h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I know people put "Greater London" down as the county, but really - what county is the square mile in? Or rather, what county *was* it in before London/Westminster got so big that it took over parts of Middlesex like Tottenham and bits of Essex like Illford?

Do you mean the Square Mile as the in the City of London? Because Westminster is actually a separate city and Southwark and the area south was another separate area.

I thought that London was in Middlesex.

I don't think it really matters what county it's in - it's just the City of London, right?

The Administrative County of London was formed in 1889, but it was replaced in 1963 by Greater London.

So in effect, it isn't in any county.

Funnily enough I remember asking my dad that when I was younger.

Greater London apparently covers all of Middlesex, and some of Herts and Essex. So it is clearer to say that Middlesex is in London, rather than London is in Middlesex.

I live in the London borough of Sutton and yet I also live in the county of Surrey - the excitement!

Greater London has nicked bits of other counties such as Surrey and Kent, and I thought (though I could be wrong) that these counties are what are known as the Home Counties.

Yes, but what county *was* the square mile in before 1889?

And I was born in Ashford, Middx, which I don't think counts as London, at least it never used to

The square mile as in the City of London was in Essex surely - hold on I have the London Encyclopedia next to me....

Ok prepare to be confused.

In the entry on the City of London - the square mile that includes the Temple area - it says taht after the withdrawal of the Roman Legions little was recorded about the City, until it was occupied by invaders in the 6th Century. in 604 Ethelbert, the first Christian King of Kent founded to St Paul's Cathedral and had his palace their and this was occupied by his successors until Edward the Confessor moved the palace to Westminster in 1060.

So it would appear that despite being north of the river it was technically part of the ancient Kingdom of Kent, which was a kingdom before it became a county.

Ooooh!

Thanks, Abi - I'll be able to sleep at night again now

A pleasure!

Anything else you want to know while the book is open Freddy?

As an outsider who came in, I found all this very straightforward - until people started disagreeing about it. London is not in any county, and it seems that the best way to tell whether you're in London or not is to check the postcode. London postcodes begin: EC, WC, E, N, NW, W, SW, SE.

The boroughs of London, though, seem to include bits outside London. So, Brent includes London and Middlesex postcodes.

Then there's the London area telephone code.

And the M25.

Ah to outsiders it is always simple, but it is a matter of ancient pride to locals on occasion.

Ask people from Rutland, once the smallest county in England but now absorbed into - er... Humberside?
Anyhow, locals always seem to have a chip on their shoulder about it.

What - they have absorbed poor old Rutland *again*!!!!

It's not all to do with postcodes. Near where I live the part of Essex inside the M25 is part of the London Borough of Havering, but they have Essex in the address, and RM blah blah (I think) as a postcode.

Any chance of them returning all the land back to their original counties/kingdoms and revealing somewhere else to be the new capital city?

The county of Surrey used to extend to the south bank of the Thames and Southwark was once the County town.

Is Richmond-Upon-Thames still classed as Surrey?

Yes, anywhere that doesn't have a London postal district retains its original county.

I expect if you look closely enough on maps for the broken blue line (I think) you should be able to work out the Counties. The Ordinance Survey site would probably be a good source to start if you want to go to the effort.

Ummm, did they reinstate Rutland at some point then Abi?

If so, my information is out of date.