part of the National Forest, England lies within its borders....
 		Hanley, Walsall
Walsall

Walsall is a large industrial town in the West Midlands of England. It is located northwest of Birmingham and east of Wolverhampton. Historic counties of England a part of Staffordshire, Walsall is a component area of the West Midlands conurbation, and is sometimes described as part of the Black Country....
, West Bromwich
West Bromwich

West Bromwich is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Sandwell, in the West Midlands , England. It is north west of Birmingham lying on the A41 road London-to-Birkenhead road....
, Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton

Wolverhampton is a City status in the United Kingdom and metropolitan borough of the West Midlands , England. In 2004, the local government district had an estimated population of 239,100; the wider Urban Area had a population of List of English cities by population, which makes it the 13th most populous city in England....
Suffolk
Suffolk

Suffolk is a Non-metropolitan counties of England of Historic counties of England in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south....
 		East Suffolk
East Suffolk

East Suffolk, along with West Suffolk, was created in 1888 as an administrative county of England. The administrative county was based on the eastern quarter sessions division of Suffolk....
 		Ipswich
Ipswich

Ipswich is a non-metropolitan district and the county town of Suffolk, England on the estuary of the River Orwell. Nearby towns are Felixstowe in Suffolk, Harwich in Essex and Colchester also in Essex....
, Great Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth

Great Yarmouth, often known to locals as Yarmouth, is a coastal town in Norfolk, England. It is at the mouth of the River Yare, 20 miles east of Norwich....
 (part)
West Suffolk
West Suffolk

West Suffolk was an administrative county of England created in 1889 from part of the county of Suffolk. It survived until 1974 when it was rejoined with East Suffolk....
 		 
Surrey
Surrey

Surrey is a counties of England in the South East England of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire, and Berkshire....
 		Surrey
Surrey

Surrey is a counties of England in the South East England of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire, and Berkshire....
 		Croydon
County Borough of Croydon

Croydon was a local government district in north east Surrey, England from 1849 to 1965....
Sussex
Sussex

Sussex , from the Old English Su?seaxe , is a Historic counties of England in South East England England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex....
 		East Sussex
East Sussex

East Sussex is a Counties of England in South East England England. It is bordered by the counties of Kent, Surrey, Brighton and Hove and West Sussex, and to the south by the English Channel....
 		Brighton
Brighton

Brighton is a city on the south coast of England and, with its neighbours Hove and Portslade, forms the Brighton and Hove.The ancient settlement of Brighthelmston dates from before the Domesday Book , but it emerged as a health resort during the 18th Century and became a destination for day-trippers after the arrival of the railway in...
, Hastings
Hastings

Hastings is a town and Borough status in the United Kingdom on the coast of East Sussex in England. It includes originally separate settlements, as well as the inevitable growth of the town through the building of new estates....
West Sussex
West Sussex

West Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex , Hampshire and Surrey. The county of Sussex has been divided into East and West since the 12th century, and obtained separate county councils in 1888, but it remained a single ceremonial counties of England until 1974 and the coming into force of the Local Government...
 		 
Warwickshire
Warwickshire

Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton in the far north of the county....
 		Warwickshire
Warwickshire

Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton in the far north of the county....
 		Birmingham
Birmingham

Birmingham is a city status in the United Kingdom and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. Birmingham is the most populous of England's English Core Cities Group, and is the List of United Kingdom cities by population British city after London, with a population of 1,010,200 ....
, Coventry
Coventry

Coventry is a City status in the United Kingdom and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. With a population of 303,475 at the United Kingdom Census 2001 , Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom....
Westmorland
Westmorland

Westmorland is an area of north-west England and one of the 39 historic counties of England. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974 and now forms part of Cumbria....
 		Westmorland
Westmorland

Westmorland is an area of north-west England and one of the 39 historic counties of England. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974 and now forms part of Cumbria....
 		 
Wiltshire
Wiltshire

Wiltshire is a Ceremonial counties of England in the South West England of England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire....
 		Wiltshire
Wiltshire

Wiltshire is a Ceremonial counties of England in the South West England of England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire....
 		 
Worcestershire
Worcestershire

Worcestershire is a county located in the West Midlands of central England. From 1974 to 1998 it was administered as part of Hereford and Worcester....
 		Worcestershire
Worcestershire

Worcestershire is a county located in the West Midlands of central England. From 1974 to 1998 it was administered as part of Hereford and Worcester....
 		Dudley
Dudley

Dudley is a large town in the West Midlands , England, with a population of List of English cities by population. Since 1974 it has been the administrative centre of the wider Metropolitan Borough of Dudley; the original County Borough had undergone a lesser expansion in 1966....
, Worcester
Worcester

Worcester is a City status in the United Kingdom and county town of Worcestershire, in the West Midlands of England. Worcester is situated some 30 miles southwest of Birmingham, 29 miles north of Gloucester, and has an estimated population of 94,300 people....
Yorkshire
Yorkshire

Yorkshire is a Historic counties of England of northern England and the largest in Great Britain. Because of its great size, over time functions were increasingly undertaken by its subdivisions, which have been subject to History of local government in Yorkshire....
 		Yorkshire, East Riding
East Riding of Yorkshire

The East Riding of Yorkshire, or simply East Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan district with unitary authority status, and is a ceremonial counties of England of England....
 		Kingston-upon-Hull, York
York

York is a walled city, sited at the confluence of the rivers River Ouse, Yorkshire and River Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city status in the United Kingdom is noted for its rich heritage and it has played an important role throughout much of its almost 2,000 year existence....
 (part)
Yorkshire, North Riding
North Riding of Yorkshire

The North Riding of Yorkshire was one of the three historic subdivisions of the England counties of England of Yorkshire, alongside the East Riding of Yorkshire and West Riding of Yorkshire Riding ....
 		Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough is a town in the Tees Valley conurbation of North East England and sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire. It is the largest and most populous settlement within the Middlesbrough , which encompasses the town and several outlying villages which have become suburbs....
, York
York

York is a walled city, sited at the confluence of the rivers River Ouse, Yorkshire and River Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city status in the United Kingdom is noted for its rich heritage and it has played an important role throughout much of its almost 2,000 year existence....
 (part)
Yorkshire, West Riding
West Riding of Yorkshire

The West Riding of Yorkshire was one of the three historic subdivisions of Yorkshire, England. From 1889 to 1974 the administrative county, County of York, West Riding , was based closely on the historic boundaries....
 		Bradford
Bradford

Bradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield....
, Halifax
Halifax, West Yorkshire

Halifax is a large market town within the Calderdale, in West Yorkshire, England, with a population of 82,056 in the United Kingdom Census 2001....
, Huddersfield
Huddersfield

Huddersfield is a large market town within the Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England, north of London, and south of Bradford, the nearest city....
, Leeds
Leeds

Leeds is located on the River Aire in West Yorkshire, England. It is the urban core and administrative centre of the wider metropolitan borough of the City of Leeds....
, Sheffield
Sheffield

Sheffield is a city status in the United Kingdom and metropolitan borough in South Yorkshire, England. It is so named because of its origins in a field on the River Sheaf that runs through the city....
, York
York

York is a walled city, sited at the confluence of the rivers River Ouse, Yorkshire and River Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city status in the United Kingdom is noted for its rich heritage and it has played an important role throughout much of its almost 2,000 year existence....
 (part)


† From 1 April 1890 the Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight

The Isle of Wight is an England island and county, located 3-8 km from the south coast of the mainland, in the English Channel. It is situated south of the county of Hampshire and is separated from mainland Britain by the Solent....
 was separated from the County of Southampton
Hampshire

Hampshire , sometimes historically Southamptonshire, Hamptonshire, , or the County of Southampton, is a Counties of England on the south coast of England....
 to form an Administrative County.

‡ Newport became a county borough in 1891

Wales

Geographic county Administrative county County boroughs
Anglesey
Anglesey

Anglesey is an island and principal areas of Wales off the northwest coast of Wales, with a predominantly Welsh language-speaking population. It is connected to the mainland by two bridges spanning the Menai Strait: the original Menai Suspension Bridge , designed by Thomas Telford in 1826; and the newer reconstructed Britannia Bridge ; which...
 		Anglesey
Anglesey

Anglesey is an island and principal areas of Wales off the northwest coast of Wales, with a predominantly Welsh language-speaking population. It is connected to the mainland by two bridges spanning the Menai Strait: the original Menai Suspension Bridge , designed by Thomas Telford in 1826; and the newer reconstructed Britannia Bridge ; which...
 		 
Brecknockshire
Brecknockshire

Brecknockshire , also known as the County of Brecknock, Breconshire, or the County of Brecon is one of thirteen historic counties of Wales of Wales, and a former administrative county....
 		Brecknockshire
Brecknockshire

Brecknockshire , also known as the County of Brecknock, Breconshire, or the County of Brecon is one of thirteen historic counties of Wales of Wales, and a former administrative county....
 		 
Carnarvonshire Carnarvonshire  
Cardiganshire
Cardiganshire

Cardiganshire was an ancient county of Wales created in 1282. In extent it is more or less identical to Ceredigion, a county constituted as Cardiganshire in 1996, with the name reverting to Ceredigion a day later....
 		Cardiganshire
Cardiganshire

Cardiganshire was an ancient county of Wales created in 1282. In extent it is more or less identical to Ceredigion, a county constituted as Cardiganshire in 1996, with the name reverting to Ceredigion a day later....
 		 
Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire

Carmarthenshire is a subdivisions of Wales in the South West Wales of Wales and one of thirteen counties of Wales. Its three largest towns are Carmarthen, Llanelli and Ammanford....
 		Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire

Carmarthenshire is a subdivisions of Wales in the South West Wales of Wales and one of thirteen counties of Wales. Its three largest towns are Carmarthen, Llanelli and Ammanford....
 		 
Denbighshire
Denbighshire (historic)

Denbighshire is one of thirteen historic counties of Wales, and a former administrative counties of Wales, which covered an area in north-east Wales....
 		Denbighshire
Denbighshire (historic)

Denbighshire is one of thirteen historic counties of Wales, and a former administrative counties of Wales, which covered an area in north-east Wales....
 		 
Flintshire
Flintshire (historic)

Flintshire is one of thirteen historic counties of Wales and a former administrative county of Wales, which mostly lay on the north-east coast of Wales....
 		Flintshire
Flintshire (historic)

Flintshire is one of thirteen historic counties of Wales and a former administrative county of Wales, which mostly lay on the north-east coast of Wales....
 		 
Glamorgan
Glamorgan

Glamorgan or Glamorganshire is one of the thirteen Historic counties of Wales and a former Administrative divisions of Wales of Wales. It was originally an early medieval monarchy of varying names and boundaries until taken over by the Anglo-Norman as a lordship....
 		Glamorgan
Glamorgan

Glamorgan or Glamorganshire is one of the thirteen Historic counties of Wales and a former Administrative divisions of Wales of Wales. It was originally an early medieval monarchy of varying names and boundaries until taken over by the Anglo-Norman as a lordship....
 		Cardiff
Cardiff

Cardiff is the Capital , largest city and most populous Unitary authority#Wales in Wales. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for many national cultural and sport institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of Welsh Assembly Government ....
, Swansea
Swansea

Swansea is a City status in the United Kingdom and subdivisions of Wales in Wales. Swansea is in the Historic counties of Wales of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower peninsula and the Lliw uplands....
Merioneth
Merionethshire

Merionethshire is one of thirteen historic counties of Wales of Wales, and a former administrative county.The administrative county of Merioneth, created under the Local Government Act 1888, was abolished under the Local Government Act 1972 on April 1, 1974....
 		Merioneth
Merionethshire

Merionethshire is one of thirteen historic counties of Wales of Wales, and a former administrative county.The administrative county of Merioneth, created under the Local Government Act 1888, was abolished under the Local Government Act 1972 on April 1, 1974....
 		 
Montgomeryshire
Montgomeryshire

Montgomeryshire, also known as Maldwyn is one of thirteen historic counties of Wales and a former administrative county of Wales. It is named after one of William the Conqueror's main counsellors, Roger de Montgomerie, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury, who was the 1st Earl of Shrewsbury....
 		Montgomeryshire
Montgomeryshire

Montgomeryshire, also known as Maldwyn is one of thirteen historic counties of Wales and a former administrative county of Wales. It is named after one of William the Conqueror's main counsellors, Roger de Montgomerie, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury, who was the 1st Earl of Shrewsbury....
 		 
Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire

Pembrokeshire is a county in the South West Wales of Wales in the United Kingdom....
 		Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire

Pembrokeshire is a county in the South West Wales of Wales in the United Kingdom....
 		 
Radnorshire
Radnorshire

Radnorshire is one of thirteen historic counties of Wales and former administrative counties of Wales. It is represented by the Radnorshire area of Powys, which according to the 2001 census, had a population of 24,805....
 		Radnorshire
Radnorshire

Radnorshire is one of thirteen historic counties of Wales and former administrative counties of Wales. It is represented by the Radnorshire area of Powys, which according to the 2001 census, had a population of 24,805....
 		 


Unified towns

There were twenty-two urban sanitary districts unified in one county:

  • Banbury
    Banbury

    Banbury is a market town and civil parish in the district of Cherwell in northern Oxfordshire, England, located on the River Cherwell. It lies northwest of London, southeast of Birmingham, south of Coventry and north northwest of the county town of Oxford....
     (Oxfordshire/Northamptonshire)
  • Barnard Castle
    Barnard Castle

    Barnard Castle is a town in Teesdale, County Durham, England named after the Barnard Castle around which it grew up. It sits on the north side of the River Tees, opposite Startforth, south southwest of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, west of Middlesbrough and southeast of the county town of Durham....
     (Durham/Yorkshire North Riding)
  • Burton upon Trent
    Burton upon Trent

    Burton upon Trent, also known as Burton-on-Trent or simply Burton, is a large town straddling the River Trent in the east of Staffordshire, England....
     (Staffordshire/Derbyshire)
  • East Barnet Valley
    East Barnet Urban District

    East Barnet was a local government district in south Hertfordshire from 1863 to 1965 around the town of East Barnet.The district was created under the Local Government Act 1858 on September 25, 1863, as East Barnet Valley Local Government District....
     (Hertfordshire/Middlesex)
  • Ebbw Vale
    Ebbw Vale

    Ebbw Vale is a town at the head of the valley formed by the Ebbw Fawr tributary of the Ebbw River, south Wales. It is the largest town and the administrative centre of Blaenau Gwent county borough....
     (Monmouthshire/Breconshire)
  • Hyde
    Hyde, Greater Manchester

    Hyde is a town within the Tameside, in Greater Manchester, England. Historic counties of England a part of Cheshire, Hyde has a population of 31,253 ....
     (Cheshire/Lancashire)
  • Ludlow
    Ludlow

    Ludlow is a market town in Shropshire, England close to the Wales and in the Welsh Marches. It lies within a bend of the River Teme, on its eastern bank, forming an area of 350 acres and centred on a small hill....
     (Shropshire/Herefordshire)
  • Market Harborough
    Market Harborough

    Market Harborough is a market town in Leicestershire, England. It has a population of 20,785 and is the administrative headquarters of Harborough District Council....
     (Leicestershire/Northamptonshire)
  • Merthyr Tydfil
    Merthyr Tydfil

    Merthyr Tydfil is a town and county borough in Wales, with a population of about 55,000. It was formerly in the historic county of Glamorgan. It is often referred to simply as 'Merthyr'....
     (Glamorgan/Breconshire)
  • Mossley
    Mossley

    Mossley is a small town and civil parish within the Tameside, in Greater Manchester, England. The town is located in the upper section of the River Tame, Greater Manchester valley in the foothills of the Pennines, northeast of Ashton-under-Lyne and east of Manchester....
     (Lancashire/Cheshire/Yorkshire)
  • New Mills
    New Mills

    New Mills is a town in Derbyshire, England approximately 8 miles south-east of Stockport. It is sited at the confluence of the rivers River Goyt and River Sett, on the border of Cheshire....
     (Derbyshire/Cheshire)
  • Newmarket (West Suffolk/Cambridgeshire)
  • Peterborough
    Peterborough

    Peterborough is a cathedral city and unitary authority area in the East of England, with an estimated population of as of June 2006. For ceremonial counties of England purposes it is in the Counties of England of Cambridgeshire....
     (Soke of Peterborough/Huntingdonshire)
  • Stalybridge
    Stalybridge

    Stalybridge is a town within the Tameside, in Greater Manchester, England. It is to the northwest of Glossop, to the east of Manchester and to the north of Stockport....
     (Cheshire/Lancashire)
  • Stamford
    Stamford, Lincolnshire

    Stamford is an ancient town located approximately 100 miles to the north of London, just off the A1, which was the old Great North Road leading to York and Edinburgh....
     (Lincolnshire, Parts of Kesteven/Northamptonshire)
  • Stockton-on-Tees
    Stockton-on-Tees

    Stockton-on-Tees is a market town in North East England England. It is the major settlement in the unitary authority area and borough of Stockton-on-Tees....
     (Durham/Yorkshire North Riding)
  • Sudbury
    Sudbury, Suffolk

    Sudbury is a small, ancient market town in the county of Suffolk, England, on the River Stour, Suffolk, 15 miles from Colchester and 60 miles from London....
     (Suffolk/Norfolk)
  • Tamworth
    Tamworth

    Tamworth is a town and Non-metropolitan district in Staffordshire, England, located 14 miles north-east of Birmingham city centre and 103 miles north-west of London....
     (Staffordshire/Warwickshire)
  • Thetford
    Thetford

    Thetford is a market town and civil parish in the Breckland area of Norfolk, England. It is on the A11 road between Norwich and London, just south of Thetford Forest....
     (Norfolk/Suffolk)
  • Todmorden
    Todmorden

    Todmorden is a market town and civil parish, within the Calderdale, in West Yorkshire, England. It forms part of the Upper Calder Valley and has a total population of 11,826....
     (Yorkshire West Riding,Lancashire)
  • Tredegar
    Tredegar

    Tredegar is a town in the county borough of Blaenau Gwent, situated on the River Sirhowy in the Sirhowy Valley in south-east Wales.The historic Tredegar Iron Works in Richmond, Virginia, United States was named in honour of the town....
     (Monmouthshire/Breconshire)
  • Warrington
    Warrington

    Warrington is a large town, borough status in the United Kingdom and unitary authority area in Cheshire, England. It stands on the banks of the River Mersey, which is tidal to the west of the weir at Howley....
     (Lancashire/Cheshire)


Sources

  • The Local Government Act 1888, 51 & 52 Vict. c. 41