A Tour Around Northamptonshire Quiz

Answer: Naseby

Naseby was the turning point in the English Civil War because the Royalist army was nearly destroyed in the engagement. Charles I's cause never really recovered from Naseby militarily, and it was then only a matter of time before Charles had no choice but to surrender.

Answer: Motor Racing

Silverstone is the "home" of British motor racing, particularly for Formula One. Many of the F1 teams are based in the surrounding towns and cities such as Brackley and Milton Keynes. Silverstone has had a major revamp and it's an even better motor racing circuit than before.

Answer: Little Scotland

Nearly 20% of Corby's residents were Scots-born in 2001 despite the end of the iron industry in the early 1980s. No wonder, then, that it still has a strong Scots tradition. There is even an annual Highland Gathering, featuring Scottish games, dancing, food and music. Corby has been growing very quickly, and in 2010 the railway branch line to Corby from Kettering was reopened with regular services after a fierce campaign by its residents to make this happen.

Answer: Wollaston

Yes, Doc Martens come from deepest, darkest rural Northamptonshire. Wollaston is just off the A509, the main road between Wellingborough and Milton Keynes. Bozeat is the next village south of Wollaston, and Easton Maudit is an even smaller village very close to Bozeat. Irchester, where I live, is about a mile to the north of Wollaston.

Answer: Horse Racing

For those of you who are not English, Towcester is pronounced the same way as "toaster". When we first moved here from New Zealand, the mention of "Toaster" in the news had us scratching our heads! Bicester, not far from Towcester, has the same contraction, being pronounced "Bister". Towcester is a well-known racecourse and, according to my friends who are interested in horse racing, it's a fantastic place to spend a day.

Answer: Naseby

Cromwell was reputed to have stayed at The Hind overnight shortly before the battle of Naseby in which Fairfax's New Model Army pretty much destroyed the King's army. Today the Hind has a Mexican-themed restaurant ... how the mighty have fallen! :-)

Answer: Ashby St Ledgers

The property was confiscated by the Crown following the failure of the plot and trial and execution of the conspirators. Catesby, however, was killed elsewhere and escaped the horrible fate of the other members of the group. The manor house and its surrounding property subsequently had a chequered career, changing hands several times.

The estate was eventually split up, with most of the land being owned separately from the manor house.

Answer: Trial and execution of Mary, Queen of Scots

Well, only Mary's trial and execution actually happened at Fotheringhay, which was originally built beginning about 1100. Like most castles, it was altered to suit the changing times, and by the mid-16th century it was more of a fortified house than a castle. Mary was held there for some time before Francis Walsingham, Elizabeth I's spymaster, managed to get enough reasonable evidence to try and convict Mary of plotting against Elizabeth. Elizabeth did not want to execute Mary, because she was a reigning queen and beheading her would set a bad precedent.

However, in the end she signed Mary's death warrant. The execution was botched by all accounts. Fotheringhay Castle was dismantled in the mid-17th century.

Answer: Princess Diana

Personally, I don't believe the conspiracy theories. I think the accident was an accident and was down to her driver being drunk. Britain lost a great ambassador when she died.

Answer: Northamptonshire Balloon Festival

Okay, it was a teaser, but the Balloon Festival has been held at Billing Aquadrome for the past few years, although it used to be held at the Northampton Showgrounds. Politics! We live to the south-east of Northampton, and balloons launched from the area often cruise over our place during the summer. During the festival we can see up to twenty of them in the air at once!