Home counties

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Counties around London in 1921: 1. Buckinghamshire, 2. Essex, 3. Hertfordshire, 4. Berkshire, 5. Middlesex, 6. Kent, 7. Surrey, 8. Sussex (East), 9. Sussex (West).

The "Home counties" refers to the counties that border or surround London, England but not including the United Kingdom's capital city itself. There is no exact definition of the term and the composition of the 'home counties' is sometimes a matter of debate.

Origin of the term

The term originated in the late nineteenth century, and is probably derived from the Home Circuit of the itinerant Assize Court.^[1]

Population of the Home Counties

The population of the home counties, although diverse, is sometimes stereotyped as exclusively white, middle class, Conservative Party supporters who speak with a 'home counties accent'. In fact, the home counties include a wide variety of peoples of different social and ethnic backgrounds, as well as political views.

Official use of the term

There is no official definition of the "home counties". However, the term has been used in legislation and the administration of the armed forces during the twentieth century as follows:

• 1908: The Home Counties Division of the Territorial Force comprised units recruiting in Middlesex, Kent, Surrey and Sussex.
• 1920: The London and Home Counties Electricity District consisted of the counties of London and Middlesex; and parts of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent and Surrey.
• 1924: The London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee, covering the London Traffic Area: London, Middlesex, and parts of Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent and Surrey.
• 1926: The Home Counties (Music and Dancing) Licensing Act regulated activities in all parts of Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent and Surrey within 20 miles of the City of London or City of Westminster.
• 1938: Green Belt (London and Home Counties) Act limited development in parts of Middlesex, Kent, Buckinghamshire, Surrey, Essex, Berkshire and Hertfordshire.
• 1948: The Home Counties Brigade was formed to administer the infantry regiments of the City and County of London, Kent, Middlesex, Surrey and Sussex.
• 2000: The Home Counties Premier Cricket League, covering Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Oxfordshire.

See also

• Dormitory town
• London commuter belt
• Thames Valley
• Metro-land

References