Wessex

reposted from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wessex#The_present_South_West_England_region

Current regions of England: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regions_of_England

Wessex was one of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms that preceded the Kingdom of England. It was named after the West Saxons and was situated in the south and southwest of England. It existed as a kingdom from the 6th century until the emergence of the English state in the 9th century, and as an earldom between 1016 and 1066. "Wessex" has not had any official existence since that time, but it has remained a familiar term since Thomas Hardy revived it for his West Country novels and poetry. The earldom was revived in 1999 for His Royal Highness The Prince Edward. Today some wish to see Wessex restored as a region of England.

Alternative Regions
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historical_and_alternative_regions_of_England