Warwickshire UK Trivia Quiz

Answer: Bear and ragged staff

The Bear and Ragged Staff dates back to 1086 when Henry de Beaumont was created the first Earl of Warwick. The Bear and Ragged Staff appeared on his standard.
Today Warwickshire Cricket Club's nickname is 'The Bears'.

Answer: Rugby

The town of Rugby lies in east Warwickshire and it was at Rugby School that the game of rugby originated, at least according to one version. During a school football match, one William Webb Ellis is said to have picked up the ball and ran with it, thus creating the beginnings of rugby football.

Although probably not the sole origin of the sport, it is a good story and the Rugby Union World Cup bears his name.

Answer: Northamptonshire

Warwickshire has shared boundaries with seven other counties. The reorganisation of British counties in 1974 created the new county of West Midlands, which included both Birmingham and Coventry. This left Warwickshire without a city inside its borders; Nuneaton is the largest town in the county, in 2004 it had a population of some 74,500.

Answer: Kenilworth

Kenilworth Castle lies mostly in ruins having failed to withstand the ravages of the English Civil War.
Tamworth Castle is in Staffordshire, Ludlow Castle is in Shropshire and Belvoir Castle is in Leicestershire.

Answer: Meriden

An ancient stone monument in the centre of Meriden marks the traditional centre of England. Various other towns and villages have tried to claim this title (it depends on which points the co-ordinates are taken from), but only Meriden has the monument to 'prove' it.

Answer: Atherstone

The Atherstone Ball Game has been played for over 800 years, it originated in the reign of King John. There are few if any rules but involves two teams of indeterminate numbers wrestling to keep control of a water-filled ball. Shops in the town are boarded up for the occasion and though serious accidents are mercifully rare, a fair few black-eyes and split lips are sported the following morning.

Answer: George Eliot

George Eliot was the pen-name of Mary Anne Evans, who was born in 1819 just outside Nuneaton in Warwickshire. Her best known novels include "The Mill on the Floss", "Silas Marner" and "Middlemarch".

Answer: In protest against tax rises

Lady Godiva's husband Leofric had imposed heavy taxes on the people of Coventry. Godiva sympathised with the people and begged her husband to change his policy. He said he might reconsider his position if she were to parade naked through the streets. Godiva called his bluff, winning the admiration of the townsfolk who agreed not to look at the naked Lady as she passed by.

They all turned their backs, except of course for 'Peeping Tom' who according to legend was struck blind for looking through a hole in the shutters.

Answer: Edge Hill

Edge Hill was the first pitched battle of the Civil War and was fought in 1642. The result was inconclusive.
Marston Moor (Yorkshire) and Naseby (Northamptonshire) were more decisive battles of the same conflict being fought in 1644 and 1645 respectively.
Bosworth (Leicestershire) was the final battle in the Wars of the Roses in 1485.

Answer: The second-best bed

Although often thought of as a slight to his widow, it is probable that Shakespeare intended to make sure that Anne kept their original marriage bed. I still wonder who got the 'best' bed though?