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.
The counties
- These counties originate in 1282, following King Edward I's conquest.
- 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 This act was fully repealed in 1993.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
See also
Traditional counties of
Scotland, Traditional counties of
England, Association of British
Counties
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