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Quiz about Plymouth People and Places
Quiz about Plymouth People and Places

Plymouth: People and Places Trivia Quiz


Plymouth, in Devon, is my home town, and its history goes back many hundreds of years. It's a garrison town, known mainly for its connections with the Royal Navy, but it is also surrounded by military forts. I hope you find this quiz interesting.

A multiple-choice quiz by invinoveritas. Estimated time: 5 mins.
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Time
5 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
343,318
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
667
Last 3 plays: Guest 208 (8/10), Guest 104 (5/10), Guest 109 (3/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. The City of Plymouth was originally three separate towns which became amalgamated in 1914. Two of the original towns were Plymouth and East Stonehouse. Do you know the name of the third town? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. One of the most famous names associated with Plymouth must be that of Sir Francis Drake, who was once Mayor of Plymouth. His best-known ship was probably the Golden Hind, in which he circumnavigated the world in 1577. This ship originally had a different name. What was it? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. Still on the subject of Drake, his most famous exploit was probably beating the Spanish Armada in 1588. He received news that the Armada had been sighted, but legend has it that he decided he had time to finish the game of bowls that he was playing on Plymouth Hoe before sailing to join battle. What was the name of the ship he commanded? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Plymouth has had its share of famous politicians. A long-time Member of Parliament for Plymouth was the first woman MP to take her seat in the House of Commons. Who was she? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. A political dynasty existed in Plymouth. One of its most famous members was a leader of the Labour Party. Who was he? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. One of the best-known landmarks in Devon is the lighthouse that can be seen on Plymouth Hoe. It was originally the lighthouse on the Eddystone Reef, which is 12 miles out to sea from Plymouth and can be seen with the naked eye when the weather conditions are right. Who was the engineer who designed the lighthouse? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Plymouth is blessed with a huge harbour called the Sound. Several rivers empty into the Sound, one of which forms the border between Devon and Cornwall. What is the name of this river? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Plymouth Hoe is the name given to the rocky sea front that faces out over the Sound. There is a fort on the Hoe called the Royal Citadel. Building started in 1666 as a response to the wars with the Dutch and the Citadel is still in use. What is remarkable about its guns? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. A large structure exists in the Sound. What is its name? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Plymouth nowadays has a very modern town centre, built after WW2 in Portland stone and set out in straight lines, very unlike the Victorian town that existed before it was blitzed to rubble in 1941. There is still a part of ancient Plymouth that you can visit though. What is it called? Hint



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Mar 25 2024 : Guest 208: 8/10
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quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. The City of Plymouth was originally three separate towns which became amalgamated in 1914. Two of the original towns were Plymouth and East Stonehouse. Do you know the name of the third town?

Answer: Devonport

Devonport, before WW2, had one of the best shopping areas in Plymouth, but much of it was absorbed into the Naval Dockyard when the South Yard was expanded. Recently the Admiralty has released this area for public use again, and there is a lot of redevelopment happening all around Devonport.
The three towns, once amalgamated, were known as Plymouth, and City status was awarded in 1928.
2. One of the most famous names associated with Plymouth must be that of Sir Francis Drake, who was once Mayor of Plymouth. His best-known ship was probably the Golden Hind, in which he circumnavigated the world in 1577. This ship originally had a different name. What was it?

Answer: The Pelican

Drake set out in 1577 with five small ships, intending to circumnavigate the globe. They were to sail through the Straits of Magellan and see what lay beyond. The Golden Hind weighed only 100 tons and had a crew of about 100, of whom only 56 survived to reach England once more. Drake spent much time sacking Spanish settlements around the Pacific, and eventually sailed for home via the Moluccas with a cargo of treasure and spices, arriving in Plymouth in 1580. Drake was knighted by Queen Elizabeth l at Deptford for this exploit, and was a rich man from then on.
3. Still on the subject of Drake, his most famous exploit was probably beating the Spanish Armada in 1588. He received news that the Armada had been sighted, but legend has it that he decided he had time to finish the game of bowls that he was playing on Plymouth Hoe before sailing to join battle. What was the name of the ship he commanded?

Answer: The Revenge

The commander of the Naval force that attacked the Armada was Lord Howard of Effingham. Drake was one of his Vice Admirals, and had a certain amount of past history when it came to the Spanish. He was really little more than a pirate at times, seizing Spanish treasure ships on many occasions. Despite this bad behaviour, he did a lot of good for Plymouth - it was he who provided the town with its first proper water supply, which was brought from the river Meavy on Dartmoor, by way of 'Drake's Leat', which can still be seen.
There is still a bowling green on Plymouth Hoe.
4. Plymouth has had its share of famous politicians. A long-time Member of Parliament for Plymouth was the first woman MP to take her seat in the House of Commons. Who was she?

Answer: Nancy, Viscountess Astor

Nancy Astor was an American, married to Viscount Astor of Cliveden. She entered Parliament in December 1919, and was the first woman to take her seat. Constance Markiewicz actually beat her to the post, being elected in 1918 as the Sinn Fein member for Dublin; she never took her seat.
Lady Astor had a volatile relationship with Sir Winston Churchill, and once told him that if he were her husband, she would poison his tea. He replied 'Madam, if I were your husband, I'd drink it.' She retired from politics in 1945.
5. A political dynasty existed in Plymouth. One of its most famous members was a leader of the Labour Party. Who was he?

Answer: Michael Foot

Michael Foot was the son of Isaac Foot, a Plymouth solicitor who was himself MP for Bodmin, a councillor, and served as Lord Mayor of Plymouth. They were a famous Liberal family, and all his sons did well. Hugh Foot, Lord Caradon, was the Permanent British Representative at the UN. Sir Dingle Foot became an MP and was the Solicitor General in the Wilson Government. Hugh's son was Paul Foot, a prominent writer and investigative reporter.
6. One of the best-known landmarks in Devon is the lighthouse that can be seen on Plymouth Hoe. It was originally the lighthouse on the Eddystone Reef, which is 12 miles out to sea from Plymouth and can be seen with the naked eye when the weather conditions are right. Who was the engineer who designed the lighthouse?

Answer: John Smeaton

Smeaton was a Yorkshireman. His lighthouse - which is known as Smeaton's Tower - stood on the Eddystone Reef from 1759 until the 1880s, but had to be replaced when the sea started to undermine the rocks on which it stood.
You can visit the tower, although it's a stiff climb up the spiral staircase. It's well worth it though, as you get wonderful views from the top.
7. Plymouth is blessed with a huge harbour called the Sound. Several rivers empty into the Sound, one of which forms the border between Devon and Cornwall. What is the name of this river?

Answer: The Tamar

The River Tamar is beautiful. It's about 50 miles long and flows between high, wooded banks. You can take river trips up it from the Barbican in Plymouth, passing the Naval Dockyard (always worth a look) and stopping in places of interest such as Morwellham Quay and Calstock. There is a lot of history on this river.
8. Plymouth Hoe is the name given to the rocky sea front that faces out over the Sound. There is a fort on the Hoe called the Royal Citadel. Building started in 1666 as a response to the wars with the Dutch and the Citadel is still in use. What is remarkable about its guns?

Answer: They are aimed towards the town as well as out to sea.

Plymouth supported the side of Parliament during the English Civil war (1642 -49) and it is said that Charles ll, in whose reign the Citadel was built, distrusted the citizens of Plymouth ever after. He arranged it so that guns could be trained onto the town in the event of another uprising against the Crown.
9. A large structure exists in the Sound. What is its name?

Answer: The Breakwater

The Breakwater is a mile long and was built during the Napoleonic Wars. It was commenced in 1811 and consists of more than 4 million tons of stone, mostly mined locally, faced with thousands of square feet of masonry. It lies about 2 1/2 miles offshore.

The engineer who built it was John Rennie. It provides a safe passage for ships into the Hamoaze, which is the part of the harbour into which the River Tamar flows. There is a small lighthouse on the Breakwater.
10. Plymouth nowadays has a very modern town centre, built after WW2 in Portland stone and set out in straight lines, very unlike the Victorian town that existed before it was blitzed to rubble in 1941. There is still a part of ancient Plymouth that you can visit though. What is it called?

Answer: The Barbican

There are lots of Tudor buildings still in existence here, as well as part of what were the old Town Walls of Plymouth. A monument of great interest to American visitors are the Mayflower Steps, which is where the Pilgrim Fathers are said to have left from when they set sail for Virginia in 1620. (In fact, the real steps are said to be in the cellars of the Admiral Macbride pub which is just across the road).
Source: Author invinoveritas

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor stedman before going online.
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Related Quizzes
This quiz is part of series More from Invinoveritas:

A selection of my older quizzes - please remember to rate, thank you!

  1. Ships and Sailors Tough
  2. More about Plymouth - slightly more obscure Average
  3. I Spy with my Little 'I' Average
  4. The Plymouth Connection Average
  5. Plymouth: People and Places Average

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