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UK History Quizzes, Trivia and Puzzles
UK History Quizzes, Trivia

UK History Trivia

UK History Trivia Quizzes

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British History
252 UK History quizzes and 3,528 UK History trivia questions.
1.
  Legacies   best quiz  
Ordering Quiz
 10 Qns
Significant Moments in English History
All of these events in English history are relatively well known but we often forget what consequences, good or bad, they produced. Line the events in the order in which they occurred and then take the opportunity to read about the legacies they created.
Very Easy, 10 Qns, pollucci19, Feb 10 23
Very Easy
pollucci19 gold member
Feb 10 23
1235 plays
2.
  The Domesday Book    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This quiz will test you on basic facts about one of the most famous documents in English history: the Domesday Book, or simply Domesday Book as it is more correctly known among historians.
Tough, 10 Qns, cseanymph, Aug 24 23
Tough
cseanymph
Aug 24 23
413 plays
3.
  Restoration Era   top quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Seventeenth-Century England
The Restoration in England took place during the seventeenth century. Here are some questions about various aspects of the era.
Average, 10 Qns, rossian, Feb 12 23
Average
rossian editor
Feb 12 23
623 plays
4.
  British History - What Happened Next?   best quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Take this quiz to test your knowledge of some of the causes and effects behind famous and/or peculiar moments of British history.
Easier, 10 Qns, Fifiona81, Oct 29 13
Easier
Fifiona81 editor
2939 plays
5.
  Chronology of English History: 1   top quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The history of England is made up of many stories and legends that sometimes are believed to be just fables, but much of English history is true. Part one of three starts with the turning of the first millenia.
Average, 10 Qns, doomed, Nov 16 12
Average
doomed
6480 plays
6.
  Feudal Terms   great trivia quiz  
Match Quiz
 10 Qns
All these words date from the Middle Ages, with some still in use into the twenty-first century. Can you match the descriptions to the names?
Average, 10 Qns, rossian, Nov 02 22
Average
rossian editor
Nov 02 22
519 plays
7.
  The UK in the Second Millennium   top quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Join us on a brisk wander through some notable events in UK history during the second millennium (1001 to 2000 AD).
Average, 10 Qns, eburge, Feb 25 17
Average
eburge gold member
1877 plays
8.
  A Millennium of British History   best quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Yes, that's a lot of history, so I've simplified it by writing only one question per century. The quiz starts in the 11th century and ends in the twentieth. Good luck.
Average, 10 Qns, rossian, Jul 12 10
Average
rossian editor
3493 plays
9.
  Pot Pourri of English History   top quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
A general mix of English history.
Tough, 10 Qns, sunfloweruk23, Feb 17 14
Tough
sunfloweruk23
7241 plays
10.
  Back to the Twelfth Century   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
We're heading back in time to look at some of the people and events in the history of what is now the United Kingdom. As usual, you'll have one question for each decade of the century.
Average, 10 Qns, rossian, Oct 19 20
Average
rossian editor
Oct 19 20
680 plays
trivia question Quick Question
How old was William Shakespeare when he got married?

From Quiz "Elizabethan Times"




11.
  Back to the Fourteenth Century   best quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Here's another quiz in my occasional series on the history of what is now the United Kingdom. It follows the usual pattern of one question per decade.
Average, 10 Qns, rossian, Jan 27 17
Average
rossian editor
943 plays
12.
  Take this British History Quiz   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Since I got an A- in the class, I thought I'd make a quiz! This is mainly from Henry VIII to Elizabeth I.
Average, 10 Qns, ladymacb29, May 27 10
Average
ladymacb29 editor
10382 plays
13.
  Whose Reign Was It?   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
This quiz refers to events in the reigns of different English monarchs.
Average, 15 Qns, hj1, Jun 10 19
Average
hj1
Jun 10 19
5479 plays
14.
  Back to the Eleventh Century   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The eleventh century was a momentous one in the history of Britain - England in particular. The quiz covers some of the events and people, with one question per decade.
Average, 10 Qns, rossian, Feb 09 15
Average
rossian editor
955 plays
15.
  Royal English Deaths   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
I'm an English monarch. I'll tell you how I died, and you see if you can guess who I am!
Average, 10 Qns, Buferos, Jan 31 21
Average
Buferos
Jan 31 21
647 plays
16.
  From Great Britain to the United Kingdom   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This quiz leads briefly up to the formation of Great Britain in 1707, and then to its follow up formation of the mighty United Kingdom.
Average, 10 Qns, Creedy, Sep 15 18
Average
Creedy gold member
Sep 15 18
538 plays
17.
  Oddities From British History   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
It's often the silly little facts that get most of our attention in 'history', as any tourist guide may tell you.Just check your knowledge on some such 'odd facts' from British and occasionally Irish history.
Average, 10 Qns, flem-ish, Jul 09 17
Average
flem-ish
Jul 09 17
7329 plays
18.
  Facts and Trivia from British History    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This quiz is about well-known and less well-known facts from British History. Multiple Choice in all cases.
Average, 10 Qns, flem-ish, Dec 13 06
Average
flem-ish
5980 plays
19.
  England in 1000 A.D.   best quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Do you know what Anglo-Saxon England was like in the year 1000 A.D.?
Tough, 10 Qns, pagiedamon, Dec 04 09
Tough
pagiedamon gold member
3072 plays
20.
  London Through the Centuries   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
London has been home to countless historic events during the past 1,000 years. But can you spot the odd one out in each of the last ten centuries?
Average, 10 Qns, stedman, Feb 02 15
Average
stedman editor
1093 plays
21.
  Historical Snippets 3   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Here are more snippets of English history that are interesting or amusing. Enjoy the quiz!
Average, 10 Qns, Creedy, Dec 28 20
Average
Creedy gold member
Dec 28 20
506 plays
22.
  Back to the Thirteenth Century   top quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Another century; another quiz. As usual, I will pose one question for each decade of the century.
Average, 10 Qns, rossian, May 31 16
Average
rossian editor
1046 plays
23.
  Of Judges and Regicides   best quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
My guest, William Goffe, was one of 59 signatories of the death warrant for Charles I. He will quiz you regarding the actions of Charles I that led to this extreme expediency.
Tough, 10 Qns, uglybird, May 21 06
Tough
uglybird
2131 plays
24.
  The Elizabethans   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The Elizabethan world was an interesting time. Here are some of the people who dominated the scene.
Average, 10 Qns, robert362, Mar 22 21
Average
robert362
Mar 22 21
3735 plays
25.
  The Travails of the Union Jack   top quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Journey through British history with the hapless Jack as he tests your knowledge of the controversies that plagued the noble Union Jack. (Militant mavens of political correctness may want to skip this one.)
Tough, 10 Qns, uglybird, Jan 13 15
Tough
uglybird
2181 plays
26.
  Another Millennium of British History   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
I persuaded Rossian to collaborate with me on a quiz as a follow-up to her super quiz, 'A Millennium of British History'. There's one question for each century of the first millennium CE. Enjoy! Cheers, Cymruambyth
Tough, 10 Qns, Cymruambyth, Jul 21 10
Tough
Cymruambyth gold member
1247 plays
27.
  Fifteen Things You Should Know About Britain    
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
We Brits are a funny old bunch, with a proud, yet sometimes erratic and occasionally even shameful history. How much do you know about us?
Average, 15 Qns, Jennifer84, Dec 18 18
Average
Jennifer84
Dec 18 18
843 plays
28.
  Snippets of English History   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
All the 'snippets' in this quiz are asssociated with a king or queen of England. See if you can make the right connections.
Average, 10 Qns, Jomarion, Mar 09 14
Average
Jomarion
1075 plays
29.
  Bizarre British History    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Startling and little-known facts about the 'sceptered isle' and its inhabitants.
Tough, 10 Qns, ingilby, Dec 25 10
Tough
ingilby
4399 plays
30.
  More Oddities From British History    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Of course history is about 'causes and effects', and evolutions on a broad basis and all that, but sometimes the details and the gossip are nice too. Here follow some such 'odd facts' from Britain's history.
Average, 10 Qns, flem-ish, Nov 04 13
Average
flem-ish
5864 plays
31.
  The Peasants Are Revolting!    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This quiz is all about the Peasants' Revolt of 1381 that forced England to reconsider the practicalities of its feudal system. Best of luck!
Average, 10 Qns, KatieK54, Jan 14 17
Average
KatieK54 gold member
679 plays
32.
  London Timeline    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Now, I hate quizzes where dates are concerned - so I thought I'd make one! These are all historic dates in London's history. Don't worry, it shouldn't be too difficult ...
Tough, 10 Qns, succubus, Apr 11 06
Tough
succubus
2181 plays
33.
  British History in Roman Numerals    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
In this quiz, an important year in British history is presented in Roman numerals. You are then asked a question related to the event(s) of that year. Enjoy!
Easier, 10 Qns, DeepHistory, Oct 09 15
Easier
DeepHistory gold member
857 plays
34.
  The British Crown Jewels   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Kept safe in the Tower of London, What do you know about these priceless gems?
Tough, 10 Qns, smpdit, Feb 19 09
Tough
smpdit
1061 plays
35.
  2000 Years of British History: I   great trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The British Isles have a long and fascinating history dating back to prehistoric times. This part will explore the period from the Roman invasion until the beginning of the 18th century.
Tough, 10 Qns, romeomikegolf, Apr 08 10
Tough
romeomikegolf gold member
1268 plays
36.
  2000 Years of British History: 2   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This second part will cover some of the significant events during the period from the beginning of the 18th century to the end of the 20th century.
Tough, 10 Qns, romeomikegolf, Feb 08 15
Tough
romeomikegolf gold member
965 plays
37.
  Historic English Villages   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Whether they are small or large, English Villages have played an important part in England historical, geographical and cultural development. This quiz is about ten such communities.
Average, 10 Qns, topblue, Sep 21 15
Average
topblue
1330 plays
38.
  Vikings in England!   best quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Did you know that England was conquered by foreigners twice in a span of 53 years? Yes, just a few decades before the Norman Conquest, England fell into the hands of the Vikings.
Difficult, 10 Qns, pagiedamon, Dec 05 09
Difficult
pagiedamon gold member
1542 plays
39.
  English Canals    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Ten questions concerning the history and use of artificial waterways in England.
Average, 10 Qns, Charlesw321, Jul 29 16
Average
Charlesw321
427 plays
40.
  From Heptarchy to Commonwealth    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Trace the development of the United Kingdom and British Commonwealth in these 10 questions.
Average, 10 Qns, bernie73, Jul 01 20
Average
bernie73 gold member
Jul 01 20
282 plays
41.
  A Fateful Taste for Venison: The Royal Forests   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The establishment of royal forests was a tremendous force in the history of England over the last thousand years. Test your knowledge of forest history, especially the New Forest.
Average, 10 Qns, CellarDoor, Mar 11 17
Average
CellarDoor gold member
228 plays
42.
  Famous Dates in English History    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Most years from 900-1700 had significant events in English history. From the clues, you need to select the year the events happened.
Average, 10 Qns, lowtechmaster, Apr 08 16
Average
lowtechmaster
1051 plays
43.
  Festival of Britain   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The first in a series of quizzes based around items I have kept as souvenirs of various events over the years. First, a commemorative coin for The Festival of Britain.
Tough, 10 Qns, StarStruck60, Mar 08 10
Tough
StarStruck60
555 plays
44.
  The Glorious Revolution    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This is my first quiz, a short one about the Glorious Revolution. I hope you enjoy it.
Tough, 10 Qns, person4, Mar 06 14
Tough
person4
1008 plays
45.
  Mysteries And Crime - History    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Was there ever a country more suited for Mysterious Events and Strange Crimes than the UK? Could Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde have been written by any other author than a British one? Up to you to see how well matched you are to the oddities of Britain's past.
Tough, 10 Qns, flem-ish, Dec 08 08
Tough
flem-ish
3231 plays
46.
  Famous Years In British History    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Anybody who knows a small amount about British History ought to get 10/10. Come on, give it a go. I welcome feedback.
Average, 10 Qns, mash_freak, Mar 02 08
Average
mash_freak
2821 plays
47.
  British History IV    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This quiz covers history from Charles I to the foreshadows of Oliver Cromwell's rule.
Tough, 10 Qns, ladymacb29, Jun 16 21
Tough
ladymacb29 editor
Jun 16 21
2560 plays
48.
  British History III    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This quiz goes from James I of England to Charles I.
Average, 10 Qns, ladymacb29, Mar 02 16
Average
ladymacb29 editor
3295 plays
49.
  The Tolpuddle Martyrs   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The Tolpuddle Martyrs were early Trade Unionists. How much do you know about them and their part in early Trade Union history?
Average, 10 Qns, Christinap, Aug 21 08
Average
Christinap
352 plays
50.
  Some Queries About English History   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This quiz asks questions ranging from prehistoric Britain to the present day. There are rather a lot of questions about monarchs, but that is because I find them fascinating.
Average, 10 Qns, Onionsauce, Oct 15 13
Average
Onionsauce
897 plays
51.
  Deal - A Small Town in East Kent    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Here are some mixed questions about my adopted home town, Deal. I hope you enjoy this, my first quiz.
Average, 10 Qns, NosliwYnot, Feb 06 22
Average
NosliwYnot
Feb 06 22
123 plays
52.
  Facts, Names And Events From British History    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Some facts, names and events from British History have become key-terms in the collective memory of the U.K. and are also remembered outside the U.K.. See how well acquainted you are with them.
Difficult, 10 Qns, flem-ish, Jul 28 09
Difficult
flem-ish
3109 plays
53.
  When Adam Delved    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
"When Adam delved and Eve span, who was then the gentleman?" was a call for action. The questions deal with this call, the individual who is credited with saying it and the aftermath.
Average, 10 Qns, TimTamMan, Jul 28 13
Average
TimTamMan gold member
372 plays
54.
  A Mixture of English Disasters    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This is a mixture of English historical trivia. It is about London disasters. What do you know?
Average, 10 Qns, dcpddc478, Sep 16 18
Average
dcpddc478
Sep 16 18
427 plays
55.
  Britain, my Britain    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Unusual facts of British Life - past and present. Title change as misstified pointed out some questions covered Wales and Scotland
Tough, 10 Qns, riodice, Dec 29 12
Tough
riodice
779 plays
56.
  Tough British History Quiz - 10 Questions    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
A medium level of difficulty relating to British History from the earliest days to the present, with a slight bias towards the military history.
Tough, 10 Qns, retrograde, Jul 20 11
Tough
retrograde
2477 plays
57.
  The Boudican Revolt    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This is a quiz on the Boudican Revolt against the Romans. Shouldn't be too hard if you know the subject, and I hope you enjoy it.
Average, 10 Qns, Seillean, Jan 27 11
Average
Seillean
301 plays
58.
  English Church History    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
A look at some of the interesting facts, people and events of English history as it relates to Christianity
Tough, 10 Qns, nytoffee, Dec 06 15
Tough
nytoffee
527 plays
59.
  A Pocketful of History    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Designs on the reverse of some British coins have changed in recent times to celebrate the anniversaries of historical events. Have a look at your change! What can you learn from it?
Tough, 10 Qns, MaggieG, Jan 10 13
Tough
MaggieG gold member
683 plays
60.
  The 'Great Heathen Army' of 865    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
In search of plunder, slaves and wealth, Vikings had been raiding the English kingdoms since the attack on Lindisfarne in 793. That changed drastically in 865 when the "Great Heathen army" arrived in England.
Difficult, 10 Qns, Yorkie1, Dec 11 06
Difficult
Yorkie1
589 plays
61.
  Britain: Medieval History    
Multiple Choice
 15 Qns
This quiz will test your general knowledge of events and people of medieval Britain, Scotland and England in particular.
Very Difficult, 15 Qns, hayt_druid, May 06 06
Very Difficult
hayt_druid
2132 plays
62.
  UK and Irish History '66    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This is a quiz of the history of Ireland and the UK with a twist - all of the questions refer to events that happened in a year that ended in '66.
Average, 10 Qns, parnasse, May 27 07
Average
parnasse
1641 plays
63.
  British Trade Union History   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
A few questions on the history of organized labour in Britain.
Difficult, 10 Qns, TabbyTom, Mar 19 02
Difficult
TabbyTom gold member
797 plays
64.
  British History X    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
From 1745 to Victoria.
Average, 10 Qns, ladymacb29, Feb 22 14
Average
ladymacb29 editor
2024 plays
65.
  British Disasters    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Do you remember the passenger ferry disaster of the late 80s or the plane brought down by a terrorist bomb over Lockerbie? This quiz should exercise your grey cells and jog a few poignant memories.
Tough, 10 Qns, jokemachine, Aug 05 10
Tough
jokemachine
1246 plays
66.
  Life in an English Workhouse    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Ever wondered what life was like in a workhouse? Hopefully this quiz will answer some of your questions.
Difficult, 10 Qns, lorstrivia, Feb 20 10
Difficult
lorstrivia
499 plays
67.
  North of the Humber: II    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
More questions about Northumbria in the mid to late 7th century.
Tough, 10 Qns, yorkie1, Oct 31 06
Tough
yorkie1
335 plays
68.
  Road to Absolutism in England: I    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This is the first part of the quiz about the last years of the Wars of Roses. Check your knowledge of the subject, and enjoy!
Average, 10 Qns, Kserkso, Sep 13 08
Average
Kserkso
561 plays
69.
  North of the Humber    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
A quiz covering the early years of the kingdom of Northumbria from the 540s to 630s.
Tough, 10 Qns, Yorkie1, Aug 26 19
Tough
Yorkie1
Aug 26 19
336 plays
70.
  History of Fringe Politics in the United Kingdom    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Britain has a long and rich history of fringe politics of both left-wing and right-wing varieties. Test your knowledge and see how much you know about the history of these movements.
Average, 10 Qns, RevSpectre, Oct 26 09
Average
RevSpectre
380 plays
71.
  Medieval Gossip Columnists    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Medieval chroniclers were usually members of monastic orders. This quiz looks at chroniclers covering the turbulent reigns of Henry II and his sons Richard I and John.
Difficult, 10 Qns, bracklaman, Jul 04 04
Difficult
bracklaman
581 plays
72.
  The Jews in British History    
Multiple Choice
 5 Qns
While doing my British History quizzes, I came upon some interesting info for this quiz...
Difficult, 5 Qns, ladymacb29, Jan 09 12
Difficult
ladymacb29 editor
1040 plays
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UK History Trivia Questions

1. Which king decided to compile the record known as Domesday Book?

From Quiz
The Domesday Book

Answer: William the Conqueror

Duke William of Normandy began his rule in that most famous date in English history - 1066. Apart from winning the Battle of Hastings, the second great fact that most people know about him is that he ordered and compiled the Domesday Book. William had won a huge kingdom, but he knew little about it. Immediately after the Conquest, he began to give out estates to his fellow Normans, and protect himself with the building of castles. After this urgent work was completed, he turned his attention to finding out more about the land he held. How was it populated, and how could he be sure of receiving the taxes that were due to him? William Rufus was William II, the Conqueror's son, so named because of his florid complexion. He ruled from 1087 until 1100. He was succeeded by his brother, Henry I, whose reign lasted until 1135. Edward the Confessor was the last Anglo-Saxon king of England. He came to the throne in 1042.

2. Deal has had various names over the centuries, but which was the one that appeared in the Domesday Book of 1086?

From Quiz Deal - A Small Town in East Kent

Answer: Adellam

The Old English word 'dael' means valley and the main part of the town lies in the low-lying Lydden Valley. The incorrect answers have all been alternative names for Deal at various times. The original location of the settlement which later became Deal was situated a mile inland on a ridge where traces of Iron Age settlements have been found. The fishermen built shelters originally along what was a long, featureless and steep bank of pebbles stretching from the south northwards to the sandhills of Sandwich Bay, gradually developed into the seaside town we know today.

3. Dating back to the early reign of the Stuart monarchs in England, what frowned upon fashion for young men were "lovelocks"?

From Quiz Historical Snippets 3

Answer: Long locks of hair tied with bright ribbons

Frowned up by the Puritans, that is. During the early days of the reign of the Stuart monarchs in England when the Cromwellian followers were beginning to grow in strength, much mockery was make of the latest hairstyle fashion worn by the royalists followers. This style consisted of long flowing locks worn forward over the shoulders on either side - and tied with colourful ribbons. Variations on this theme were either still growing the hair long but leaving it hang free, or cutting the hair shorter on one side of the head but growing the other side longer - in order to wear a single be-ribboned lovelock hanging down over the chest. A portrait by van Dyck of "Henri II de Lorraine" features the single ribboned lovelock of the model, while the famous "Charles I in Three Positions", also by van Dyck, shows clearly that Charles, although wearing his hair free in that painting, had his hair cut shorter on one side in order to wear the single lovelock style when the whim took him. And oh, the scorn heaped on those "proud coxcombes in the fashion, wearing taffeta, and an ill-favoured lock on (their) shoulders" (Henry Peacham, 1638).

4. Henry I was king of England when the century began, having ascended to the throne in 1100. What was his nickname?

From Quiz Back to the Twelfth Century

Answer: Beauclerc

The fourth son of William I (the Conqueror) Henry was never intended to be king but took the throne when William II (Rufus) was killed in a New Forest hunting accident. Henry was present at the time, and there are theories that the accident to his brother might have been an assassination. Whether it was planned or not, Henry abandoned William's body and rode straight to Winchester to take control of the treasury and declare himself king. His nickname of Beauclerc, meaning fine scholar, related to Henry's high level of education for the times in which he lived. Ethelred was the Unready, Longshanks was Edward I and Charles II was known as the Merry Monarch.

5. Where did Great Fire of London start?

From Quiz A Mixture of English Disasters

Answer: Pudding Lane

Pudding Lane is the small street in London widely known as the location of Thomas Farriner's bakery where the Great Fire of London started in 1666. This great fire destroyed over 70,000 homes. Most of the City was burned down except for a small area in the north-east. Westminster, which contained Charles II's Palace of Whitehall and several other major buildings, was not affected.

6. For some decades leading up to (and following) the political union between England and Scotland, various unsuccessful uprisings from which claimant group to the English throne were a constant threat to the stability of the country?

From Quiz From Great Britain to the United Kingdom

Answer: Jacobites

The Jacobite cause was a determined attempt by the supporters of James II to place him back on the throne of England after he had been overthrown in 1688 by his daughter, Mary, and son-in-law (and nephew), William. James had been the rightful technical heir to the throne, as he had come down in a direct line of descent from James I, who had inherited the throne upon the death of Queen Elizabeth I. James, however, was a Catholic and the country was emotionally exhausted from ongoing battles between Catholic and Protestant even since Henry VIII had broken with the Papacy. This had culminated in the not so Glorious Revolution of 1688, when, at the request of the English parliament, the protestant William of Orange and his protestant wife Mary (daughter of James II) invaded England and took the throne. This sturdy pair subsequently became joint rulers of the country. Their subsequent right to rule was cemented the following year, 1689, with parliament's passing of the Bill of Rights. Among many other initiatives, this Bill greatly limited the powers of the ruling monarchs, declared that James had abdicated when he fled the country, made William and Mary his rightful successors to the throne, and forever barred any of James' Catholic children, from his second marriage, to the throne forever. This, however, certainly didn't forever silence the indignant Jacobites by any means.

7. Completed on the orders of William the Conqueror, in 1086, the "Great Survey" of his lands and taxes is known worldwide as "The Domesday Book". What was its original name, by which it was known from the eleventh to the thirteenth centuries?

From Quiz The UK in the Second Millennium

Answer: Book of Winchester

The "Liber de Wintonia" was originally written in Latin, although the scribes also used various dialect and abbreviated words of their own. Considered one of the most important documents in the history of England, the original manuscript is now kept at the British National Archive in London.

8. In the first decade of the fourteenth century, King Edward I was nearing the end of his life, and reign. He was still engaged in fighting. Which man was executed on his orders in 1305 by the method of hanging, drawing and quartering?

From Quiz Back to the Fourteenth Century

Answer: William Wallace

William Wallace led several uprisings against the English, being successful in the Battle of Stirling Bridge, in 1297, while losing the Battle of Falkirk the following year. He was captured in 1305 and suffered the gruesome death reserved for those found guilty of high treason. Robert the Bruce became King of Scotland in 1306, as Robert I, and didn't die until 1329 from an unspecified illness. There are several Simon de Montfort's, with the best known of them being from the thirteenth century, as was the Welsh prince, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd.

9. Although the exact date is unknown, Simon de Montfort's year of birth is usually given as being 1208. He was the Earl of which English city?

From Quiz Back to the Thirteenth Century

Answer: Leicester

Simon de Montfort was the 6th Earl of Leicester, a title first granted in the eleventh century by William the Conqueror to one of the Normans who accompanied him in the invasion of England. Simon de Montfort was destined to become a thorn in the side of King Henry III, leading a rebellion against the monarch and even taking overall power in the country in the 1260s. He is credited with being the first democratic leader of the country. In 1265, de Montfort met his death in the Battle of Evesham, with royalist forces defeating the rebels, who they outnumbered by two to one.

10. In which year did Earl Byrhtnoth lead the English against a Viking force at the Battle of Maldon?

From Quiz Famous Dates in English History

Answer: 991

On August 10th or 11th in 991, the Vikings won a resounding victory over Byrhtnoth's troops, causing the King, Aethelred The Unready, to pay the Viking leader, most likely Olaf Tryggvason, Danegeld in the amount of 10,000 Roman pounds of silver to stop their aggression, the first time the English made such a payment. [Danegeld is a form of capitulation, in effect bribing the Vikings to cease their fighting.] The story of the battle is related in "The Battle Of Maldon," a poetic fragment of 325 lines in Old English. The battle is also mentioned in several versions of the "Anglo-Saxon Chronicle."

11. The year: CXXVIII. The event: The Romans finish the construction of a Wall that separated the Roman province of Britannia from Caledonia (ancient Scotland). Which Roman Emperor ordered the Wall to be built?

From Quiz British History in Roman Numerals

Answer: Hadrian

The date CXXVIII corresponds to the year 128. Hadrian ordered the Wall to be built for the purpose of better garrisoning of the Roman borders. He claimed that a "divine instruction" prompted him to order its construction. After Hadrian's death, his successor, Antoninus Pius advanced further into Caledonia and ordered another Wall to be built further north. However, in 162, the Romans withdrew back to Hadrian's Wall.

12. Born at Wantage in 849, he/she united the tribes of Wessex, defeated the Vikings at Edington and founded the Kingdom of England. He/she is rumoured to have once burned some cakes. Who was this warrior monarch?

From Quiz Fifteen Things You Should Know About Britain

Answer: Alfred the Great

Alfred was the first monarch in our history to be given the title "The Great". Historians dispute some of the stories of his life but most are believed to be true. His father took him to Rome when he was a small boy and he was given an audience with Pope Leo IV who pronounced him King of England. He became a fine scholar, a just and wise king, a legal innovator and an excellent administrator. He founded the first English navy and was a fierce warrior. After being defeated by the Vikings at Chippenham in 878 he hid in the Somerset Levels and (so the legend goes) was given shelter by a peasant woman who didn't know his true identity. One day, she told him to watch over her baking but his mind was so taken up with plotting a counter-attack on the Vikings that he allowed the cakes to burn for which he, the King, was severely scolded by the peasant woman. When he emerged from isolation he made Wessex his stronghold and from there, defeated the Vikings at Edington, Wiltshire. After this he united the tribes and created the Kingdom of England. Alfred died in October 899 and was buried in Winchester Abbey. However, when Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries it is believed by some historians that his remains were discovered by convicts who had been put to work at building a prison on the site of the former Abbey. Not realising whose remains they had found, the bones were scattered. If this is true, it would be sad that the mortal remains of one of England's greatest ever monarchs have no known resting place.

13. On 25 September 1066, King Harold II was victorious at the battle of Stamford Bridge. What happened next when he marched with his army to face the invading forces led by William of Normandy?

From Quiz British History - What Happened Next?

Answer: He fought William at the Battle of Hastings and was killed

King Harold II (also known as King Harold Godwinson) fought William of Normandy for the crown of England at the Battle of Hastings on 14 October 1066. Harold was killed during the battle, supposedly as a result of an arrow being shot through his eye, and his throne was taken by William - who is now known to history as William the Conqueror. Harold faced numerous threats to his reign in late 1066 as he had to fight King Harold Hardrada of Norway and his brother Tostig Godwinson at the Battle of Stamford Bridge in Yorkshire and then the Normans shortly afterwards in Sussex. The events of 1066, from Harold's coronation in January to the Battle of Hastings in October are depicted in the latter parts of the Bayeux Tapestry.

14. Which member of the Royal family was both a great-grandson AND a great-great grandson of Queen Victoria?

From Quiz Britain, my Britain

Answer: Prince Alastair

Prince Alastair, 9/8/1914 - 26/4/1943 was a member of the Windsor family, but denied princehood and the right to be called your Highness in 1917. He was given a courtesy to use the Title Earl of MacDuff by his maternal line and later became 2nd Duke of Connaught on the death of his grandfather. Through his father's family tree he was a great grandson, while through his mother's he was a great- great-grandson.

15. Which English nobleman is called 'the father of canals'?

From Quiz English Canals

Answer: The Duke of Bridgewater

In 1759 Frances Egerton, 3rd Duke of Bridgewater, obtained the permission of Parliament to build a canal from his coal mines at Worsley to Manchester. He engaged James Brindley as engineer and the canal was completed in 1761. The Bridgewater Canal, as it is known, is considered by many to be the first modern British canal. The following year he built the Manchester to Liverpool Canal, again engineered by Brindley. The Regent's Canal links the Grand Union Canal to Limehouse Basin in London. It was started in 1812 and enjoyed the patronage of the Prince Regent (later George IV). To the best of my knowledge, there has never been an Earl of Shropshire or a Lord Llangollen. The Shropshire Union is an important canal in the north-west Midlands, with a branch running to Llangollen in Wales. The 'Ladies of Llangollen' were a pair of gloriously eccentric spinsters who lived together near the town in late Georgian times.

16. During the last half of the 8th century AD, the King of Mercia ordered the construction of a massive earthwork which is roughly 150 miles long and, in places, follows the present-day border between England and Wales. Can you name this king?

From Quiz Snippets of English History

Answer: Offa

Very little is known about Offa but he must have been a powerful ruler to have had sufficient resources at his disposal for the construction of such a formidable earthwork. Numismatists have remarked on the outstanding artistic merit of many coins struck in his reign. Asser, a late 9th and early 10th century chronicler wrote: 'There was in Mercia, in fairly recent times, a certain vigorous king called Offa, who terrified all the neighbouring kings and provinces around him and who had a great dyke built between Wales and Mercia from sea to sea.' (From his work, 'Life of Alfred'.)

17. "When Adam delved and Eve span who was then the gentleman?" is a saying from Mediaeval England. What does the word "delved" mean in this context?

From Quiz When Adam Delved

Answer: To till the soil

The delving in this question refers to digging and therefore farming. It is also referring to the biblical beginnings when everyone supposedly was equal and social strata had not developed. Class systems appear to have existed from the beginning of time whether based on wealth or birth or who you know. Even Castro's Cuba has the upper echelon of the Cuban Communist Party and then the rest of the citizens.

18. Who was the King of England at the time of the Peasants' Revolt?

From Quiz The Peasants Are Revolting!

Answer: Richard II

Henry III was king from 1216 until his death in 1272, while Henry IV was king from 1399 until 1413. Edward II was king from 1307 to 1327 and Richard II was king from 1377 to 1399. When the revolt began, King Richard II was only 14 years old and had quickly sought to appease the peasants in their demands.

19. The Iceni lands to which Boudica belonged comprised what is now East Anglia. Which tribes did they share borders with?

From Quiz The Boudican Revolt

Answer: Catuvellauni, Trinovantes & Corieltauvi

Of these three tribes, the Catuvellauni were the only only to offer any real resistance to the Roman invasion - initially under Cassivelau during Caesar's invasion of 54 BC, then notably under Cassivelaunu's descendant, Caractacus.

20. Everyone knows Hadrian's Wall, but what other structure was built by the Romans to keep the Caledonians from invading?

From Quiz Some Queries About English History

Answer: Antonine's Wall

Antoninus Pius, Hadrian's successor, pushed northwards in 142 AD and built a wall running from the Firth of Forth to the Firth of Clyde. It was only made of packed earth, not stone, and was therefore not as defensible a barrier as Hadrian's Wall. By 209 AD it was abandoned by the Emperor Severus, who determined that Hadrian's fortifications would mark the northern boundary of the Roman Empire.

21. The First Century CE: Which Celtic king was responsible for the Roman invasion of Britain in 43CE?

From Quiz Another Millennium of British History

Answer: Verica

Judging from coins dating from his reign, Verica was the leader of the Atrebates tribe who lived in what is now Hampshire. As leader of a tribe friendly to the Roman Empire, Verica was considered rex (king) by the Empire. Circa 40 CE, Caratacus, leader of the neighbouring Catuvellauni tribe, conquered Verica's Atrebates and expelled Verica from Britain. Verica appealed to Rome for help in regaining his lost lands. The Emperor Claudius was only too happy to come to the aid of Verica as an excuse to expand the boundaries of the Roman Empire, and invaded Britain in 43CE. After the invasion, Verica disappears from the historical record, so we have no idea whether or not he was restored to power. The next leader of the Atrebates that we hear about is Cogidubnus. Since Verica would have been well up in years it is highly likely that he died shortly before, during or after the Roman invasion of Britain and was succeeded by Cogidubnus. Eppillus was Verica's older brother, whom he succeeded as king c15CE, and Cunobellinus was the father of Caratacus.

22. 1066 is remembered for the death of Harold II in the Battle of Hastings. However, Harold had success earlier in the same year by defeating the Vikings in which battle?

From Quiz A Millennium of British History

Answer: Stamford Bridge

Following the death of King Edward (the Confessor), his nephew, Harold Godwinson was crowned as his successor. This was disputed by Harald Hardrada of Norway and William of Normandy, who both prepared to invade, one from the north and the other from the south. Harold remained in the south, prepared to repel William, but had to move his army north quickly when York fell to Harald. The Vikings were defeated on 25 September 1066, but William had taken advantage of Harold's absence and Harold, with his army depleted, was killed on October 14th.

23. When George, Elector of Hanover, acceded to the British throne in 1714 as King George I he was not universally accepted. Why not?

From Quiz 2000 Years of British History: 2

Answer: He spoke no English

When Queen Anne died childless the crown passed to her nearest living Protestant relative. The Act of Settlement of 1702 had ensured that Britain would never again have a Catholic monarch. George spoke no English and was more concerned with the affairs of Hanover than Britain. The first real opposition came in 1715 with the first Jacobite rebellion in an attempt to restore the House of Stuart.

24. During the Roman occupation of Britain two defensive walls were built. Hadrian's Wall was one, what was the other?

From Quiz 2000 Years of British History: I

Answer: The Antonine Wall

Hadrian's Wall was built to defend the northern border of the Roman Empire, but they built another one even further north. This was an earthen as opposed to a stone wall and was built across the Scottish lowlands between, roughly, the Clyde and the Firth of Forth. Construction started in 142AD on the orders of Emperor Antoninus Pius in response to attacks from Caledonians. Initial manning of the wall lasted just 20 years, but in 208AD it was repaired and manned again. This lasted just a few years and the wall was abandoned and the legions were withdrawn south.

25. On Palm Sunday, 26th March 1461 the Battle of Towton, one of the bloodiest in English History, was fought just outside the Yorkshire village with the same name. During which violent period of history was this?

From Quiz Historic English Villages

Answer: Wars of the Roses

This is considered to be the bloodiest battle ever to occur on English soil with over 20,000 casualties. As many as 80,000 men are believed to have fought which would have been approximately 1% of the country's population. The battle led to a rout of the Lancastrian Forces.

26. The Festival of Britain took place in which year?

From Quiz Festival of Britain

Answer: 1951

The Festival of Britain was both a celebration of the anniversary of the Great Exhibition of 1851, and a way to give the country a boost after Wotld War II. The main exhibition site was the South Bank in London, but various events were also held around the country from Glasgow to Bournemouth. Herbert Morrison, deputy leader of the Labour Party, was one of the prime instigators of the festival. It ran from May to September and over eight million people visited the main site during that time, and another two million visited either the travelling exhibition or one of the smaller sites around the country.

27. The first workhouse for the parish of St. John, in Hackney, London was set up in 1728. How many paupers did it accommodate?

From Quiz Life in an English Workhouse

Answer: 15

The Hackney Parish Vestry rented a house from John Evans in Homerton High Street to accommodate 15 paupers. In 1741 the workhouse had to be moved to a larger property on the south side of the High Street with the capacity to hold 30 paupers.

28. Who founded the British Union of Fascists and remains the only openly fascist Member of Parliament in British history?

From Quiz History of Fringe Politics in the United Kingdom

Answer: Oswald Mosley

Oswald Mosley left the Labour Party to form the "New Party" and formed the BUF in 1932. The other three are all more recent right wing politicians.

29. Who is the patron saint of London ?

From Quiz English Church History

Answer: St Paul

The shield of St Paul can be seen on every City of London street sign. How many Londoners are aware of this is another matter.

30. How many Tolpuddle Martyrs were there?

From Quiz The Tolpuddle Martyrs

Answer: 6

They were George and James Loveless, James Brine, James Hammett, Thomas Stansfield and his son John. George Loveless was the leader and organiser of the group, all of whom were farm labourers. They were also, with the exception of James Brine, all staunch Methodists.

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