County line.
It amuses me how our different counties think of each other, and the competitiveness between them.
As I travel so much each day, I am forever crossing the county lines. Mostly, I am in Manchester or Liverpool which involve crossing either the Greater Manchester, Cheshire or Merseyside borders. Now, most of Merseyside and Greater Manchester used to lie within the Lancashire border, and there has never been much animosity between Cheshire and Lancashire. When I cross these borders there is a polite and friendly brown sign saying "You are now in LANCASHIRE. Welcome to the red rose county" The sign appears somewhat larger when crossing from the Cheshire side - as befits a recognised and respected border line.
Somehow the Greater Manchester and Merseyside ones seem less important - as if to say "Huh! you were in Lancashire all the time really!"
Recently I have been working in Yorkshire. Less than an hours travel from me - but, HAHAHAHA!
This area can't be reached by motorway and the road signs whilst still the regulation brown are of a much more amusing category. On my way into work, the Yorkshire sign is huge and self important "WELCOME TO THE MAGNIFICENT AND GREAT WHITE ROSE COUNTY OF YORKSHIRE"
On my way home, I pass the Lancashire sign, even huger and more boastful, which reads "YOU ARE NOW IN THE MOST ANCIENT AND HISTORIC COUNTY PALATINE OF LANCASHIRE. THE MARVELLOUS AND BEAUTIFUL RED ROSE COUNTY"
Since they changed our borders in the 1970's there are still reports of certain towns in this area moving the border signs in the dead of night back to the old and real border line. Still, 30 years on, the county council have to put the sign back on a weekly basis.
It just goes to show how easily amused I am on these boring yet calming drives. The war of the roses may have been won (by Lancashire!) hundreds of years ago but the rivallry continues to this day.
As I travel so much each day, I am forever crossing the county lines. Mostly, I am in Manchester or Liverpool which involve crossing either the Greater Manchester, Cheshire or Merseyside borders. Now, most of Merseyside and Greater Manchester used to lie within the Lancashire border, and there has never been much animosity between Cheshire and Lancashire. When I cross these borders there is a polite and friendly brown sign saying "You are now in LANCASHIRE. Welcome to the red rose county" The sign appears somewhat larger when crossing from the Cheshire side - as befits a recognised and respected border line.
Somehow the Greater Manchester and Merseyside ones seem less important - as if to say "Huh! you were in Lancashire all the time really!"
Recently I have been working in Yorkshire. Less than an hours travel from me - but, HAHAHAHA!
This area can't be reached by motorway and the road signs whilst still the regulation brown are of a much more amusing category. On my way into work, the Yorkshire sign is huge and self important "WELCOME TO THE MAGNIFICENT AND GREAT WHITE ROSE COUNTY OF YORKSHIRE"
On my way home, I pass the Lancashire sign, even huger and more boastful, which reads "YOU ARE NOW IN THE MOST ANCIENT AND HISTORIC COUNTY PALATINE OF LANCASHIRE. THE MARVELLOUS AND BEAUTIFUL RED ROSE COUNTY"
Since they changed our borders in the 1970's there are still reports of certain towns in this area moving the border signs in the dead of night back to the old and real border line. Still, 30 years on, the county council have to put the sign back on a weekly basis.
It just goes to show how easily amused I am on these boring yet calming drives. The war of the roses may have been won (by Lancashire!) hundreds of years ago but the rivallry continues to this day.