Wessex
/ˈwesɪks/
/ˈwesɪks/
- a region of southern England in Anglo-Saxon times. Originally part of what is now Hampshire and Oxfordshire, it grew to include most of southern England by the 9th century. The name Wessex was used by Thomas Hardy for the area of south-west England (especially Dorset) where his novels are set. It is also used today in the names of certain local authorities and companies in the region.