Lancashire

Lancashire (archaically, the County of Lancaster) is a county palatine of England, lying on the Irish Sea. Its name is sometimes abbreviated to Lancs. Its traditional county town is Lancaster, but the county council is based at Preston. Areas previously administered by the County Council came under the juristiction of West Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, Cheshire, the new Metropolitan Counties of Merseyside and Greater Manchester and the new administrative county of Cumbria.

History

Main article: History of Lancashire.

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The county was established in 1183. In the Domesday Book, its lands had been treated as part of Cheshire and of Yorkshire. It bordered Cumberland, Westmorland, Yorkshire, and Cheshire.

Related Topics:
1183 - Domesday Book - Cheshire - Yorkshire - Cumberland - Westmorland

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The historic county was divided into the six hundreds of Amounderness, Blackburn, Leyland, Lonsdale, Salford and West Derby. Lonsdale was further partitioned into Lonsdale North, which was the detached part north of Morecambe Bay (also known as Furness), and Lonsdale South.

Related Topics:
Hundred - Amounderness - Blackburn - Leyland - Lonsdale - Salford - West Derby - Morecambe Bay - Furness

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The Loyal Toast, 'The Queen, the Duke of Lancaster' is still in regular use. See also Duchy of Lancaster.

Related Topics:
The Loyal Toast - Duchy of Lancaster

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The modern administrative area is now rather smaller than that of the historic county due to a local government reform.

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On April 1, 1974 the Furness exclave was given to the new county of Cumbria, the south east being given to Greater Manchester, and the south-west becoming Merseyside.

Related Topics:
April 1 - 1974 - Cumbria - Greater Manchester - Merseyside

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Warrington and surrounding districts including the villages of Winwick and Croft and Risley and Culcheth were annexed to Cheshire. A part of the West Riding of Yorkshire near Clitheroe, was transferred to Lancashire also.

Related Topics:
Warrington - Cheshire - West Riding of Yorkshire - Clitheroe

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In 1998 Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen became independent of the county as unitary authorities, but remained in Lancashire for ceremonial purposes, as well as for fire and rescue and policing.

Related Topics:
Blackpool - Blackburn with Darwen

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