Cambridgeshire or the County of Cambridge is a ceremonial county and historic county in the East of England and East Anglia. It is bordered by Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the north-east, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the west. The largest settlement is the city of Peterborough, and the city of Cambridge is the county town.
Image: Guildhall, Cathedral Square, Peterborough (cropped)
Image: Ely Cathedral, West Entrance geograph.org.uk 2837574
Image: Market Square, Cambridge geograph.org.uk 3490535
Historic counties of England
The historic counties of England are areas that were established for administration by the Normans, in many cases based on earlier kingdoms and shires created by the Angles, Saxons, Jutes, Celts and others. They are alternatively known as ancient counties, traditional counties, former counties or simply as counties. In the centuries that followed their establishment, as well as their administrative function, the counties also helped define local culture and identity. This role continued even after the counties ceased to be used for administration after the creation of administrative counties in 1889, which were themselves amended by further local government reforms in the years following.
Notice on the Corn Exchange, Royal Tunbridge Wells, mentioning the historic county boundary