The most ridiculous example is the new Denbighshire. Although other Welsh counties were recreated almost as pre-1974 and others (Flintshire, Monmouthshire) were the old counties with portions lopped off, in the new Denbighshire:
Over half the population would have been in the old Flintshire pre-1974.
Half the area was once in Flintshire or Merioneth.
At least three-quarters of the area of the old Denbighshire is now in other authorities.
Getting on for nine-tenths of its population in 1974 would now be in other authorities - to wit, Conwy and Wrexham, but the southernmost tip is now in Powys, along with Ystradgynlais!
Some of the boundaries of the new Denbighshire still exist, but have been flipped - ie the new Denbighshire is on the opposite side to where the old one used to be.
So, in the south, there is a part of the new Denbighshire which used to be in Merioneth. Across its borders, to both east and west, are areas which used to be in Denbighshire but aren't.
The only part of Denbighshire that is common to both versions of the county is the central area around Denbigh, Ruthin and Llangollen - and Llangollen was plebiscited to see if they wanted to join Wrexham instead (they didn't).
I feel sorry for genealogists from abroad who haven't heard of this and wonder why they can't find their "Denbighshire" ancestors in the Denbighshire records (still in the old Ruthin jail?)
Chris
