page_title: Historic counties of England
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Historic counties of England / History
caption_attribution_description: County map of England and Wales
context_page_description: The historic counties of England are areas that were established for administration by the Normans, in many cases based on earlier kingdoms and shires created by the Anglo-Saxons and others. They are alternatively known as ancient counties, traditional counties, former counties or simply as counties. In the centuries that followed their establishment, as well as their administrative function, the counties also helped define local culture and identity. This role continued even after the counties ceased to be used for administration after the creation of administrative counties in 1889, which were themselves amended by further local government reforms in the years following.
  Unlike the partly self-governing boroughs that covered urban areas, the counties of medieval England existed primarily as a means of enforcing central government power, enabling monarchs to exercise control over local areas through their chosen representatives – originally sheriffs and later the Lord-Lieutenants – and their subordinate justices of the peace.
caption: An 1824 map of the English and Welsh counties
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