Early in the 20th century, geographers devoted a lot of time attempting
to draw boundaries around geographical regions. Their failure was a
reminder of the impossibility of drawing sharp lines around areas which
gradually merge into their neighbours. Mid Anglia comprises the new
counties of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire; its
prosperous acres also broadly correspond to those occupied by the
ancient Saxon kingdom of the Middle Angles. As such, the region contains
the best assemblage of Saxon churches in England; the college buildings
of Cambridge; and many fine post-medieval buildings such as Wimpole Hall
and Kirby Hall. Author Christopher Taylor, the eminent landscape
historian, has written a fascinating account of Mid Anglia's formation
and growth since prehistoric times. This volume is one of a series of
four National Trust Histories which seeks to illuminate the landscapes
of today by looking at the natural and human influences which have
forged their distinctive characters.