Should we rename stations with wrong county name

[Gareth]

Just to point out that Merseyside and the other metropolitan counties created in 1974 still exist, officially. Only their county councils were abolished.

 

[Purple Orange]

Just to point out that Merseyside and the other metropolitan counties created in 1974 still exist, officially. Only their county councils were abolished.

And that many actually have elected mayors and a council in existence today too, who are up for election next week. Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, West Midlands, Merseyside + another borough, all have council bodies & mayors.

They are not considered ‘metropolitan counties’ however, but ‘city regions’ - not that the difference in term means anything in practice.

 

[essexjohn]

Many sports have county associations based on historic names and boundaries. I know that Middlesex Bowling Association still includes territory (eg Poplar, Stepney, Bethnal Green) that was incorporated into the London County Council area in the late 19th century.

 

[Purple Orange]

Many sports have county associations based on historic names and boundaries. I know that Middlesex Bowling Association still includes territory that was incorporated into the London County Council area in the late 19th century.

Even some of those have changed. Warwickshire CCC has named their T20 team as Birmingham Bears. I can only assume that is a marketing issue, based on the demographic they are trying to attract to the sport... younger people who identify with Birmingham, given that is where they are based, and to use T20 as a gateway in to watching and engaging with Test cricket.

 

[pdeaves]

Middlesex no longer exists. Even the town's Wiki page says "Ashford, Surrey (formerly Middlesex). So maybe this station does need to change?

The National Rail Enquiries site has has this as Surrey for a long time. I don't know what the signs on the actual station say, though.

 

[RuddA]

If the names of these stations are as confusing as OP suggests, how about we rename Liverpool Street station while we're at it? I hear on occasion someone has arrived there thinking they're closer to the Mersey than the Thames..

I believe that when they introduced the Liverpool train from Norwich some people did get confused between "Liverpool Street" and "Liverpool Lime Street" so the "London" prefix was added.

 

[Dai Corner]

An example of a station which has been renamed to reflect a change in political geography is Garth (Bridgend) which was formerly known as Garth (Mid Glamorgan). Garth (Powys) is its near namesake.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I believe that when they introduced the Liverpool train from Norwich some people did get confused between "Liverpool Street" and "Liverpool Lime Street" so the "London" prefix was added.

They actually went further, with Liverpool being put on the PIS as "Lime St Lvrpl" - I have no idea if it still is, though.

 

[hkstudent]

They actually went further, with Liverpool being put on the PIS as "Lime St Lvrpl" - I have no idea if it still is, though.

Maybe better to show as:
Liverpool, Lime Street and
London, Liverpool Street

With city name showing first may better ease confusion.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Apr 2021 ==

Well a few years ago I was contemplating attending a Football League game at Gillingham. Unfortunately when I found out that there were two places of that name I decided not to go in case I went to the wrong one(pre internet days though LOL).

"Lucky" that football club in Gillingham (Dorset) is called Gillingham Town FC, different from Gillingham FC in Kent

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Apr 2021 ==

Quite a few cricket players, yes!

Oval?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Apr 2021 ==

It is only confusing because Rainham is now referred to as Rainham (London) and Rainham (Essex). If you're not familiar with it that doesn't help you differentiate with Rainham (Kent) much.

Yeah, with more regenerations at Rainham (Havering), it will be more like London than Essex.

 

[Fawkes Cat]

Just to wade in on three specific points:

Hayes (Kent): the Kent here is to distinguish it from the other Hayes which is also in Greater London. So Hayes (Greater London) wouldn't work. The other Hayes is distinguished by being suffixed 'and Harlington'
Waterloo (Merseyside): This is not in Liverpool. Anyone attempting to argue this point is liable to get lynched. Most locals will accept that it's in the Liverpool urban area, and that its post town is Liverpool* - but they will get quite vociferous about not being in Liverpool. And I am only aware of one household which might use the station who would argue that it is in Lancashire rather than Merseyside (this is the one with a sign above its door stating that its address is <house number not mentioned because I can't remember it and to protect privacy> College Avenue, Great Crosby, Lancashire). Merseyside may not be perfect but it's the least worst word to use.
Lime Street: the station's name is Liverpool Lime Street - in line with the naming of stations in most places with multiple stations - see also Bootle Oriel Road and Wallasey Manor Road (etc.). So if London chooses to name one of its stations Liverpool Street, then it seems to me that it's for the London station to clarify that it's in London, not for it to be further clarified that Liverpool Lime Street is in Liverpool

*Unlike Bootle, which is a post town of its own, despite having areas with Liverpool in their postal address on all sides

 

[61653 HTAFC]

"Lucky" that football club in Gillingham (Dorset) is called Gillingham Town FC, different from Gillingham FC in Kent

Also that the Dorset one is pronounced with a hard G (as in Gull) and Kent one with a soft G (as in General)... not that that helps with purely text-based systems such as ordering tickets online or from a machine. Oh for a system of accents like other languages... nope, with English you just have to learn each one and remember it! As Al Murray's Pub Landlord character might say "Take that, Johnny Foreigner!"

 

[Bletchleyite]

Waterloo (Merseyside) would seem to be more correctly called Waterloo (Sefton). But as that's a borough it'd only really be known locally. (Apologies, I thought it was in the City of Liverpool).

Waterloo (Crosby) would probably clarify it without being confusing or offending anyone.

 

[YorksLad12]

Portsmouth is a village in what was Lancashire, which then became part of the West Riding, which then became part of West Yorkshire in 1974.

Its railway station opened as Portsmouth in 1849, but was renamed as Portsmouth (Lancs)... in 1948. So it was renamed incorrectly (and somewhat confusingly, given that no-one had confused it with the other Portsmouth for almost 100 years).

 

[Fawkes Cat]

Waterloo (Crosby) would probably clarify it without being confusing or offending anyone.

Just try canvassing round there:

SCENE: A street not far from Waterloo (Merseyside) station. Bang on door, householder opens door.

FAWKES: Good evening, my name's Fawkes Cat, the (insert party here) council candidate for this part of Crosby...

HOUSEHOLDER: This isn't Crosby, it's Waterloo (SLAMS DOOR).

Move one door towards station. Bang on door, householder 2 opens door.

FAWKES: Good evening, my name's Fawkes Cat, the (insert party here) council candidate for this part of Waterloo...

HOUSEHOLDER 2: This isn't Waterloo, it's Crosby(SLAMS DOOR).

(FAWKES shrugs shoulders and proceeds to the Bug for alcoholic relief...)

Also, distinguish clearly between Waterloo (Crosby) and Blundellsands and Crosby.

 

[DelW]

The town of Camberley in Surrey had to be renamed to that when its railway station opened, as it was realised that its previous name of Cambridge Town might be somewhat confusing.

Its original name came from the then Duke of Cambridge, who was C in C of the Army when the town was developing. The second name was made-up, combining the root of the original name with the -ley ending found in other nearby places.