Rivers of England Trivia Quiz

Answer: Hexham

The 73 mile long River Tyne also flows through Wylam and Corbridge before reaching Newcastle, shortly afterwards joining the North Sea (logically enough) at Tynemouth.

Answer: North Sea

The Thames is the longest river that flows entirely through England (the Severn is longer, but has its source in Wales). It flows into the North Sea near the resort of Southend-on-Sea, some 215 miles from its source in Gloucestershire.

Answer: Lancashire and Cheshire

The name Mersey is believed to come from the Anglo-Saxon "Mǽres-ça", meaning "border river", although the border in those days would have between the ancient Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of Mercia and Northumbria. The 70 mile long River Mersey rises near Stockport in Manchester, and enters the sea at Liverpool.

Answer: Avon

Hopefully, the last of the three options was sufficient to indicate the correct answer, Stratford-upon-Avon being fairly well known as the birthplace of William Shakespeare. Associating a town with the name of the river on which it stands enables it to be distinguished from other places with the same name, such as other Stratfords in East London and Gloucestershire.

Answer: Severn

The Ironbridge Gorge was originally known as the Severn Gorge, but now takes its name from the famous Iron Bridge built in 1779 by Abraham Darby III. The river was particularly important because its width and depth enabled easy transportation of the products of the early industries in the area (such as pottery, porcelain and iron) both to other parts of the UK and (via the sea) to the rest of the world.

Answer: Medway

Those who live to the west or north of the River Medway are traditionally called "Kentish Men" (or Maids), whereas the rather larger numbers who live to the south or east are known as "Men (or Maids) of Kent".

Answer: Wensleydale

The Ure is the only major Dales river that does not give its name to the Dale through which it flows. The other options take their names from the Rivers Swale, Nidd and Wharfe, whereas Wensley itself is just a small village on the River Ure. Proper Wensleydale cheese is made in the local town of Hawes.

Answer: Transporter Bridge

The Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge is one of the industrial wonders of the North of England. Built in 1911, it transports up to 9 cars or 200 pedestrians across the River Tees in a gondola suspended from the bridgework. There is another good example in Newport, South Wales, crossing the River Usk.

Answer: Don

The River Rother gives its name to Rotherham, and the Sheaf to Sheffield, but the Don is the only one that flows through all of these towns. The River Penny doesn't exist (at least, not in Yorkshire).

Answer: Wellington boots; it is a tidal bore

The funnel-shaped mouth of the River Trent helps to create the Aegir, which occurs when a high spring tide forces the downstream flow of the river back upstream in the form of a large wave, which can cause flooding (hence the need for boots!) The name comes from the Norse God of the ocean. There is another tidal bore on the River Severn, formed in a similar way.