I live 15 miles from the Wirral. Have never in my life referred to it as anything but THE Wirral. It just doesn't roll off the tongue. However, if I were addressing an envelope, I would put "Wirral". Marged >Is it possible that reference to Wirral as "The Wirral" is an abbreviation >for The Wirral Peninsula. It most certainly is possible, but can I perhaps invite the corollary of IBERIA, which is also a peninsula? If you want make reference to "the Iberian peninsula" you HAVE to use all three words. It would make no sense to say merely "the Iberia" or even "the Iberian". If you want to make reference to Iberia as a geographical location you just say "Iberia" without any "the" in front of it? As with Iberia, so with Wirral? :-) PS to Margaret in Australia (see below). Your statement three lines from the end surely contradicts everything you said before it? (With tongue firmly in cheek) Regards Gordon From: "margaret davies" <maglez@bigpond.com> To: <ENG-MERSEYSIDE@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, November 18, 2006 7:51 AM Subject: [ENG-MERSEYSIDE] The Wirral >My Dear Gordon!!!!The Wirral short for The Wirral Peninsula. I was born >and brought up on THE Wirral and deliberately use the THE word to >denote >for me THE most important place in my world!! >Jackie I'm sure meant The names 'in Wirral' not 'the Wirral' names. Subtle >difference I believe!! Be like me Jackie and call it The Wirral if that >is >what you want!! >I still address letters to my sister in Wirral, Cheshire, England. Always >have and always will! Just my little protest! However she is glad of the >transport arrangements like so many others. Margaret in Australia