Officially Registered Lancashire County Flag

County Identity

The true identity of Lancashire has been very confused in the minds of some people, especially those working for the media, since local government was reorganised in 1974. At that time (referring to the new administrative counties) the government stated that the "new counties" were only administrative areas and that the boundaries of traditional counties had not been altered. The media far too often ignore the fact that places such as Barrow-in-Furness , Grange-over-Sands and Hawkshead in the north, through to Liverpool , Manchester , Salford , Warrington and Widnes in the south are still in Lancashire .

Mapping

Since 1974 Ordnance Survey has chosen to interpret the Act of 1841 to mean that they only have to show administrative areas on maps. Before 1974 they depicted the traditional county areas, why the different interpretation?

Mapping England by its 39 traditional counties would restore a stable geography to the country, which has been missing since 1974.

The traditions and culture of our nation are bound up with traditional counties. Many tourist attractions depend on the history and culture of traditional Counties to attract visitors from both home and overseas.

Mapping by administrative areas is of little use to the general public or to travellers, and means that maps have to be altered every time there are changes to local government areas.

We want the true county of Lancashire back on the map as it was for hundreds of years, until 1974.

Postal Addresses

Royal Mail removed administrative county names from the Postal Address Book for the North West in 1995 and confirmed that the inclusion of a traditional county name in an address will not affect the way that mail is processed, providing the Post Code is used. Royal Mail has now launched its latest UK Addresses CD which lists the Traditional County against every place name in the UK . Lancashire is listed against every place in the traditional county area.

Always Include the name Lancashire in addresses for all places within the Real County boundaries. This is the easiest way of promoting our county name and everyone can do it.

Boundary Signs

This sign is on the A59 Lancashire/Yorkshire border and paid for by the FORL.

If the Highways Agency can mark rivers, canals and administrative county boundaries with road signs, it should mark traditional

county boundaries also. This would be a great help to tourists and other travellers.

We want road signs marking the boundary of Lancashire on all main roads.

Lancashire Day - 27th November

The 27^th November, Lancashire day is a celebration of Lancashire 's continued existence, a day to remind people of their Lancastrian heritage. Throughout the length and breadth of Real Lancashire, people wear the Red Rose of Lancashire , and gather together to celebrate Our County Day. At 9 o'clock in the evening Lancastrians, wherever they are, can raise their glasses and drink the Loyal Toast to:

"The Queen, Duke of Lancaster "

Lancashire a historic county At the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066 the County of Lancashire had not yet been defined, but its subsequent components already existed as administrative areas. Six or seven years after the conquest (1072/73) King William gave the land between the Ribble and the Mersey, together with Amounderness to Roger of Poitou. In the early 1090s King William II (William Rufus) added Lonsdale, Cartmel and Furness to Roger's estates, thereby giving him control of all the land between the river Mersey in the south and the river Duddon in the north. Roger chose Lancaster as the site for his castle which thereby became the centre of administration for the lands that he controlled. As the area of lands held by a lord were known as his 'honour', Roger's lands became known as the Honour of Roger of Poitou or the Honour of Lancaster. In 1102 Roger supported his brother Robert of Bellene in an unsuccessful rebellion against King Henry I and all his English estates were confiscated and given to Stephen of Blois the grandson of the Conqueror. In 1168 Lancashire was first termed 'the county of Lancashire ' under King Henry II. In 1267 Edmund Crouchback was created 1st Earl of Lancaster. In 1351 Henry, Earl of Lancaster, was made a Duke and was also granted Palatinate powers - the royal powers, or the powers belonging to the palace. These powers lapsed with Henry's Death, but were restored to the most famous Duke of Lancaster, John of Gaunt and were made hereditary. Palatinate status was granted to Lancashire because of its strategic position in defending England from the Scots and conferred legal recognition of the extraordinary powers of the Duke within Lancashire. The county developed its own chancery, could issue writs under its own seal and even had its own dating year running from 6th March 1351 , the date of the establishment of the palatine. The Duke was able to appoint his own sheriff who was answerable to the Duke, not the King. Lancaster had its own justices and the king's writ did not run within the palatine county. The king did however still collect the taxes and reserved the right to correct 'errors of judgement' in the duke's courts. For a short period in the 16th century the Duke appointed a butler to collect dues payable to him for wine brought into the county.   Lancashire Tea   Our own county brand of tea is now more widely available in Supermarkets, Stores, Hotels, Restaurants, etc. It is produced at ‘Lancashire Tea’ in Newton-le-Willows, Lancashire and is packed in boxes bearing a map of the County Palatine and the Red Rose. If you can’t find it locally visit the web site ' http://www.lancashiretea.co.uk’ where you can buy a pack of 6 boxes for £9.90. Mention that you are a member of FORL and your membership number and get 6 boxes for the price of 5. You can also order by e-mail, ‘sales@lancashiretea.co.uk’.   Another accolade for Lancashire   The ‘Hazelmere Café’ in Yewbarrow Terrace, Grange-over-Sands was recently named ‘Best in Britain ’ by the Tea Council. The owners were awarded a splendid stained glass trophy worded ‘TOP TEA PLACE 2006’, which hangs in a window to show it to the best effect. The Café has been a Tea Shop since the terrace was built in the 1890s and today has some 38 teas on offer.   A Lancashire Grace   We thank thee Lord, for gradely food Well-served, to our Lancastrian Brood But as we eat, let us kindly heed The calls of those in dire need So we can raise our emblems higher Unsullied Red Rose of Lancashire .   FW Free Eccleston St Helens .   Back to the Top