The Traditional counties of Wales reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Jul-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Traditional counties of Wales

Wales has thirteen traditional counties. They were the basis of local government in Wales from 1888 until 1974, when they were replaced with eight administrative counties for administrative purposes. These in turn were replaced in 1996, by the current counties and county boroughs of Wales. The traditional counties, however, have remained the same throughout these administrative changes.

The area of Monmouthshire was not legally part of Wales until 1974, although it was usually paired with it.

There is a minor dispute as to which of two sets of borders of the traditional counties of Wales is true and valid: see Traditional counties of England for more detail. The dispute derives from an 1844 Act of Parliament that purported to abolish several enclaves.

One of these, Welsh Bicknor was an enclave of Monmouthshire between Gloucestershire and Herefordshire and thus geographically in England.

The exclave of Flintshire, called Maelor Saesneg (English Maelor) was left untouched however.

Table of contents

1 The counties 2 Background 3 External links 4 See also

The counties

Traditional counties of Wales

Monmouthshire (Sir Fynwy)2 Glamorgan (Sir Forgannwg)1 Carmarthenshire (Sir Gaerfyrddin)1 Pembrokeshire (Sir Benfro)1 Cardiganshire (Sir Aberteifi or Ceredigion)1 Brecknockshire (Sir Frycheiniog)2 Radnorshire (Sir Faesyfed)2 Montgomeryshire (Sir Faldwyn)2 Denbighshire (Sir Ddinbych)2 Flintshire (Sir y Fflint)1 Merionethshire (Sir Feirionnydd)1 Caernarvonshire (Sir Gaernarfon)1 Anglesey (Sir Fôn)1

1. These counties originate in 1282, following King Edward I's conquest.
2. These counties originate in 1535, with the Laws in Wales Act, 1535, converting the remaining Marcher Lordships into counties. This act was fully repealed in 1993.

Background

The historian William Rees says, in his "Historical Atlas of Wales": (published 1959) "... the boundaries of the modern shires have largely been determined by the ancient divisions of the country. The survival of these ancient local divisions within the pattern of historical change constitutes a vital element in the framework of the national life and helps to preserve its continuity."

The British Broadcasting Corporation, in an article about the Shiring of Wales, says: "Along the border, districts which had long been associated with Wales were added to the counties of Shropshire and Herefordshire."

External links

• The National Gazetteer of Wales
• The Association of British Counties
• BBC History page about the Shiring of Wales
• Named map of the counties of england and Wales

See also

Traditional counties of Scotland, Traditional counties of England, Association of British Counties

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