The Counties of East Anglia Trivia Quiz

Answer: Norfolk

Sheringham is a traditional seaside town located on the east coast of England, in North Norfolk. Back in the 1800s, it was just a fishing village with over one hundred fishing boats catching local cod, whiting and skate, and the usual crab and lobster that the Norfolk coast is known for. It has the distinction of having a Blue Flag beach, which is family-oriented. Located east of Sheringham is a place known as "Beeston Bump." It is an embankment made up of boulders, gravel, and sand that is 207 feet above sea level (63 meters). Originally, there were two embankments, but only one remains now. The embankment was formed in the last ice age, around 10,000 to 15,000 years ago.

The town has a fantastic heritage steam railway that goes from Sheringham to Holt. The high street has plenty of restaurants, pubs, and cafés, as well as a wide range of private shops.

Answer: Norfolk

Hunstanton is a seaside resort on the East Coast, around 16 miles from King's Lynn. From the beach, you can see the different colours of sedimentary rocks along the cliffs. The rocks range from orange, red, and white, which are millions of years old.

One man, Henry Styleman Le Strange, had a vision of how Hunstanton could become a holiday village. He drew up plans for the village, with a green and 78 new houses. One of the first buildings to be built was the Golden Lion Hotel, built in 1846. Building work then began to slow down until 1862, when it was announced that the Great Eastern Counties Railway was going to build a line from King's Lynn to Hunstanton. Sadly, Henry Styleman Le Strange died that year and never got the chance to fulfil his dream. Hamon Le Strange, the son of Henry, continued the development, and soon Hunstanton became a beautiful Victorian seaside resort. The pier was built in 1870; however, it was swept away by the sea in 1978. Another hotel was built, as were new terraces.

Hunstanton continued to develop. The Blue Lagoon swimming pool was constructed in 1927 (outdoor). The Capital Cinema (1932) and a Boating Lake followed. In 1936, a caravan and camping ground called Searle's Holiday Centre was opened. Development has continued up until the present day, 2023.

Answer: Norfolk

The city of Norwich is the largest settlement in East Anglia. The city of Norwich is located around the River Wensum, which flows into the River Yare at Whitlingham and eventually goes into the North Sea. There are plenty of things to do in Norwich, which has a history dating back to mediaeval times. Norwich is known for its historical buildings, including the cathedral, the Norman castle, and dozens of mediaeval churches.

There are some lovely walks around Norwich too, alongside the River Wensum, with interesting buildings along the route. Along the route, you will see the Cow Tower (a 14th-century artillery tower), the oldest bridge in Norwich (Bishop Bridge), and a 15th-century arched watergate (Pull's Ferry). It's a good walk of around two miles, but worth the effort.

Answer: Norfolk

Great Yarmouth is a famous seaside town and dates back even before the Domesday Book, in 1086. At that time, it was famous for its herrings. King John gave Great Yarmouth a charter in 1209, so Great Yarmouth became a self-governing community. For the next few centuries, Great Yarmouth continued to prosper and expand.

In the very late 1700s, Great Yarmouth developed as a seaside resort as swimming became popular, and it was thought to have a good effect on your health. It was also fashionable to spend your time at a seaside resort. In 1844, the railway came to Great Yarmouth, like many other towns in the country. This had the effect of allowing the tourists to easily reach the town.

Now that we're in the 21st century, Great Yarmouth continues to develop with modern shops, bars, and restaurants. The town offers caravan parks, hotels, and B&B accommodations.

Answer: Suffolk

The port town of Ipswich lies in the district of Suffolk and is the second-largest population centre in East Anglia. The town of Ipswich dates back to mediaeval times and was known as Gippeswic. People have lived here since the Anglo-Saxon period. It is claimed that Ipswich is one of the oldest towns in England. Areas around Ipswich were very marshy, so this had the effect of making a natural defence against invaders, and the River Orwell also helped to protect the town.

Today, Ipswich has the University of Suffolk, high-rise buildings scattered around the Regatta Quay, fine dining restaurants, bars, a boutique hotel, and a great shopping centre. Ipswich has no airport as it closed down in 1996; however, Stansted Airport is only around 50 miles away, just over an hour away! You can travel by train from Ipswich to London on the Great Eastern Main Line.

Answer: Suffolk

Bury St. Edmunds lies in the middle of East Anglia and is known as the East Anglian Heights. The town of Bury St. Edmunds has two rivers running through it, the Rivers Lark and Linnet, both of which are chalk streams. Chalk streams are rare worldwide; however, England has 85% of them.

As with many Norfolk towns, Bury is a historic market town. The town has a cathedral, St Edmundsbury Cathedral, dating back to the 11th century, although it was rebuilt in the 12th century, and Bury St Edmunds Abbey, built around the 10th century.

Answer: Suffolk

Newmarket is a beautiful historic market town, famous for its horseracing. It has the distinction of holding two of the five British Classic Races. It is also the home of the Jockey Club, the largest commercial horse racing organisation in the United Kingdom. Newmarket is located in the West Suffolk district of Suffolk, 14 miles northeast of Cambridge. The elevation is 92 feet above sea level, and the average annual high temperature is 57.49 ºF. One of the warmest parts of the country. The oldest road in Britain is in Newmarket, the ancient Icknield Way. The trail covers 170 miles and passes through six counties.

The name Newmarket has only been around since 1200 AD. Sir Richard de Argentein married Cassandra of Exning; he was given some land as a wedding gift, part of her dowry. Sir Richard asked the king to hold a new twice-weekly market there, which the king granted. The market grew around the mediaeval town, which in turn led to the name of Newmarket.

Answer: Suffolk

Lowestoft is situated on the northernmost part of the Suffolk coast and is the most easterly town. The town of Lowestoft has the distinction of being the first place in the UK to see the sunrise. The most easterly point in the UK is Ness Point, an area in Lowestoft. The terrain of Lowestoft is generally flat, with hilly areas in the north. It is 66-98 feet above sea level.

Fishing was an important part of the history of Lowestoft, with millions of herring being caught every year at its peak. By connecting Lake Lothing with the sea, the present harbour was built in 1831. The railway arrived in 1847, and the town grew very quickly as a fishing port and seaside town.

With two piers, a Blue Flag beach with wide open spaces, shops, restaurants, and bars, tourism is one of Lowestoft's main attractions.

Answer: Cambridgeshire

Peterborough is a city in the county of Cambridgeshire. It is situated along the River Nene. The area is fairly flat, and in some areas, the land lies below sea level. There is an area called the Fens, a natural marshy region with numerous species of wildlife. The Fens were drained hundreds of years ago, which led to flat, low-lying agricultural land. To keep the area dry, man-made channels, dykes, and drains were built along with pumping stations.

Peterborough was once known as Medeshamstede in the Anglo-Saxon period. A new abbey was built in 972, and as people moved to the area, a new village was created. Around 1000 AD, a protective wall was built around the village to keep out invaders. The wall was called St. Petersburgh, a Saxon word meaning fortified settlement. The name Peterborough derives from this. The village grew into a town in the late 11th century.

Today, Peterborough is a thriving city, having been continually modernised over the last 50 years. The Queensgate Centre opened in 1982 and is the main shopping centre in Peterborough. It has over 90 stores inside where you can eat, drink, and shop. Another fantastic place to shop is the Westgate Arcade, which dates back to the 1920s. It offers independent retail, barbers, butchers, fashion, and food. You can also go to the multi-screen cinema "Showcase Cinema de Lux," located in Boon Gate.

Answer: Cambridgeshire

Ely is a city in east Cambridgeshire, in the district of Cambridgeshire. Ely was once an island covering some 23 square miles and was the highest point in the Fens. Because of the height of 85 feet (26 m) above sea level, Ely never became waterlogged, whereas most of the low-lying fenland was. In the 17th century, Ely ceased to be an island. Once the fens began to be drained, it left a very rich soil for growing crops. Ely is very flat, but that's great for walking and for shopping! Ely only has an average of 24 inches of rainfall a year, making it one of the driest counties in the British Isles.

There are plenty of places to visit in Ely. A very popular attraction is Ely Cathedral, known locally as "the ship of the Fens." The cathedral dates back to 1083. Other places of interest are the Ely Museum, which tells you the story from the Ice Age to present times, and the house of Oliver Cromwell, the former home of the lord protector. Ely also offers a wide range of shops, bars, restaurants, and a lovely walk along the Ely Riverside.

Although Ely is no longer an island, it is still known as "The Isle of Ely." Ely is the second-smallest city in England.