Landforms
Why a River Valley Makes a Natural Route Through a County
A river valley can reveal the likely sequence of places on a county map, helping you trace a route while spotting…
The Journal
All pieces
Explore county geography through the forms of the land, settlement patterns, boundary lines, place names and connections between places. Each piece starts with a question a reader can follow.
Settlements
Village Cluster or Scattered Homes? Reading Two Settlement Patterns
Compare a village cluster with scattered homes to see how each pattern reveals shared centres, separate holdings and…
Boundaries
Before the County Line: How Boundaries Became Map Features
County boundaries became map features through records, surveys and repeated use. Learn how to distinguish historical…
Place Names
The Place-Name Trap: A Name Is a Clue, Not a Full History
A place-name research routine helps you separate a plausible clue from a proven account, using maps, records and…
Connections
A Two-Map Afternoon: Comparing Neighbouring Counties
Compare neighbouring counties on maps to see how landforms and settlements are arranged, using a simple side-by-side…