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History of Swindon Trivia Quiz

This quiz is about my old home town. If you live there or have anything to do with the town, I hope you find it interesting!

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

Author
philipgrae

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
336,655

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
310

Last 3 plays: Guest 86 (6/10), Guest 86 (7/10), Guest 148 (1/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. A little pub in Swindon's Albert Street has a strange name - the Roaring Donkey, which for very many years was actually only its nickname. What was its real name at that time? Hint

The Old Town Tavern

The Queens Head

The Rising Sun

The Royal Albert

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Question 2 of 10

2. Albert Street is in a small area called "Little London." What was this area known for in the 1800's? Hint

A red light district

A religious meeting place

A market

A fair

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Question 3 of 10

3. On December 19th 1933, G. J. Churchward, the retired Chief Engineer of the GWR works, and the designer of some of its finest locomotives, died. How? Hint

Commited suicide

Influenza

He was run over by a train

Old Age (he was 76)

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Question 4 of 10

4. On June 1st 1906 there was an accident at the bottom of Victoria Hill involving a form of public transport that killed five people. What was the vehicle involved? Hint

A bus

A tram

A coach

A taxi

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Question 5 of 10

5. Which of these streets is not named after an old Swindon landowning family? Hint

Rolleston Street

Goddard Avenue

Villett Street

Gooch Street

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Question 6 of 10

6. What team did Swindon Town beat 3-1 to win the 1969 League Cup? Hint

Tottenham Hotspur

Leeds United

West Ham

Arsenal

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Question 7 of 10

7. Built in 1972, The Magic Roundabout is a collection of ___ roundabouts? Hint

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Question 8 of 10

8. Which of these celebrities was not born in Swindon? Hint

Mark Lamarr

Diana Dors

Gilbert O'Sullivan

Billy Piper

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Question 9 of 10

9. The Swindon Old Town Station served passengers and freight from north to south. It also carried out another useful function. Hint

Release of homing pigeons

Speed trials for locomotives built at the GWR Railway Works

A direct route from Bristol to London

All of these

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Question 10 of 10

10. What was the name of the canal that once ran through Swindon? Hint

Great Western Canal

Kennet and Avon Canal

Wilts and Berks Canal

Thames and Avon Canal

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Most Recent Scores

Apr 18 2024 : Guest 86: 6/10
Mar 31 2024 : Guest 86: 7/10
Mar 27 2024 : Guest 148: 1/10
Mar 14 2024 : Guest 2: 7/10
Mar 02 2024 : Guest 185: 6/10
Mar 02 2024 : Guest 5: 3/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. A little pub in Swindon's Albert Street has a strange name - the Roaring Donkey, which for very many years was actually only its nickname. What was its real name at that time?

Answer: The Rising Sun

Nobody seems to know where the name came from - some say it's because of the roaring drunks that frequented it! Not now though - it's a lovely little pub.

2. Albert Street is in a small area called "Little London." What was this area known for in the 1800's?

Answer: A red light district

In its day, it was said that in Little London "any vice may be witnessed or indulged in." Changed quite a bit now, though!

3. On December 19th 1933, G. J. Churchward, the retired Chief Engineer of the GWR works, and the designer of some of its finest locomotives, died. How?

Answer: He was run over by a train

Churchward never married, and when others pulled his leg about his bachelor status, he once replied "A lot of you are big men - important men; and doing big jobs where what you say goes. But what are you when you get home? Worms, bloody worms!"

4. On June 1st 1906 there was an accident at the bottom of Victoria Hill involving a form of public transport that killed five people. What was the vehicle involved?

Answer: A tram

It was a rainy day and the tram was filled to capacity. On its way down the hill, the brakes failed and it skipped the points at the bottom and collided with a horse drawn vehicle. Four people were killed immediately, and a fifth died later in hospital. I don't know what happened to the horse.

5. Which of these streets is not named after an old Swindon landowning family?

Answer: Gooch Street

Recruited by Brunel himself, Daniel Gooch was appointed at the remarkably young age of 21 as the Superintendent of Locomotive Engines for the GWR. He later became Chairman of the whole company and a local Member of Parliament. Gooch was one of the builders of the first Transatlantic Telephone Cable, for which he was awarded a knighthood.

He is remembered in the name of a Swindon pub - the "Sir Dan"

6. What team did Swindon Town beat 3-1 to win the 1969 League Cup?

Answer: Arsenal

A fantastic match in which Swindon's Roger Smart scored their first goal, later equalised by Arsenal's Bobby Gould in the 86th minute. This led to extra time when Don Rogers scored two more to seal Arsenal's defeat. I know, 'cos I was there!

7. Built in 1972, The Magic Roundabout is a collection of ___ roundabouts?

Answer: 6

The infamous magic Roundabout is a collection of 5 mini-roundabouts around a larger central one (hence the correct answer being 6). In 2005 a BBC report quoted a survey calling it one of the "10 Scariest Junctions in the United Kingdom". However, thanks to its safety record and unique design it is considered one of the urban wonders of the world in the city roads and streets category.

8. Which of these celebrities was not born in Swindon?

Answer: Gilbert O'Sullivan

Gilbert O'Sullivan was born in Waterford, Ireland and his family moved to Swindon when he was about 14.

9. The Swindon Old Town Station served passengers and freight from north to south. It also carried out another useful function.

Answer: Release of homing pigeons

The station was a major centre for releasing homing pigeons from the Midlands and as far north as Manchester.

10. What was the name of the canal that once ran through Swindon?

Answer: Wilts and Berks Canal

The old Wilts & Berks canal went through Swindon where Canal Walk and Fleming Way are now. There are still several surviving bridges over it. It opened in 1819 and was pretty much closed by 1900.

Source: Author philipgrae

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