Carlisle: Cumbria's Border City Quiz

Answer: The Celts

The city has its roots in a pre-Roman settlement, near Hadrian's Wall. It was destroyed by the Danes in 875, and became a part of Scotland until it was colonised by King William II in 1092. William built Carlisle Castle, which has remained a working military base.

Answer: Eden

The River Eden flows just north of the city centre, as it passes through on its journey from Black Fell Moss in Mallerstang, in the Lake District, to the Solway Firth. The Caldew, Petteril, and Eamont are all tributaries of the Eden, as well as the river Irthing. The Caldew and Petteril also flow through Carlisle, nearly surrounding the walled centre of the city.

Answer: 1974

The Local Government Act of 1972 granted Carlisle city status on April 1st, 1974, as part of the newly created county of Cumbria (it had formerly been separated into Cumberland and Westmorland). Carlisle had previously been the County Town of Cumberland, while Westmorland's administrative centres were found in Kendal after 1889, when it officially became a county. Before that, Appleby was the traditional centre of Westmorland.

Answer: Brunton Park

The club played at Milholme Bank and Devonshire Park before eventually moving to Brunton Park (which is situated on Warwick Road) in 1909. It has a capacity of 18,249, most of which is terraced; however due to the club's apparent lack of success, it is rarely full. One interesting fact to note is that the East Stand runs 20 yards beyond the northern end of the pitch.

This is due to plans from when it was constructed: the pitch was to have been moved farther away from the Warwick Road End, so that it could be demolished and rebuilt, but these plans never materialised.

Answer: 1823

A 'Society for the Encouragement of Fine Arts' was founded in Carlisle in October 1822, with the Academy being established a year later. Since then it has been known officially as the Carlisle School of Art (1854), Carlisle College of Art (1950), and in 2002 became known as Cumbria Institute of the Arts, before merging with the University of Cumbria in 2008. No matter what the official name is, though, taxi drivers will always still take you to the 'Art College'!

Answer: The King's Head, Fisher Street

Tucked away down an alley in the centre of the city, The King's Head proudly boasts that it is the oldest pub in Carlisle. In the earliest records, however, it appears with two others: The Joiner's Arms on Church Street and The Sportsman on Heads Lane, so the actual oldest pub is not known for certain.

Answer: Carr's Biscuits

Though it has since been taken over by United Biscuits, and Carr's biscuits are not produced in modern Carlisle, a biscuit factory has remained on the site that it was first built upon. It survived major flood damage in 2005.

Answer: A local school closing

The 14-tonne monument (bearing the words of the curse) resides in an underpass as part of the Tullie House museum. In 2005, city councillor Jim Tootle asked for the removal or destruction of the stone, but this proposal was denied.

Source: Wikipedia

Answer: Woodrow Wilson

According to Wikipedia: "The President made a number of visits to Carlisle and the Lake District during his presidency, most famously on his 'pilgrimage of the heart' on 29 December 1918. This visit is commemorated by a plaque on the wall at the Carlisle City Church on Lowther Street".

Also, in true British style, his visit was honored by having a pub named after him on Botchergate.

Answer: Richard Hammond

The "Hamster", as he is affectionately known, used to live in Carlisle after landing a job at Radio Cumbria shortly after he graduated from Harrogate College of Art and Technology.