The Victoria history of the counties of England

Abstract

Professor Pugh, who has been Editor of this History since 1949 and who is retiring in September this year, here describes the aims and achievements of this world-famous series since its inception in 1899. It is, he explains, a work designed to narrate encyclopaedically the history of the English counties on a basis of original research. He shows how the various county 'sets' are organized and what steps are taken to co-ordinate the work of different local editors throughout the country so as to secure a high and uniform degree of technical proficiency. He argues that English topographical techniques can profitably be studied by other countries who may wish to initiate regional historical studies.