Actively working to preserve the integrity of Yorkshire
Yorkshire is England’s largest county and its boundary, over 600 miles long, was established more than 1100 years ago.
The word Riding is derived from a Danish word ‘thridding’, meaning a third. The invading Danes called representatives from each Thridding to a thing, or parliament and established the Ridings System.
To this day, Yorkshire consists of a North, East and West Riding, along with the City of York, and that’s why there is no fourth, or South, Riding; except, of course, in a novel of that name.
Which Riding are we in?
Some guidance can be found courtesy of the Association of British Counties, whose Gazetteer of British Placenames can help determine in which county and riding a settlement lies.
Yorkshire intact
The Yorkshire Ridings Society is working to develop an up-to-date map of the county and its ridings. Read more about it on our Yorkshire Map section.
