A Journey Around Shropshire Trivia Quiz

Answer: Ironbridge Gorge

Ironbridge Gorge is the site of the world's first, you guessed it, iron bridge. Made out of cast iron, it was built to span the River Severn in 1779 by Abraham Darby. It gained world heritage status in 1986.

Answer: The Wrekin

According to legend, a giant called Gwendol Wrekin ap Shenkin ap Mynyddmawr had a quarrel with the people of Shrewsbury, so he decided to dam the River Severn with a spadeful of soil and drown the population. On his way to the town he met a cobbler coming the other way. "How far is it to Shrewsbury?" the giant asked.

The cobbler quickly pointed to the bag of worn-out shoes he was carrying and explained that Shrewsbury was so far away that he had worn out all these shoes since he set out walking from it.

The giant threw down the spadeful of earth in disgust and went home again. This is how the hill called The Wrekin was formed. Alternatively, it is a 407 metre high hill formed of ancient lava flows topped with an iron age hill fort. Take your pick which you believe.

Answer: Have been pupils of Shrewsbury School

Shrewsbury School was founded in 1552 and was one of the original nine Clarendon Schools (along with Eton, Harrow, Charterhouse, Rugby and Westminster amongst others). Ex pupils are known as Old Salopians.

One of John Peel's housemaster wrote on a report that "Perhaps it's possible that John can form some kind of nightmarish career out of his enthusiasm for unlistenable records and his delight in writing long and facetious essays." - An amazing prediction!

It was also at Shrewsbury School that the satirical magazine "Private Eye" was formed between ex-school friends Willie Rushton, Richard Ingrams, Paul Foot and Christopher Booker.

Answer: Ludlow

Arthur was Prince of Wales, the traditional title of the next in line to the throne. As such, he had lived at Ludlow Castle, which was used as the seat of Government for Wales, since the age of six. His father, Henry VII, had sent him there to learn how to be king.

He was later joined by his wife Catherine of Aragon (he was by this time aged 15). He died suddenly of suspected consumption, diabetes, or a mysterious sweating sickness. Catherine caught it too but recovered. She then of course married Arthur's brother, Henry VIII, who later divorced her to marry Anne Boleyn and brought about the formation of the Church of England.

Answer: Thomas Telford

Thomas Telford was a Scottish engineer who was responsible for several engineering marvels of the Victorian Age, including the Menai Bridge, the A5 road and the Caledonian Canal. The town of Telford in Shropshire was named after him. I might write a quiz about him one day.

Answer: Market Drayton

Market Drayton is a town near to the Shropshire/Staffordshire border. It is home to the Muller Dairy, and the largest employer in the town is Kerry Foods who make sausages under the brand name Pork Farms. Notable past residents include Clive of India and Oswald Mosley.

One of the most famous residents of Market Drayton was a petty criminal called Derek "Poddy" Podmore. He even had a fan club in Philadelphia called Pod's People. At Christmas 1977 he dressed as Father Christmas and sat on to the roof of Shrewsbury jail with a sack of cigarettes and tobacco for the prisoners. He also had himself nailed by the ear to a tree, I'm not sure why. He appeared in court covered in horse manure and was wearing a dead pig as a hat. He also set the world frog swallowing record in 1974 when he swallowed a live frog at a Market Drayton pub and washed it down with a pint of "black and tan". It is also said that he paid a substantial fine in 1 pence pieces, which he took to court in sacks.

Answer: Church Stretton

Church Stretton sits at the foot of The Long Mynd hills. One of the most famous of the surrounding peaks is Caer Caradoc which was reportedly the site of the last battle between British rebel Caractacus (Caradog in Welsh) and the Romans. After the battle he is supposed to have hidden in a cave near the summit.

Answer: Newport

First run in 1970, the Newport Nocturne (as it is known) races around laps of the town. It attracts crowds of up to 14,000 people, and past winners have included Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish.

Answer: M54

The M54 runs from Essington in Staffordshire to Wellington in Shropshire where it meets the A5. It was opened in 1975 to serve the new town of Telford and form a strategic link between the West Midlands and Wales.

Answer: A E Housman

A E Housman's epic collection of depressing poetry about death and mortality were modelled on a kind of idealised vision of the countryside that he set in Shropshire (although he had never, at that point, been to the area). Titles in the volume include "To an Athlete Dying Young" and the theme of death amongst the young is constant as is the contemplation of misfortune and disaster.

"Therefore, since the world has still
Much good, but much less good than ill,
And while the sun and moon endure
Luck's a chance, but trouble's sure,
I'd face it as a wise man would,
And train for ill and not for good." - A E Housman