Old Father Thames Trivia Quiz

Answer: Queen Elizabeth II Bridge

The Queen Elizabeth II Bridge near the Thames estuary (also known as the Dartford River Crossing) is a toll bridge linking Essex with Kent and is 450m long; carrying over 1000,000 vehicles on average daily. Westminster Bridge is close to the Houses of Parliament, The Millennium Bridge is a footbridge linking the Tate Modern Gallery to St Paul's Cathedral and the City, while Vauxhall Bridge is close to the large and featureless MI5 building in central London.

The new century saw plans being developed for a bridge closer to the sea than the QEII Bridge.

Answer: Runnymede

The John F Kennedy Memorial stands halfway up Cooper's Hill Slopes overlooking Runnymede (site of the signing of the Magna Carta, 1215). It is reached by a number of steps - one for each year of Kennedy's life. The inscription reads 'This acre of English ground was given to the people of the United States of America by the people of Britain in memory of John F Kennedy, born 19th May 1917: President of the United States 1961-63: died by an assassin's hand 22nd November 1963.'

Answer: True

Jerome wrote: 'Most of my life I have dwelt in the neighbourhood of the river. I thank Old Father Thames for many happy days'. The three men in the book were real people: the author himself, George Wingrave (Jerome's best man at his wedding) and Harris who was actually Carl Hentschel (a photographer friend of Jerome).

Answer: Henley

Henley Royal Regatta is the oldest rowing regatta in the world dating from 1839. It has been held annually ever since with the exception of the two World Wars. One of the most notable races is that of the Diamond Challenge Sculls.

Answer: Port of London Authority

The Port of London Authority was established in 1908 to 'administer, preserve and improve the Port of London'. It is responsible for the registration of craft, licensing of watermen and lightermen and is also the pilotage authority for the tidal Thames.

Answer: 1984

The Thames Flood Barrier (officially opened in May 1984), the world's largest movable flood barrier, spans the 1,716 feet width of the river with nine reinforced concrete piers forming six openings for shipping and four other openings. It has curved flood gates which are rotated ninety degrees into position from beneath the water to form a barrier during exceptional high tides.

The cost was in excess of £500 million.

Answer: Hampton Court Palace

The Maze at Hampton Court was originally planted in hornbeam in the 1690s for William III. The current maze was established in the 1960s when hedges were gradually replaced with yew trees. It is 7 feet high, 3 feet wide, with an area of one third of an acre and half a mile of pathways.

The Palace was built for Cardinal Wolsey and given by him to Henry VIII in 1526. Queen Elizabeth I was born at Greenwich Palace, Kew Palace was George the third's family home and Windsor Castle (the oldest castle in England) remains a royal residence.

Answer: Bascule

Tower Bridge was built between 1886 and 1894 by Sir Horace Jones. It has two pseudo-Gothic towers at either side and a double-leaf mechanism which opens a 250 feet gap to allow tall ships and cruise liners to pass. It is opened around 900 times per year, and in the region of 150,000 vehicles cross every day.

Answer: Eel Pie Island

Ten miles south-west of central London near Twickenham, Eel Pie Island has fifty houses, numerous houseboats and a population of about 120. A 19th century hotel was, in the 1960s, an early centre of English rhythm and blues; hosting later-to-be-famous names such as Long John Baldry, The Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart and David Bowie. The hotel closed during the 1970s.

Answer: HMS Belfast

His Majesty's Ship 'Belfast' was launched in 1938, playing leading parts in the destruction of the German battleship 'Scharnholst' at the Battle of North Cape and in the Normandy Landings, both during WW2. She is open to the public as a reminder of Britain's naval heritage in the first half of the 20th century.