Essex Mixture Quiz | Mixed England

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In England's East Anglia, The River Stour marks the northern boundary between Essex and Suffolk. Which artist painted many landscapes in the Stour Valley?

Answer: John Constable

"Dedham Mill", "The Hay Wain" and "Flatford Mill" are three pictures of John Constable (1776-1837) that feature the River Stour. The Constable family owned both Dedham and Flatford Mills, but John wanted to paint. Many of the landscapes that Constable painted can still be seen. Flatford Mill still exists, and is used as a field study centre specialising in art and wild life.

2. Queen Elizabeth I made a speech where she claimed she had the body of a weak and feeble woman; but the heart and stomach of a King. This speech was made at which Essex fort?

Answer: Tilbury Fort

The correct answer is Tilbury Fort. This was built by Henry VIII, and modernised by Charles II in 1672. Its moat and bastions still exist. Sadly the worst bloodshed took place in 1776 where, after an Essex v Kent cricket match, a cricketer and the fort sergeant both died! Queen Elizabeth's speech was recreated by Flora Robson in the 1937 film "Fire over England".
Hadliegh Castle is located in a country park just off the A13 in Southend. Coalhouse Fort on the Thames, was built to protect London.
Hedingham Castle is a Norman Keep in the Stour Valley.
All of the forts have a presence on the web, and are open to the public.

3. In the heart of Essex, to the north east of London, Greenstead-Juxta-Ongar is the home to one of the world's oldest wooden churches. It is still used for worship today, and is dedicated to which fishing saint?

Answer: Andrew

Andrew, David, George and Patrick are the four patron saints of Great Britain. St Andrew is the patron saint of fishermen
People have been worshipping there since AD645, although the logs that make the wall are about 1000 years old. It was modernised by the Tudors, and was given a tower in the 17th century. It's a very nice place to visit when the sun is shining.

4. In Barking, next to the River Roding - a tributary of the River Thames - lies St. Margaret's Church. On December 21st, 1762 a world famous navigator, with Yorkshire connections, was married there. Which navigator?

Answer: James Cook

Captain Cook's second marriage was to Elizabeth Batts who originally came from Wapping in East London, but had family in Ilford. St Margaret's was an Abbey Church. James Cook learned his seamanship bringing coal to London from North East England. This served him in good stead, for he was promoted to Ships Master within a month of joining the Navy.
Jack Aubrey was the hero of the novels by Patrick O'Brien.
Robert Fitzroy was the Captain of HMS Beagle which carried Charles Darwin around the world.
Patrick Stewart is the actor who played the Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the Starship Enterpise in "Star Trek - The Next Generation".

5. Close to north east London is Epping Forest. Which Epping Forest estate connects the film "Flash Gordon" and a nautical ensign, with the Seige of Mafeking?

Answer: Gilwell Park

Gilwell Park is the headquarters of the Scout Movement and was the home of Robert Baden Powell, its founder. He commanded the British forces trapped in Mafeking during the second Boer War. The current Chief Scout, Peter Duncan, is an actor and TV presenter who appeared in "Flash Gordon", and hosted BBC TV's "Blue Peter".
Beacontree Estate was built in the 1920s by the L.C.C. to house workers for the Ford car factory.
Westbury House in Barking was where Guy Fawkes was arrested.
Ingatestone Hall is a 16th century manor house.

6. In the Great Storm of 1953, Central London was saved by the inundation of which island?

Answer: Canvey Island

In 1953 all these islands were badly affected by the great storm which caused severe damage on both sides of the North Sea. The sea wall on Canvey Island gave way; people died, but the flooding of Canvey helped stop the flooding of Central London.

Mersea Island near Colchester is famous for its oysters, Foulness Island in the Thames Estuary is owned by the MOD, whilst Osea Island in the River Blackwater is private property.

7. I was watering my father's allotment when I was interrupted by a flock of helicopters being used by Stanley Kubrick to attack Beckton Gas Works. Which Vietnam film was being made?

Answer: Full Metal Jacket

The Hueys & Hughes Helicopters were very noisy. Other scenes in "Full Metal Jacket" were filmed in the Broadlands of Norfolk.
Beckton Gas Works was actually in Barking, and at the time was in the process of being demolished. It was also used in the film "1984". Now the site is a shopping centre, part of London's Docklands re-development

8. In 1942 the US Navy introduced ships of the Essex Class. They took part in the Battle of the Philippine Sea, helped recover "Apollo 8" and also appeared in the film "Tora! Tora! Tora!". What type of vessel are they?

Answer: Aircraft carriers

24 of this type of aircraft carrier were built, and were the chief carriers of the Pacific Fleet during WWII. They weighed in at 27,100 tons and carried upwards of 87 aircraft. Some took part in the Korean War. They started coming off the active list during the 1960s. However the Intrepid, Lexington, Yorktown, and Hornet still exist as museums.

9. Colonists from Essex took place names with them to New England, where there are now four states that have Essex Counties. Which has a County Seat of Salem ?

Answer: Massachusetts

Although the English Essex has a history of witchcraft, it was in Salem Massachusetts where the famous Witchcraft Trials took place in 1692. Salem was founded in 1626, and soon developed into a thriving seaport. In 1692, three girls were accused of witchcraft.

By the end of the hysteria, 24 people had died. This part of Salem is now called Danvers. During the War of Independence, and the War of 1812 it was the home port of many privateers.

10. The county town of Essex is Chelmsford, and like many towns, often getting a peerage means taking the name of the town where you live. The second Lord Chelmsford, Fredric Augustus Thesiger, led a column in the Zulu Wars. In the film "Zulu Dawn", who played him ?

Answer: Peter O'Toole

"Zulu Dawn" is the prequel to the film "Zulu". In it a British column bivouacs underneath the hill of Isandlwanha, and is wiped out by Zulus armed with assegais and shields. This was not a good campaign for the British, although honour was restored at Rorkes Drift.
John Mills played Sir Henry Bartle Frere.
Burt Lancaster played Colonel Durnford
Bob Hoskins played CSM Williams.

Source: Author odinsraven

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Nannanut before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Essex Mixture Trivia Quiz

I come from Ilford and apologise for the South Essex/now East London bias. Beware not all the questions relate to the Essex of England.

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