Greater Manchester - A Municipal County Quiz

Answer: Cottonopolis

The area around Manchester was the heart of the cotton industry in the 1800s and as a result Manchester was given the nickname "Cottonopolis".

Due to their main trades, Belfast was known as "Linenopolis", Swansea was known as "Copperopolis" and Cardiff was known as "Coalopolis.

Answer: Bolton

Samuel Crompton (1753-1827) was the inventor of the spinning mule, which permitted large-scale manufacture of high-quality thread and yarn which revolutionized the cotton industry. It was an improvement on the spinning jenny invented by James Hargreaves. Unfortunately, he died in poverty and is buried in St. Peters Church (Bolton Parish Church) in the center of Bolton.

Answer: Hand-cranked submarine

George Garrett (1952-1902) was a British inventor who was born in Moss Side, a suburb of Manchester. One of his first inventions was a diving suit built in 1877, followed the next year by a small hand-cranked submersible called "Resurgam". In 1879 he improved the design and a longer, heavier "Resurgam " was born.

Unfortunately, both prototypes had issues but he still obtained financial support.

Answer: Winston Churchill

Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965) launched his parliamentary career as the Conservative Member of Parliament (M.P.) for Oldham in the 1900 election. He was ousted from this position in 1904 due to a motion of no-confidence from his party. He then joined the Liberal Party representing North West Manchester and in 1906 became a junior minister in the Liberal government. Churchill was elected a Freeman of Oldham in 1941.

Answer: To adhere to a strictly vegetarian diet

The Bible Christian Church was founded by the Reverend William Cowherd in 1809. The church attracted people who wanted a non traditional structure for spiritual and economic needs. William Cowherd used to feed the poor of Salford soup which contained no meat but was healthy and nutritious.

His congregation were forced to sign a pledge to follow a vegetarian diet an abstain from alcohol. From these humble beginnings, the Vegetarian Society was founded in 1847.

Answer: Newton Heath

Newton Heath LYR (Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway) was founded in 1888 and played in The Combination league, a rival to the Football League (which was also founded in that same year). After the Combination League folded in 1889, Newton Heath played in the Football Alliance League for three years until it joined the Football League. In 1902, Newton Heath was renamed, and became the now legendary Manchester United Football Club (F.C).

St. Mark's (West Gorton) is the original name of Manchester City, Stockport County was formed as Heaton Norris Rovers and Christ Church F.C became Bolton Wanderers.

Answer: Coronation Street

"Coronation Street" was first broadcast in December 1960, making it one of the world longest running soap operas. It is set in the fictional town of Weatherfield, a suburb of Salford. The original title was supposed to be "Florizel Street" but this met with little enthusiasm and the name was changed. In February 2020, the 10,000 episode was aired.

The TV program "EastEnders" is set in the East End of London and "Crossroads" was set in the Central part of England. "The Archers" is a radio drama program on BBC Radio 4 set in the fictional village of Ambridge. It started broadcasting in 1951 over 19,000 episodes ago.

Answer: Rochdale

In the 1930s, Gracie Fields (born as Gracie Stansfield) was one of the highest paid entertainers in the world. She was famous for songs such as "Sally", "Sing As We Go" and "The Biggest Aspidistra in The World". Her charity work and services to entertainment earned her the Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the Queen's New Years Honours in 1938, and in 1979 she was awarded Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DME). The modern co-operative movement was based on the Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers, founded in 1844 as a result of the Industrial Revolution in England.

They managed to open their first food store that year selling a few small items and grew rapidly across the whole of the country.

Answer: Wigan

Although not as famous as Nathan's Hog Dog Eating Contest held each year since 1970 on Coney Island, the World Pie Eating Championship has been held since 1992 in Harry's Bar in Wigan. The pies consist of meat and potato, but a vegetarian option was added in 2006. Various controversies have plagued the competition from the size of pies, their origin and change in rules enforced by health eating guides.

A contestant's dog entered the competition in 2007 but sadly did not win as he was still full after starting eating the pies the night before!

Answer: Steeplejack

As Greater Manchester was the center of the textile industry, there were hundreds of tall chimneys on the industrial landscape, many of which fell into disrepair as the industry died out. Enter the steeplejack, whose job was to either repair the chimney (to prevent injury to people below) or to demolish it.
Due to a 1969 BBC documentary, Bolton's Fred Dibnah (1938-2004) became the most celebrated steeplejack of the 20th century. "Fred Dibnah, Steeplejack" won a
Best Documentary BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) that year and his popularity and fame grew. In 2004, he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the Queen's New Year Honours for services to heritage and broadcasting but sadly, died later that year.