Historical regions ~ England’s geographical features naturally separate England into seven quite distinct regions
3 of these regions can be named with reference to early mediaeval kingdoms of the Dark Ages ~
The remaining 4 regions can be named with reference to points of the compass ~
The geographical features that obviously form a natural border or barrier between the regions of England include the following:
- The Pennines separate North-west England from North-east England
- The River Don separates North-east England from Mercia
- The Rivers Nene and Cam separate Mercia from East Anglia
- The (East Anglian) River Stour separates East Anglia from the Essex section of South-east England
- The River Lea separates Mercia from the Essex section of South-east England
- The River Thames separates Mercia from the Surrey and Kent sections of South-east England
- The River Thames separates Mercia from Wessex
- The Cotswolds separate Mercia from South-west England
- The River Axe valley separates South-west England from the Dorset section of Wessex
- The western edge of Salisbury Plain separates South-west England from the Wiltshire section of Wessex
- The western areas of the North and South Downs separate the Hampshire section of Wessex from South-east England
Wild England teasers!
1. Which one of the following 3 early mediaeval kingdoms of the Dark Ages was considered to be the wealthiest ~ East Anglia, Mercia or Wessex?
2. Which early mediaeval kingdom of the Dark Ages was associated with Alfred the Great?
3. Name the 4 traditional counties that lie within England’s historical region of East Anglia? Answers below
Answers ~
1. Mercia was regarded as the wealthiest kingdom (ref. Staffordshire Hoard)
2. Wessex (ref. Statue of Alfred the Great in Winchester)
3. Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire, Norfolk and Suffolk