A detail from Professor Dorling's map with Birmingham in 'the north', and nearby Leicester, while geographically further north, in 'the south'. Courtesy The Lowry

Would you say that Birmingham was in the north, or anything just below Grimsby in the south? An exhibition about the defining characteristics of the north has come up with some surprising results on its interactive map for recording England's 'north-south' divide.

Professor Danny Dorling, of Sheffield University’s Department of Geography and an internationally known human mapping specialist, has used a range of statistical, social, cultural and economic factors to come up with his own dividing line, now on show at The Myth of the North at The Lowry, Salford.

His north-south boundary runs from just above Bristol, cuts through Gloucestershire, divides Coventry from the countryside south of the city and rises above Leicester, before dodging below Nottingham and across to above Lincoln.

Based on Professor Dorling’s findings, people living in north Gloucester, Worcester, parts of Coventry and everyone from Birmingham are technically northerners, while people just below Scunthorpe and Grimsby are actually southerners.

“There is a tangible social and economic distinction between north and south informed by various yardsticks,” said Professor Dorling. “Life expectancy and house prices are useful statistical indicators, whilst noticeable changes in architecture and road networks provide more physical boundaries.”

The mapping forms part of an exhibition challenging stereotypes of the north. Copyright: John Gay image © English Heritage.NMR

“These types of measures, combined with attitudal evidence such as voting patterns, help us to map where the dividing line lies. But as these change, so can the boundary.”

Visitors to the exhibition can also mark their own north-south divide on a large interactive map, with nearly everyone selecting a different boundary.

“The Lowry’s Myth of the North exhibition has tried to capture the character and spirit of the north through art and culture, the result being a vast cross section of exhibits that reflect the sheer diversity of the region,” added Professor Dorling.

“Trying to define the north academically is equally as complex with many factors at play.”

Dorling also pointed out that some areas, like Cheshire, while geographically in the north, were culturally and economically very similar to the south.

The exhibition runs until November 4 2007.