Dorset Dumplings Trivia Quiz

Answer: Portland Stone

The Jurassic Coast stretches from Exmouth in Devon to Swanage in Dorset. It is famous for fossils, which can often just be picked up on the beach. The name comes from the number of Jurassic period fossils that have been found there.

Portland Stone, which is quarried along some of the Dorset stretch of coast, can be found in buildings all over the world. It is a popular material because it is durable, and is easy to dress and carve. It also cleans well. It can be found on St. Paul's Cathedral, Buckingham Palace and the Cenotaph as well as United Nations Headquarters in New York. There have been quarries on the Isle of Portland since at least the late 18th century. It is not uncommon for very good fossils, including dinosaur footprints, to be found in the stone.

Answer: Severe fire damage

Dorchester is the County town of Dorset. There is evidence of pre-historic settlement, although it was the Romans who had the biggest influence on the town, building walls and an aquaduct. Some remains of these can still be seen. Two very bad fires, in 1613 and 1725, destroyed most of the timbered medieval buildings that comprised most of the town at that time. These were replaced with Georgian style buildings, many in local stone, and these still stand today.

One medieval building that does survive is Judge Jeffries chambers. After the Monmouth Rebellion of 1685 Dorchester was the scene of one of the trials that came to be known overall as "The Bloody Assizes", which were presided over by Judge Jeffries. The Assizes were given their name because of the number of executions Judge Jeffries ordered. Many of the executed were killed by the method of hanging, drawing and quartering, an especially vicious form of execution reserved for traitors to the King.

Answer: Avon and Stour

Christchurch used to be part of Hampshire, but local boundary reorganisation in 1974 saw it, along with Bournemouth, become part of Dorset. Situated between the rivers Avon and Stour and with a natural harbour it was, from the seventh century onwards, an important trading route. It was possible to navigate the Avon right through to Salisbury, another important town in Saxon times. In the twelfth century smuggling was the most lucrative local industry, especially brandy from France. The many natural coves and landing places along the local coastline made policing difficult.

Christchurch Priory is rated among the top ten parish churches in England. The basic Norman church dates back to the eleventh century. Various additions took place over the centuries, but by the late 1500s it looked very much as it can be seen today.

Answer: Badbury Rings

Badbury Rings is a short distance from the town of Blandford Forum and is approached via an impressive avenue of Beech trees. It is an iron age hill fort, but there are Bronze Age burial barrows in the vicinity which point to earlier settlement. For many years, whilst being popular with visitors, little work was done on the site. It belonged to the Kingston Lacy estate, who actively discouraged investigation. The estate passed to the National Trust, and throughout the 1990s they carried out various archeological investigations. This found several potential dwelling sites at the top of the fort, and evaluation trenches revealed late Iron Age pottery.

Maiden Castle is the othe notable Iron Age hill fort in the area and is close to Dorchester. It is a more complex series of rings and ditches than Badbury Rings and is also considerably larger. It appears to have become abandoned around the time of the Roman invasion of Britain.

Answer: Red squirrel

Brownsea Island is one of the very few places in the United Kingdom where a population of red squirrels can still be found. Apart from a few very heavily protected enclaves they have been virtually wiped out by the invading grey squirrels. Brownsea, being an island, is easily defended from the grey squirrel and there is a thriving population.

The whole island is a haven for wildlife. Peacocks run free and breed all over the island and there is ample bird life and a deer herd. The island is also famous as being the birth place of the Boy Scout movement, with the very first camp being held there in 1907.

In summer it is a popular tourist destination with regular boat trips running from Poole Harbour. In winter it is left largely to the wildlife and the resident rangers.

Answer: The Cobb

The Cobb has been protecting the harbour at Lyme Regis since at least the early 1300s. The original structure was oak piles with boulders piled up in between them. It has been damaged and re-built several times over the years due to storms. The current structure dates from 1820.

It is mentioned in the Jane Austen novel "Persuasion" and featured in the Meryl Streep film, "The French Lieutenant's Woman". In summer a walk to the end of it and back can be a very pleasant experience. However in winter it is a different matter.

There are no handrails or fences to hold on to and when it is lashed by a gale and wet from sea spray it is a treacherous place, and it would be possible to be swept off it by the sea.

Answer: A drowned valley

Poole Harbour is a drowned valley which was formed at the end of the last ice age. Overall it is very shallow, the average depth is only 48cm. One deep channel has been dredged out for commercial shipping, and this needs constant dredging to keep it open. Although now popular with leisure sailors due to the shelter it affords it is also still very much a working port with grain boats being regular visitors. In the past it was an important port for the export of wool and the Romans used it as an invasion port when they invaded Britain. At one time some 90% of the population of Poole worked on the harbour, but the coming of the railways meant it lost much importance. Tourism is now a major employer.

The oldest evidence of human habitation in the area was found on Brownsea Island when, in 1964, an Iron Age longboat was found preserved by mud just off Brownsea Island. It is the oldest item ever found in the area.

Answer: Tudor

The great hall at Athelhampton was built in 1493, with the west wing and a gatehouse being added in 1550. The gatehouse was demolished in the 1860s. In 1891 Inigo Thomas created the gardens. There are eight walled gardens, each with areas that allow you to see through to the adjoining gardens. Water is important, there are numerous fountains and pools, and they are now acknowledged as one of the great gardens of England.

Athelhampton has been able to remain in private ownership and this is in no small part due to the commercial interests the estate has in the area. These include several pubs and restaurants. The house featured in the film "Sleuth" which was filmed there in 1972, starring Michael Caine and Laurence Olivier.

Answer: William the Conqueror

Corfe Castle is one of the earliest castles in England to be built of stone rather than earth and timber. William the Conqueror had it built to defend the route between Wareham and Swanage. At the time this was an important road for both trade and military purposes. Locally it has become known as "one of the ruins that Cromwell knocked about a bit". During the civil war it was a Royalist stronghold and was put under siege twice.

The second siege saw it fall to Cromwell's troops, and it was demolished on his orders.

It has remained a ruin ever since. It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

Answer: Subtropical

Thanks to a wooded and sheltered valley that slopes down towards the sea Abbotsbury can boast a twenty acre subtropical garden. This was first established in the 1760s in a walled garden, but over the years has spread out. Many of the plants there were newly discovered species when they were first planted.

The fact that Abbotsbury lies in a valley also helps the swan sanctuary. It is the only place in England where you can walk through a breeding colony of mute swans. Many of the swans there are year round residents and their numbers are boosted by winter migrants, many of whom return year after year. There are also rescued and injured swans, who will be nursed back to health and hopefully released back into the wild.