In message
, at
04:44:26 on Mon, 8 Dec 2008, MIG remarked:
It would be less good for the people of the part of east London that many
Londoners erroneously refer to as Essex, of course.

Brentwood is the first station in Essex on that line, as I recall.

Within the current administrative county of Essex, yes.

There have only ever been administrative boundaries.

There are postal boundaries too.

I've never understood why past administrative boundaries are deemed to
have more significance than current ones and somehow represent eg the
"real" Essex.

Because many people grew up when (eg) Ilford was fully "in Essex", and
continue to refer to it as Essex because of its postal address. The
borough council, for example, publish the address of:

Town Hall, 128-142 High Road, Ilford, Essex, IG1 1DD
--
Roland Perry