Talking Shrop Trivia Quiz

Answer: The Norman French couldn't pronounce the local name.

Given that Shropshire was known in Norman times as "Scrobsbyrigscire" this is quite understandable. The name meant "shire of the fort in the scrub" and Salop is said to be the Norman attempt to pronounce the "Scrob" part. The government tried to officially change the county's name to Salop in 1974, but as "salope" is indeed now a French word for a woman of ill-repute, the locals objected and the name Shropshire returned in 1980.

However, people from Shropshire such as myself, are still called Salopians.

Answer: Sheep

Shropshire sheep have a lean body, are good wool producers and rarely have any problems lambing. Lambing percentages range from 175% to 200% which I understand is very good. They were developed in Shropshire and neighbouring Staffordshire and were first imported into the US in Virginia in 1855.

Answer: Blue cheese

All of the other products are made in Shropshire. Hot air balloons are made in Oswestry including Richard Branson's, Willow pattern pottery was introduced into England at Coalport and Whitchurch does manufacture tower clocks such as the one for Salisbury Cathedral. It is blue cheese, however, which was first mass manufactured in Whitchurch.

Answer: T'Pau

They may have reached the top ten in the UK and US charts but the Shrop rockers had humble beginnings. At one of T'Pau's early gigs in Shropshire the club manager stopped the band mid-song to ask somebody to move their car. At another, they performed with a live pig which ran into the audience. As some people fled in panic lead singer Carol Decker called out "We get better!"

Answer: School Magazine

The earliest recorded school exams were taken by 130 pupils at Shrewsbury School in 1817 and included fun-filled one-and-a-half to two hour tests on English Theme, History, Geography, Algebra, Latin Verses, Greek Metres and Chorus and Religion. Prior to this, pupils were assessed by visiting dignitaries listening in on lessons.
Shrewsbury had started the earliest recorded school cross-country runs by 1831.
In 1840, the earliest recorded modern athletics meet was organised by the Royal Shrewsbury School Hunt on the site of the town's cattle-market. Involving foot-races and hurdling, it was followed by similar events at Eton, Woolwich and Kensington.
The earliest recorded school magazine, however, was written in Philadelphia, USA in the 1770s. Shrewsbury School's magazine was at one time edited by Monty Python's Michael Palin and four of its contributors founded the famous satirical magazine "Private Eye".

Answer: Ludlow

Ludlow was formerly better known for the Shakespearean festival held annually outside its splendid mediaeval castle and its black and white timbered houses.
Since the mid-nineties it has become a pilgrimage centre for foodies. Its specialist butchers, bakeries, cheese shops and its market selling fresh fruit, vegetables, fish and poultry has drawn top restaurateurs from London. At the time of writing, it has a greater proportion of Michelin-starred restaurants than anywhere in Europe. It also holds an annual Ludlow Marches Food and Drink Festival in September.

Answer: The White House

In 1814, Britain was fighting the USA in the so-called War of 1812. The Light Infantry, later part of the KSLI (King's Shropshire Light Infantry) were sent to America and led the forces which captured Washington and set fire to its public buildings. When the presidential house was refurbished it was painted white to hide the scorch marks and subsequently became known as the White House.
To any Americans doing this quiz, no hard feelings, eh?

Answer: Shrewsbury

The best known structure in Shropshire is undoubtably the world's first iron bridge opened in 1779, funnily enough at Ironbridge, a noted World Heritage Site.
Less well known is the 1797 Ditherington Flax Mill in Shrewsbury, the world's first building to use an iron rather than a timber frame. From 1886 to 1987 the building was used as a maltings. Since then, under private ownership, it has remained unoccupied and has become rather dilapidated. English Heritage, however, have promised that a place of such global significance will not be allowed to disintegrate further.

Answer: Plastics

Royalty often pass through the village of Shawbury on their way to the airfield at RAF Shawbury. This was where the first Brtish plane to fly around the world - the Aries - started and ended its journey.
It is also home to RAPRA, the Rubber and Plastics Research Association, the first organisation of its kind in the world. It does research work for other companies and has data on over 25,000 different plastics and rubbers.

Answer: Ellesmere

Ellesmere Island in the Canadian Arctic is the tenth largest island in the world (not counting the continent of Australia) and it contains Alert, the world's most northerly settlement. The island was discovered by William Baffin in 1616 but not named until 1852. It was named after Francis Egerton, the first Earl of Ellesmere.
His title came from a pleasant Shropshire market town which is the centre of the county's "Lake District".
Thanks for playing this tricky quiz on one of England's least known counties and if you've taken any of it in you probably know more than most of the locals!