Rivers of Britain Trivia Quiz

Answer: Mersey

The River Mersey flows between Stockport in Greater Manchester and Liverpool, although the river course sometimes joins that of the Manchester Ship Canal. In the 1960s, Gerry and the Pacemakers released the song "Ferry Cross the Mersey", which reached number six in the USA charts, and number eight in the UK.

Answer: Nene

The River Nene is the main link between England's canal system and the waterways of the Fenlands, via the Northampton arm of The Grand Union Canal. Noteworthy places along the river include Hardwater Mill, where Thomas a Becket hid in 1164 after escaping from Northampton Castle.

Answer: Taff

The River Taff is the name given to the river after the confluence of the Taf Fechan (Little Taff) and the Taf Fawr (Big Taff). The city of Cardiff probably derives its name from the castle (Caer) and the river (Dyf being a form of Taff), the whole thing meaning 'fort on the Taff'.

Answer: Tamar

The River Tamar gets its name from a prehistoric word meaning 'dark flowing'; a similar meaning to the name of the River Thames. Traditional Cornish folklore says that the devil would never cross the River Tamar for fear of being baked in a pasty.

Answer: Tay

The River Tay is Scotland's second longest river. A bridge was built across the Firth of Tay in 1878 to carry the main railway line from Aberdeen to Edinburgh. It collapsed in 1879 when a train was crossing, resulting in the death of all 75 people on board.

Answer: Fleet

The River Fleet gives its name to Fleet Street, which was once the home of nearly all the major English newspapers, although they have since moved to more modern facilities across a wider area. The river is now nearly all underground, but there has been talk of bringing parts of it back to the surface as a tourist attraction.

Answer: Ure

The River Ure runs through Wensleydale, before joining with the River Swale to become the River Ouse. As well as being renowned for its cheese, there is also a breed of sheep known as Wensleydale. Wensleydale is one of the few Yorkshire Dales not named after the river running through it.

Answer: Medway

The River Medway is the traditional dividing line between East and West Kent; those born to the east of the river are 'Men (or Maids) of Kent', and those born to the west 'Kentish Men (Maids)'. This division relates to the two dioceses of Rochester and Canterbury, which have been in existence since 604 AD.

The Medway towns have a long connection with the military and the Royal Navy; Nelson's HMS Victory was built here.

Answer: Tees

The River Tees forms part of the border between the former counties of North Yorkshire and Durham. There is enormous contrast between the moorland scenery of the headwaters and the industrial backdrop of its final few miles to the sea. The Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge is a listed monument, but still in use in the 21st century.

It carries cars and passengers across the river in a gondola suspended by cables from a supporting framework.

Answer: Avon

The name of the River Avon is derived from the Celtic British 'Abona', meaning 'river', which is also found in the Scottish and Welsh 'Aber', and the modern Welsh 'Afon'. The River Avon which runs through Stratford rises in Northamptonshire, and joins the River Severn at Tewkesbury.

Other River Avons can be found in Devon, Hampshire, Bristol, Falkirk, and Strathspey, as well as those in Wales (River Afon), Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.