Regional divisions - Though both relatively small and politically relatively unified, England did demonstrate regional variations. Some of these derived from differences in agriculture. A line drawn roughly from the mouth of the Tees to Weymouth in Dorset would have revealed the extent of these contrasts, though even within the two areas distinctions could be made. Roughly three quarters of the population lived below this line, which divided the country into two basic agricultural areas. South and east of that line, mixed farming predominated in the more densely populated counties, especially Norfolk, Suffolk and Kent. In the more sparsely populated area to the north and west, pastoral farming predominated with the rearing of sheep, cattle and horses. There were exceptions to this rule: pastoral farming dominated in the Fens and in the wood pastures of the Kent and Sussex Weald, and grain farming and fruit growing in Herefordshire and the Welsh border counties. Contemporaries were certainly aware of regional differences. Londoners, in particular, tended to look down upon northerners for their perceived savagery, while northerners were envious of southern riches.
Regional identity was also reinforced by local government structures. Justice was increasingly administered at a county level and county towns often contained jails and major churches. On the other hand, areas of magnate influence often cut across county boundaries. Local identities were also reinforced by saints' cults which placed importance on centres of pilgrimage, such as Canterbury and Durham. Nevertheless, Derek Keene has argued that mediaeval England, 'was a country where ideas of language and nationhood conferred a stronger sense of a single identity than ever before.