What makes a city?

[kat-kin]

Can someone tell me about the above? I know one is a cathedral but, my friends says a place must have a castle and a university as well. I did a google but nothing about a castle. Help!

[mazie]

This should help Kat....

http://en.wikipedia.o...in_the_United_Kingdom

[jd_1984]

The Cambridge English Dictionary defines 'city' as 'a large town' or 'any town in the UK which has a cathedral'. This is the common meaning of the word throughout the world, and in most countries the size of a town is the deciding factor over whether it has city status. Large towns are automatically considered cities. This is perfectly logical and sensible, however this is not the case in the UK.

Despite having a parliamentary democracy, many decisions within the UK are not open to the public, but instead controlled by the monarchy or parts of the British government which answer to the monarchy, irrespective of which political party is in office. The decision to grant a town city status is one such decision. Hence in the UK city status is not granted automatically just because a town becomes very large, or because of a cathedral. A town must be granted city status by the British monarch.

According to the part of the British government known as the Department for Constitutional Affairs:

"City status is a rare mark of distinction granted by the Sovereign and conferred by Letters Patent. It is granted by personal Command of The Queen, on the advice of Her Ministers. It is for Her Majesty The Queen to decide when a competition for city status should be held. Competitions are usually held on occasions such as important Royal anniversaries."

Because of this peculiarity there is a discrepancy between the common meaning of the word 'city' and the 'official' meaning.

[dannyk13]

Also named a city due to being walled.

[emeritus]

Explained here

http://en.wikipedia.o...in_the_United_Kingdom

[elliemay1]

Yes, must have a cathedral.

[Gromit]

I think Tehran is a city, but it doesn't have a cathedral.

[ichkeria]

"Despite having a parliamentary democracy, many decisions within the UK are not open to the public"

Thank heaven for that :-)

[ladybirder]

Brighton & Hove is a city but doesn't have a cathedral.

[Mosaic]

One of the most recently upgraded to status of city - Preston - no cathedral, no walls, never had either.
Blackburn has a cathedral but is not a city.

In England a city is defined by a piece of paper from the monarch granting city status. The other things, like having a cathedral etc were important once, but have not been for some time.

And I wish I had a pound for every time people get this one wrong.

[jno]

In olden times in England a hamlet didn't have anything, a village had a church, a town had a market, and a city had a cathedral. Nowadays it's as per Emeritus' link: the queen decides, and they don't need to have a cathedral.

[deggers316]

or a minster

[dannyk13]

Bradford got its city status due to having a wall of woolsacks in the civil war.I believe that York's city status is also due to it having a wall.

[flip_flop]

St David's in Wales - population 1,800 or so, is a city.

Is this the smallest city in the world?

[DTCwordfan]

Used to be a Cathedral or University - and now a Royal Charter.

[VHG]

>>>the queen decides

I doubt if the queen decides.

She may announce it, but I am sure there is a government departement that decides, and then just asks the queen to announce it.

[kat-kin]

Well thanks all, I hadn't given a thought to the Queen being involved albeit via the government. So no need for a castle or uni. Cant wait to tell my friend,we almost came to blows over this:-) Kat.