In message , Clive D. W. Feather
writes
In article , Ian Jelf
writes
Wow. Then I stand corrected.

It surprised me when I first came across the concept (the County of
Peterborough).
Where (again) the authority calls itself "The City of Peterborough",
doesn't it? It's almost as though these places all have the status of
counties without realising it!

I wonder (perhaps I shouldn't for the purposes of this group!) whether
or not my earlier remarks about Southend (and apparently Thurrock) being
part of Essex for ceremonial purposes is true?

There is no formal definition, that I can find, of "ceremonial purposes".
I first heard the term applied in the 1990s when County Durham was
"relieved" of Darlington and Hartlepool and Stockton were placed within
it (previously having been in Cleveland) for these "ceremonial"
purposes. Apart from the wikipaedia reference I (frustratingly) now
can't find any reference to the term anywhere. I really believed that
it did have official status but it would seem that it doesn't. Either
my memory is faulty or the concept was short lived.

I also recall the same being mentioned in Hampshire and Dorset when
Bournemouth became a Unitary Authority and there was some debate locally
about whether or not it should be in the "Ceremonial Country" of
Hampshire or Dorset and the same again in Derbyshire when Derby opted
out.
--
Ian Jelf, MITG, Birmingham, UK
Registered "Blue Badge" Tourist Guide for
London & the Heart of England
http://www.bluebadge.demon.co.uk