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County Towns Trivia Quiz

This quiz is based on the ceremonial counties of England and their ceremonial "capitals", which are not always as obvious as Leicestershire and Leicester! Give it a go. Good luck!

A multiple-choice quiz by jacana. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
jacana

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
313,634

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
790

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. We start our journey in the bottom southwest corner of England with Cornwall and its picturesque county town of Truro. What beautiful landmark is Truro known for? Hint

The Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary

WWII Veteran's Memorial

Abingdon Abbey

St. Michael's Mount

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Question 2 of 10

2. With a hop, a skip and a jump, we land in East Riding of Yorkshire. What is the name of its scenic county town? Hint

Kingston-upon-Hull

Driffield

Filey

Beverley

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Question 3 of 10

3. Which of these towns is NOT a ceremonial county town? Hint

Northampton

York

Bedford

Lincoln

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Question 4 of 10

4. What is the real county town of North Yorkshire? Hint

Northallerton

Thirsk

Scarborough

Richmond

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Question 5 of 10

5. Now we're drifting southwards to Essex and its county town Chelmsford. Which of these titles best describes the town? Hint

Birthplace of Izaak Walton

Birthplace of the Sweet Pea

Birthplace of the Clanger

Birthplace of the Radio

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Question 6 of 10

6. The 1970s saw several changes to some of the ceremonial counties, their borders and by extension their county towns. What year was it exactly when the main changes took effect? Hint

1974

1975

1973

1976

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Question 7 of 10

7. Sussex was split into East and West Sussex a few years later than the aforementioned 1970s reforms. The original county town was Chichester. Which of the following statements is true? Hint

Chichester is the county town of West Sussex.

Chichester is in East Sussex, but the county town is Lewes.

Chichester is the county town of East Sussex.

Chichester is in West Sussex, but the county town is Arundel.

8. Traveling northwest, we come to another set of victims of the Local Government reforms, the counties of Herefordshire and Worcestershire. They were lumped to form Hereford and Worcester. What was the proposed county town for the new county? Hint

Redditch

Hereford

Malvern

Worcester

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Question 9 of 10

9. We move south again to Wiltshire, which is known for Salisbury Plain, Stonehenge and big white horses. The county town is Trowbridge, but which river is the town situated on? Hint

Avon

Biss

Kennet

Churn

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Question 10 of 10

10. We end our journey in my home county of Shropshire, a stones-throw north of the ill-fated Hereford and Worcester. Shrewsbury is the county town, but which of these famous scientists was born here? Hint

Isaac Newton

Charles Darwin

Thomas Jenner

Francis Crick

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. We start our journey in the bottom southwest corner of England with Cornwall and its picturesque county town of Truro. What beautiful landmark is Truro known for?

Answer: The Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The building of the cathedral started in 1880 and was finished thirty years later in 1910. It was built on consecrated ground on the site of the old St. Mary's church.

2. With a hop, a skip and a jump, we land in East Riding of Yorkshire. What is the name of its scenic county town?

Answer: Beverley

Although Hull is by far the largest settlement in this county, and a unitary authority within the county, Beverley remains the administrative centre. Beverely is well known for numerous large churches, such as Beverley Minster. Founded by Saint John of Beverley, the settlement is over 1,300 years old and was originally known as Inderawuda.

3. Which of these towns is NOT a ceremonial county town?

Answer: York

Yes indeed, York is the county town of Yorkshire. However, Yorkshire has been split up on the ceremonial county level into West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, North Yorkshire and East Riding of Yorkshire. York falls into the largest of the four, North Yorkshire.

4. What is the real county town of North Yorkshire?

Answer: Northallerton

Nestled between the Pennines and the North York Moors, Northallerton is in the heart of quintessential Yorkshire. Think teashops, dry stone walls and Lancashire bashing!

5. Now we're drifting southwards to Essex and its county town Chelmsford. Which of these titles best describes the town?

Answer: Birthplace of the Radio

Marconi's Telegraph company was set up in Chelmsford and, as a result, it is known as the birthplace of the radio. As for the wrong choices: Izaak Walton was born in Stafford; the Clanger is a Bedfordshire specialty; and the sweet pea was first bred in Wem, Shropshire.

6. The 1970s saw several changes to some of the ceremonial counties, their borders and by extension their county towns. What year was it exactly when the main changes took effect?

Answer: 1974

The Local Government Act of 1972 saw huge reforms in local government and came into force on the 1st of April 1974. In it, Huntingdonshire was swallowed into Cambridgeshire and Yorkshire was divided, to name a few of the changes.

7. Sussex was split into East and West Sussex a few years later than the aforementioned 1970s reforms. The original county town was Chichester. Which of the following statements is true?

Answer: Chichester is the county town of West Sussex.

The Sussexes are on the south coast of England. Along with Hampshire, they are home to the gazetted South Downs National Park.

Answer: Malvern

This lumping was deeply unpopular, especially with those from Herefordshire. After much petitioning, the system was abolished in 1998 and Herefordshire and Worcestershire became separate entities again.

Malvern was suggested, as it is roughly in the middle of the county. The name Malvernshire was proposed, but this was more unpopular than Hereford and Worcester.

9. We move south again to Wiltshire, which is known for Salisbury Plain, Stonehenge and big white horses. The county town is Trowbridge, but which river is the town situated on?

Answer: Biss

The River Biss is only a small river and a tributary of the Avon. Trowbridge was a wool-producing town, but the river was inadequate as a water supply due to the small flow. Thus, water was piped in from surrounding rivers, although this too was not sufficient and the industry failed.

Answer: Charles Darwin

It was indeed Charles Darwin, born in 1809 in Shrewsbury. He was educated in the town before going on his famous tour of the world on HMS Beagle.

Source: Author jacana

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Pagiedamon before going online.
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