Agricultural and Industrial Zones

Agricultural and Industrial Zones

Three economically important regions of England (the Midlands, the Northwest and the Northeast) have at least one common feature: originally agricultural counties, they were gradually loosing their "green" colour, getting more and more "black", as the Industrial Revolution was changing the face of England. As a result each of these regions consists now of two zones: "green" (agricultural) and "black" (industrial).

The southern part of the Midlands is occupied by the Midland Plain, which has the best soils in Britain, suitable for dairy farming and fruit growing. The well-known Stilton cheese is made here, in Leicester. Nearby is the last battlefield of the Wars of the Roses —Bosworth, where Richard III was killed and buried in the local cathedral. Not only Leicester but many other towns of this part of the Midlands have historical and cultural associations. Nottinghamshire has the remains of Sherwood Forest, scene of Robin Hood legends, and the area called the Dukeries, noted for family estates of several dukes. Other well-known Midland towns are Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare's birthplace, Oxford, a seat of the oldest English university, and Rugby, a seat of a great public school, where Rugby football originated in 1823.

The agricultural zone of the Northwest is noted for dairy farming and cattle breeding. The county Cheshire gave the name to the well-known sort of cheese, the county of Hereford — to the white-headed red cattle, the county of Shropshire — the sort of sheep. The county town of Shropshire is Shrewsbury, whose name is associated with a famous public school, founded in 1551, and a sort of cake (also called "biscuit") baked there. On the opposite side of the island, in the Northeast, are the counties of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, which also have good possibilities foj sheep rearing. They gave the names to the well-known sorts of sheep. Moors dominate the countryside — miles of open rolling lands covered with heather. The soils are also suitable for potato growing. That is why potato is jokingly called a " Yorkshire kidney".

In the 17th century coal and iron ore were discovered in the northern and eastern parts of England. And very soon this region received the name of the Black Country. It is a long time since Robin Hood roamed in Sherwood Forest, now factories surround what is left from the forest. This part of the Midlands is usually referred to as the "Industrial Heart of England". Its centre is Birmingham, which developed from a small market town into the second (after London) biggest English city. Where the old market stood, there is a well-known shopping centre, called Bull Ring, situated mostly below the ground. The name of this city is associated with the Industrial Revolution, which started there with building of the first steam engine factory. This event gave a stimulus to the evolution of the former market town onto the City of Fifteen Thousand Trades, as it is called. Another important industrial town of the Midlands is Coventry, associated first of all with car industry. British Leyland Motor Corporation makes well-known cars, such as Morris and Austin. In addition to the cars, Coventry produces aeroplanes. Because of its industrial significance it was practically ruined during the war by bombing. Even a word appeared in the English language — "to coventrize", which means "to destroy a city by bombing". It has a bond of friendship with the city of Volgograd in Russia.

The Black Country stretches from the Midlands in the western direction, merging into the so-called Smoky Northwest. The chief city here is Manchester, a city, which "made modern England". This saying refers to the fact that Manchester was the birthplace of the modern factory system, with workers living in townships built around the factories they work at. It served as a model for other industrial cities of England. Manchester Ship Canal linked the city with the open sea — to transport its product to America and Europe and other parts of the world.

Liverpool is the second biggest city of the Smoky Northwest. Its importance lies in the fact that the most goods coming from America get to Britain through Liverpool docks. Ships with grain, tobacco, cotton, sugar, and fruit arrive to Liverpool, and from there the goods are sent to different parts of the country.

The Black Country also stretches in the eastern direction, merging into another important industrial region, the Northeast. Its centre is Leeds with metal, glass and woollen factories. Sheffield is the centre of England's steel industry in general, and silver and electroplate goods, in particular. The centre of coal mining is Newcastle. Since the 15^th century the coals have been carried from here to London by sea in the ships called "colliers". Carrying coals in the opposite direction (from London to Newcastle) would be a very stupid thing to do. Hence the meaning of the saying "to carry coals to Newcastle" is "to give a person something of which he has enough". Unfortunately the resources of Newcastle coal are almost exhausted now.

 Answer the following questions:

1. What regions of England are important from the economic point of view? What common feature have they got? Why?

2. What are the soils of the Midland Plain suitable for?

3. What Midland dairy-farming product has international reputation?

4. What areas of the Midlands have historical associations? Name some Midland towns, which have cultural significance.

5. What is the agricultural zone of the northeast noted for? What products of the local dairy farming, cattle breeding and sheep rearing are well-known?

6. What sorts of sheep were named after the northeastern counties?

7. What else are the soils of the northeast suitable for?

8. What region of England got the name of the "Black Country"? What is the other name used to refer to it? What city of this region has the greatest industrial significance, producing practically everything?

9. What is the name of another Midland city, which produces cars and aeroplanes?

10. What explains the bond of friendship it has with the Russian city of Volgograd?

11. In what direction does the Black Country stretch out? What is the chief city of the industrial zone situated to the west of it? What do the English people mean when they say that this city "made modern England"? What is the name of the second biggest city of that region? Why is it so important for British national economy?

12. What industrial area is situated to the east of the Black Country? What does this region produce? Why the well-known English saying about the Newcastle coals is out-of-date now?