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Colchester Trivia Quiz

Colchester is a town in East Anglia. It has an interesting history, so I made a quiz on it!

A multiple-choice quiz by GreenGal. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
GreenGal

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
311,480

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
556

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Colchester started off as a group of settlements, covering about 12 square miles in all. It was the centre for a local tribe, the Trinovantes. What race of people were the Trinovantes? Hint: this was before the Romans invaded. Hint

Greek

Gaul

Irish

Celtic

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Question 2 of 10

2. In 43 AD, the Romans invaded Britain. They took over Colchester, and built a fort there (which is still there). The Roman soldiers stayed until about 49 AD, when they returned to Italy, leaving ordinary Roman citizens behind. Local tribes then tried to attack it, but the citizens defeated them, kept the castle, and built a town around it. In 54 AD a temple made of stone was built to the emperor of that time. Who was he? Hint

Claudius

Caesar

Nero

Hadrian

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Question 3 of 10

3. In 60 AD, Queen Boudicca led a rebellion against Colchester. The rebels burned down the entire town (including the temple) and killed as many people as they could. Which neighbouring tribe did Boudicca and her fighters belong to? Hint

Catuvellauni

Dobunni

Trinovantes

Iceni

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Question 4 of 10

4. In 407 AD, the Romans left Britain, and the Saxons started to invade. Colchester no longer had bustling life in its streets. Maybe a few Saxons chose to live and farm the land there, but it was nothing compared to Roman times. Historical records for Colchester went silent too. However, years later, in 931 AD, Athelstan (the king at that time) had a 'witenagemot' there. What's a 'witenagamot'? Hint

An sumptuous 'high society' party

A meeting of the grandees of the realm

A royal wedding

A burning (at the stake)

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Question 5 of 10

5. In 1413, Colchester was granted a new coat of arms. The red background represented the blood of Christ (the population was Catholic) and it featured Colchester's patron saint. Who is that? Hint

St. George

St. Thomas More

St. Helena

St. Theresa

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Question 6 of 10

6. In medieval times, fishing in Colchester became popular. The town evolved into being famous for a particular dish, caught from the River Colne. What food was it? Hint

Oysters

Frog

Haddock

Eel

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Question 7 of 10

7. In the 12th century, Colchester's port was opened. The name was taken from an Old English word for a landing place for ships. What was the port called? Hint

The Culver

The Great Quay

The Staithe

The Hythe

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Question 8 of 10

8. In 1710, a charity school opened in Colchester. What was this school called? Hint

The Redcoat School

The Bluecoat School

The Royal Grammar Schol

The Freemens' School

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Question 9 of 10

9. On April 22nd, Colchester was hit by an earthquake measuring 4.6 on the Ritcher Scale. Not much, perhaps, but it caused more than its fair share of damage, damaging around 1200 buildings. At least one person died. When was this earthquake? Hint

1884

1889

1882

None of these

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Question 10 of 10

10. In 1883, a water tower was built near the Balkerne Gate. It hasn't been used since 1988, but people still go up (there are 157 steps) and look out over Colchester. It was sold to a private bidder in 2006. What is it's name? Hint: The name comes from an elephant. Hint

Jumbo

Fatty

Dumbo

Trunk

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

Answer: Celtic

The Trinovantes were Celtic, and probably the most powerful tribe in Britain at that time. Their name means 'the vigourous people' and they occupied Essex and about half of Suffolk.

Answer: Claudius

They called this new place Camulodunum, from the Celtic god of war Camulos and the Latin word 'dunum' which means fort.

Answer: Iceni

The Romans managed to suppress the rebellion (killing just as many as Boudicca had in the process). They rebuilt the entire town, and a huge wall was built between 65 and 100 AD.

Answer: A meeting of the grandees of the realm

A witengamot was were the most important people in the land (e.g. noblemen, the king's advisers and close friends, important members of the clergy) gathered to talk about important national matters. Also, the Saxons gave Colchester a new name - Colne Ceaster, which is much closer to the modern one than Camulodunum.

5. In 1413, Colchester was granted a new coat of arms. The red background represented the blood of Christ (the population was Catholic) and it featured Colchester's patron saint. Who is that?

Answer: St. Helena

Colchester was also given a charter at the same time. A charter was a royal document allowing the residents of that town special rights and advantages.

6. In medieval times, fishing in Colchester became popular. The town evolved into being famous for a particular dish, caught from the River Colne. What food was it?

Answer: Oysters

In the 18th century, Colchester was also known for its candied eryngo roots! Eryno looks like thistles; the roots were taken, covered in sugar and sold. The plant could also be used as a medicine.

7. In the 12th century, Colchester's port was opened. The name was taken from an Old English word for a landing place for ships. What was the port called?

Answer: The Hythe

The Hythe later faced competition from trains, and cars, but it managed to stay important during the 19th and 20th century.

8. In 1710, a charity school opened in Colchester. What was this school called?

Answer: The Bluecoat School

It was named after the colour of the school uniforms. At the time a charity school was free and also provided free clothing for its pupils. Many other important establishments opened in that century, too. Hollytrees, an important house, was built in 1718 (and became a mueseum in 1929). Colchester gained its first theatre.

A Tudor-style house was built in 1776, and later became The Minories, an art gallery.

Answer: 1884

The 1884 earthquake was said to be the most destructive earthquake for 400 years. It lasted around 20 seconds, and houses were affected even in Ipswich. Almost every building in Wivenhoe and Abberton was damaged.

Answer: Jumbo

The Jumbo Water Tower was actually named after a circus elephant. The viewing platform in the tower takes 157 steps to reach the top, but seeing as you would be 116 feet above the ground, the view should be worth it. Over one million bricks were used in its construction.

Source: Author GreenGal

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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