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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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county town
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A phrase which has become ambiguous. When first used, it was applied to the chief historic town in a county which was also, in those days, the seat of county government. With changing population patterns in the 19–20C county government has in many cases been moved to other towns, referred to officially as 'administrative centres'. 'County town' is therefore generally now reserved for the historic centre of a county. In many cases the two are still the same. Shrewsbury is both the county town and the administrative centre of Shropshire. But while Lancaster is the county town of Lancashire, Preston is the administrative centre.
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