Welsh Counties

I was wondering was whether there is any Ordnance Survey archival material which considered this issue. Up until the Local Government Act of 1972 Monmouthshire was legally considered to be an English county, although many pieces of legislation were passed in the twentieth century which included it with Wales, and when the Welsh Office was created in 1964 Monmouthshire came under its remit.

The Local Government Act of 1972 replaced Monmouthshire with Gwent and specifically stated that henceforth Wales would include Gwent (formally coming into being in 1974). Obviously from that time onwards the border would have been drawn down the east of the county.

What I am wondering is whether you would have any minutes of meetings, reports, correspondence, anything like that, which might relate to this issue?  I am guessing that plenty of Welsh patriots might have contacted the OS in this and in earlier times to complain. The OS was legally in the right (the Post Office used to state that the correct postal address was 'Monmouthshire, England', but they were still prepared to deliver letters addressed to 'Monmouthshire, Wales') but I'd be surprised if this hadn't been raised as an issue.

Thank you for your e-mail dated 12^th July 2011, requesting the following information in relation to the old county of Monmouthshire (later Gwent) and the positioning of the English/Welsh boarder.

I regret to inform you that Ordnance Survey is unable to help you with your request, as we do not hold any of the information you have requested. 

This is because prior to the move of our Headquarters last Autumn from Romsey Road, Southampton to Adanac Drive, Southampton, any historic or archive boundary information/materials which were held, were transferred to The National Archives (TNA).

You may like to consider contacting TNA to determine if they can assist you further:

The National Archives
Kew
Richmond
Surrey
TW9 4DU

Tel: 0208 876 3444

www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/contact

Please note that your enquiry has been processed according to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2000. If you are unhappy with our response, you may raise an appeal to our Appeals Officer at:

FOI Appeals Officer
Customer Service Centre
Ordnance Survey
Adanac Drive
SOUTHAMPTON
SO16 0AS

Please include the reference number below. The Appeals Officer will ensure that the process has been followed correctly, questioning any decisions taken regarding the original response and recommending disclosure of additional information if appropriate.

Thank you for your enquiry.

Reference number: FOI11199/July 2011