Living North's Big Christmas Quiz: For The North East

1. Henry II established Novum Castellum – where?
a. Middlesbrough
b. Newcastle
c. Durham

2. When was construction of Hadrian’s Wall begun?
a. 72 AD
b. 89 AD
c. 122 AD

3. In 1346, which battle took place near Durham?
a. The Battle of Percy’s Cloak
b. The Battle of Neville’s Cross
c. The Battle of Thomas’s Staff

4. What does ‘pons’ mean in the Roman fort Pons Aelius near Newcastle? 

1. Born in Northumberland in the 16th century, William Turner was known by what impressive title?
a. The Father of English Industry
b. The Father of English Botany
c. The Father of English Literature

2. Born in Newcastle, who wrote the screenplay for Billy Elliot?
a. Mike Noon
b. Lee Hall
c. Kevin Simms

3. Which Teesside multi-selling author’s debut novel was Playing Away, published in 2000? 

4. Born on 20 June 1906, which North East novelist has sold over 100 million books?

5. Teessider campaigner Ann Ming is best known for her role in advocating changes in the UK to which two-letter ‘law’?

1. Famed in Sunderland and surrounding areas, what is Panackelty?
a. Slow-cooked casserole
b. Deep-filled, crusty meat pie
c. A speciality fried breakfast eaten only on Sundays

2. What colour is the star on Newcastle Brown Ale’s logo?
a. Red
b. Black
c. Blue

3. Yorkshire and Northumberland are famous for grouse – which day in August marks the beginning of the grouse shooting season?

4. How many yellow squares comprise the Greggs logo?

1. Alan Shearer scored over 100 goals for each of which two northern football clubs?
a. Burnley and Liverpool
b. Bolton and Manchester United
c. Blackburn and Newcastle

2. From 1997–2025, how was the main rugby union team in Newcastle known?
a. Falcons
b. Merlins
c. Eagles

3. Which Northumberland-born fast bowler topped the world rankings in 2004?

4. Which snooker player is nicknamed ‘The Tyneside Terror’? 

5. Who managed Sunderland FC from 2015–2016? 

1. Both born in the Newcastle area, Jade Thirwall and Perrie Edwards are two thirds of which pop group? 

2. Which male singer, born in the North East, won the sixth series of The X Factor? 

3. Who released the 1985 cover song ‘Love Don’t Live Here Anymore’? 

4. ‘Lady Eleanor’ was released in 1971 by which band? 

5. ‘Ocean Drive’ is a 1995 single by which act? 

6. In the title of a 1989 Chris Rea hit single, where was the road going? 

1. According to the Northumberland Wildlife Trust, which animal ‘has a bad reputation, but it mostly lives side-by-side with us without any problems’?
a. Common fly
b. Brown rat
c. Weasel

2. Which of these is a plant found mainly in Northumberland and Cumbria?
a. Northern Eagle’s-whisker
b. Northern Hawk’s-beard
c. Northern Falcon’s-stubble

3. In a list of all English regions in average farm size (in hectares), where does the region come – 1st, 2nd or 3rd?

1. What is a ‘heugh’?
a. A waterfall with two main cascades
b. A steep cliff or crag
c. A rugged stretch of sandy coastline

2. Scientists believe that Kielder Forest is home to about 50 percent of the remaining species of which animal?

3. Which notable 21-metre waterfall is in between Langdon Beck and Bowlees in County Durham?