Dinas a Sir Abertawe

[Butts]

City and County of Swansea ....

I always used to be fascinated by the signs on the M4 as I approached this area of South Wales - looking forward to the only 24 Hour Little Chef I was aware of in the UK, at the then Granada Services.

Are there any other instances of a City and County being one and the same in the UK - I have a feeling Newport may have had the same elevated status.

Why is Swansea a City and County ?

 

[lemonic]

Bristol is both a city and county.

 

[Butts]

Bristol is both a city and county.

Thankyou - who told you Sergei

 

[transmanche]

Are there any other instances of a City and County being one and the same in the UK - I have a feeling Newport may have had the same elevated status.

It was quite common in the past - a County Corporate.

Over time; I believe what elsewhere would be called a 'County Borough' would be called 'a City and a County' if the place held city status.

In England, what used to be called 'County Boroughs' are now called 'Unitary Authorities' - whereas the 'old' name still exists in Wales; e.g. Wrexham County Borough.

 

[Eagle]

Cardiff and Newport are Dinasoedd a Siroedd, for the same reason.

Also the City of London is legally a county in its own right.

 

[Butts]

It was quite common in the past - a County Corporate.

Over time; I believe what elsewhere would be called a 'County Borough' would be called 'a City and a County' if the place held city status.

In England, what used to be called 'County Boroughs' are now called 'Unitary Authorities' - whereas the 'old' name still exists in Wales; e.g. Wrexham County Borough.

That is interesting but Wrexham Council Homepage does not call itself City and County of Wrexham nor does Bristol call itself City and County of Bristol.I do not believe the roadsigns say it either.

 

[Eagle]

That is interesting but Wrexham Council Homepage does not call itself City and County of Wrexham nor does Bristol call itself City and County of Bristol.I do not believe the roadsigns say it either.

Well Wrexham isn't a city, it's just a borough.

With regards to Bristol I'm not sure, although the relevant authority is called simply Bristol City Council the same is true of the three Welsh city councils.

 

[transmanche]

That is interesting but Wrexham Council Homepage does not call itself City and County of Wrexham

No. Because (as I said) it's Wrexham County Borough! And that's what it puts on the road sign.

nor does Bristol call itself City and County of Bristol.

Probably because (as I said) the term County Borough is not used in England any more. But 'City Council' is allowed to be used as part of the name of an authority with city status.

In a similar fashion, the local authority for Newcastle calls itself 'Newcastle City Council'. But until 1973, 'Newcastle Corporation' was used as the day-to-day name, with 'City and County of Newcastle' as the 'formal' name. However, the area covered by the current city council is much larger then the original 'City & County'.

 

[brizzlechris]

That is interesting but Wrexham Council Homepage does not call itself City and County of Wrexham nor does Bristol call itself City and County of Bristol.I do not believe the roadsigns say it either.

Though the signs on the way into Bristol (assuming they're still there/haven't changed) do make reference to being a city and county.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/midlandexplorerboy/5447184929/

 

[PaxVobiscum]

So Bristol is a sort of pair?

 

[Greenback]

Why is Swansea a City and County ?

Because it is special

Seriously, it's just down to the historical reorganisations of local government between 1974 (prior to which I think Swansea was a County Borough with its own police force) and 1996.