You’ve probably been told: “Peterborough and Grimsbury used to be in Northamptonshire but aren't anymore.” It sounds true. But it isn’t. Northamptonshire hasn’t changed, only administration has. So why are we pretending otherwise?

Thousands of people have discovered that the historic counties never disappeared. Join the free County Progress Report to keep up with new research, campaigns and successes: realcounties.com/friends/

Today is Sussex Day. The celebration is on St Richard's Day, as Richard was Bishop of Chichester from 1245 until his death in 1253. Richard became patron saint of Sussex in the fifteenth century and is also patron saint of coach drivers.

“Traditional counties still exist.” That was not said by a campaign group. It was said by a Government minister on 16 April 2008. “The legislation that currently defines counties for the purposes of administration of local government is the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended by various Orders in the 1990s). This legislation abolished the previous administrative counties, which were established by the Local Government Act 1933. However, these Acts did not specifically abolish traditional counties, so traditional counties still exist." Read that last sentence again. Local government areas changed. Previous administrative areas were abolished. Traditional counties were not. So why are so many people still told that their historic county “doesn’t exist anymore”? That was never true. Administration changes. Historic counties endure.

Well ye may push and shove, but we wunt be druv in Sussex by the sea.

LANCASHIRE: #OnThisDay in 1890, Stan Laurel was born at Ulverston. From a town on the edge of Morecambe Bay to the golden age of Hollywood, he became one half of Laurel and Hardy - one of the most beloved comedy double acts in film history. A Lancashire beginning. A global legacy of laughter. Stan Laurel. Lancashire. 16 June 1890.