Media resources
Press / Media
Clear background, wording and contacts for journalists covering the historic counties of Britain and Ireland.
The Historic Counties Institute can provide comment, background and source material on county identity, boundary questions, public recognition and the distinction between historic counties, council areas, lieutenancy areas and postcodes.
Media background
The Historic Counties Institute works for accurate public recognition and use of the historic counties of Britain and Ireland.
This page gives journalists, editors, broadcasters, bloggers and researchers quick background, suggested wording, useful links and contact details.
Short description
The Historic Counties Institute is an educational and evidence-led organisation working for accurate public recognition of the historic counties.
Through RealCounties.com and the Real Counties Map, it provides articles, source material and practical tools to help people identify, describe and compare the historic counties accurately.
In one sentence
The Historic Counties Institute works for accurate recognition and use of the historic counties of Britain and Ireland as long-standing county geography, distinct from council areas, lieutenancy areas, postcodes and statistical geographies.
The core distinction
Use the right geography for the right story.
Most errors come from treating council areas, lieutenancy areas, postcodes and statistical geographies as if they define the counties themselves.
Historic counties are the counties themselves.
Councils administer services; lieutenancy areas are territories for Lord-Lieutenants.
Neither defines the counties.
Official source journalists can check
ONS Index of Place Names
The Office for National Statistics includes historic counties in the Index of Place Names for Great Britain. Its user guide describes the historic counties as long-standing counties, distinct from later administrative counties and county councils, and says they are:
“recommended as a stable, unchanging geography which covers the whole of Great Britain.”
That makes the ONS Index of Place Names a useful neutral reference for journalists checking historic county terminology and place descriptions in Great Britain. It should not be presented as covering Ireland.
Key facts
For quick reference
Geography
Historic counties
Historic counties are enduring territorial, geographical and cultural divisions, not council areas.
Administration
Council areas
Council areas are areas created for local administration.
Ceremony
Lieutenancies
Lieutenancy areas are the territories to which Lord-Lieutenants are appointed as the monarch’s representatives. “Ceremonial county” is widely used in England, including in some official material, but it is not the formal name of the geographical category established by the Lieutenancies Act 1997. HCI uses “lieutenancy area” for clarity.
Post
Postcodes
Postcodes and post towns are postal geography and do not define counties.
Data
Statistics
Statistical geographies are used for data and analysis. They are not county definitions.
Public use
County identity
Historic counties remain visible in identity, heritage, family history, local history, sport, flags, records, mapping and descriptions of place.
Map
Compare boundaries
The Real Counties Map allows users to compare historic counties with council areas and lieutenancy areas.
Sources
Evidence and sources
Evidence & Sources brings together official statements, legislation, standards and historical sources.
Common wording
Getting the wording right
Recommended
- the historic county of Durham
- the county of Lancaster
- historic county boundaries
- council area
- lieutenancy area
- postcode area
- statistical area
Avoid or use carefully
- Do not describe lieutenancy areas as historic counties. In England, “ceremonial county” is widely used as a label for lieutenancy geography; HCI uses the clearer term “lieutenancy area”.
- Do not describe council areas as if they define the historic counties.
- Do not use postcodes as evidence of county identity.
- Avoid saying historic counties were abolished by local government reform.
- Avoid presenting the 1974, 1975 or any other local government changes as changes to the historic counties themselves.
- Avoid using the phrase “modern county” where the accurate term is council area, administrative area or lieutenancy area. The phrase usually creates more confusion than clarity.
Useful links
Background and sources
About
Historic Counties Institute
Who we are, why the work exists and how the map helps explain the county distinction.
Evidence
Evidence & Sources
Official statements, legislation, standards, census material and source evidence.
Start
Start Here
A clear introduction to the distinction between counties, councils and lieutenancy areas.
Map
Real Counties Map
Search places, open historic counties and compare county, council and lieutenancy boundaries.
Support
Support the Work
Support helps keep the map, evidence and county reference work public, practical and free to use.
Story
Where It Began
How a local county question grew into a national project.
Support public resources
Support RealCounties
Help expand the map, publish new evidence and keep the historic counties visible in public life.
Media contact
For comment or enquiries
For media comment, background, source material or clarification, contact the Historic Counties Institute.
Please include your outlet, deadline and the subject you are covering.
Images and logos
Media assets
Approved logos, images and screenshots can be provided for media use on request. Please contact us before modifying or republishing HCI or RealCounties.com graphics.