Test Your Knowledge: November 2022

This month’s quiz titled London around the world… and beyond. As before the correct answer will turn green when it’s clicked upon and expanded to give more information. The incorrect answers will turn red giving the correct explanation.

1. 1 As a former colonial power, the name of our capital has been foisted on settlements around the world, but how many?
19
WRONG There are a total of 18 Londons in the United States, two in Alabama, and two in Ohio, you can also find London in: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Canada has a London in the province of Ontario, the second largest London in the world (after, of course, ours). The main settlement on Christmas Island (AKA Kiritimati) in Kiribati (an island nation in the Pacific Ocean) is called London. There are five Londons in the African continent: one in Equatorial Guinea, three in South Africa and one in Nigeria. South Africa also has a city called East London. There is also a London Island in Chile, a London in Belize and, slightly closer to home, a London in Finland. In total 29.
29
CORRECT There are a total of 18 Londons in the United States, two in Alabama, and two in Ohio, you can also find London in: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Canada has a London in the province of Ontario, the second largest London in the world (after, of course, ours). The main settlement on Christmas Island (AKA Kiritimati) in Kiribati (an island nation in the Pacific Ocean) is called London. There are five Londons in the African continent: one in Equatorial Guinea, three in South Africa and one in Nigeria. South Africa also has a city called East London. There is also a London Island in Chile, a London in Belize and, slightly closer to home, a London in Finland. In total 29.
39
WRONG There are a total of 18 Londons in the United States, two in Alabama, and two in Ohio, you can also find London in: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Canada has a London in the province of Ontario, the second largest London in the world (after, of course, ours). The main settlement on Christmas Island (AKA Kiritimati) in Kiribati (an island nation in the Pacific Ocean) is called London. There are five Londons in the African continent: one in Equatorial Guinea, three in South Africa and one in Nigeria. South Africa also has a city called East London. There is also a London Island in Chile, a London in Belize and, slightly closer to home, a London in Finland. In total 29.
2. In which American state can you find much of the previous London Bridge, which was shipped over to the States in the late 1960s?
Arkansas
WRONG What Londoners may not know is that they needn’t travel 5,400 miles to Arizona to keep an eye on their erstwhile icon. Thanks to a 2r hour webcam, you can watch cars whizz over the bridge (not many red double-deckers, alas) while boats navigate through its arches — from the comfort of your London home.
Arizona
CORRECT What Londoners may not know is that they needn’t travel 5,400 miles to Arizona to keep an eye on their erstwhile icon. Thanks to a 2r hour webcam, you can watch cars whizz over the bridge (not many red double-deckers, alas) while boats navigate through its arches — from the comfort of your London home.
Alabama
WRONG What Londoners may not know is that they needn’t travel 5,400 miles to Arizona to keep an eye on their erstwhile icon. Thanks to a 2r hour webcam, you can watch cars whizz over the bridge (not many red double-deckers, alas) while boats navigate through its arches — from the comfort of your London home.
3. The Battle of Porto Bello in 1739 is commemorated in Notting Hill’s Portobello Road. But in which present-day country did the battle take place?
Panama
CORRECT The capture of Puerto Bello was part of a campaign known as ‘The War of Jenkins’ Ear’, fought against Spain in the West Indian colonies. When merchant sea captain Robert Jenkins had his ear cut off by a Spanish officer at Havana in 1731 it led to calls in Parliament for war with Spain. Captain Edward Vernon claimed he could take the Spanish town of Porto Bello on the north side of the Isthmus of Darien between Columbia and Panama – with only six ships of the line, this he duly achieved on 22 November 1739.
Portugal
WRONG The capture of Puerto Bello was part of a campaign known as ‘The War of Jenkins’ Ear’, fought against Spain in the West Indian colonies. When merchant sea captain Robert Jenkins had his ear cut off by a Spanish officer at Havana in 1731 it led to calls in Parliament for war with Spain. Captain Edward Vernon claimed he could take the Spanish town of Porto Bello on the north side of the Isthmus of Darien between Columbia and Panama – with only six ships of the line, this he duly achieved on 22 November 1739.
Paraguay
WRONG The capture of Puerto Bello was part of a campaign known as ‘The War of Jenkins’ Ear’, fought against Spain in the West Indian colonies. When merchant sea captain Robert Jenkins had his ear cut off by a Spanish officer at Havana in 1731 it led to calls in Parliament for war with Spain. Captain Edward Vernon claimed he could take the Spanish town of Porto Bello on the north side of the Isthmus of Darien between Columbia and Panama – with only six ships of the line, this he duly achieved on 22 November 1739.
4. Severndroog Castle is a famous folly on Shooter’s Hill and takes its name from an island fortress in which country?
India
CORRECT Its name is taken from an island fortress in India captured by Commodore Sir William James in 1755. While commonly referred to as a castle due to its turrets, it was built as a folly, as can be discerned by its small size and because it has never functioned as a castle.
Indonesia
WRONG Its name is taken from an island fortress in India captured by Commodore Sir William James in 1755. While commonly referred to as a castle due to its turrets, it was built as a folly, as can be discerned by its small size and because it has never functioned as a castle.
Iraq
WRONG Its name is taken from an island fortress in India captured by Commodore Sir William James in 1755. While commonly referred to as a castle due to its turrets, it was built as a folly, as can be discerned by its small size and because it has never functioned as a castle.
5. In which American state would you find the Thames River, which flows 15 miles from Norwich to New London?
Connecticut
CORRECT The Thames River a short river in Connecticut flows for 15 miles from Norwich to New London.
California
WRONG The Thames River a short river in Connecticut flows for 15 miles from Norwich to New London.
Colorado
WRONG The Thames River a short river in Connecticut flows for 15 miles from Norwich to New London.
6. The Memorial to Paddy the Wanderer, in Wellington, New Zealand is a drinking fountain for dogs. It’s built from stones salvaged from which London landmark?
Old Euston Station
WRONG Paddy The Wanderer was an Airedale Terrier who wandered the streets during the Great Depression. He was the beloved pet of a 13-year-old and took to wandering the wharf after his young owner died of pneumonia. Paddy soon became a familiar face as dockers, sailors and taxi drivers kept him well-fed and even turn took turns paying for his annual dog license. When he died of old age in 1939, hundreds of people mourned the loss of their local celebrity as a funeral procession of black taxi cabs accompanied his body across town. In 1945, enough donations were raised to erect a memorial fountain for humans and dogs alike in his honour, using material from old Waterloo Bridge.
Old Waterloo Bridge
CORRECT Paddy The Wanderer was an Airedale Terrier who wandered the streets during the Great Depression. He was the beloved pet of a 13-year-old and took to wandering the wharf after his young owner died of pneumonia. Paddy soon became a familiar face as dockers, sailors and taxi drivers kept him well-fed and even turn took turns paying for his annual dog license. When he died of old age in 1939, hundreds of people mourned the loss of their local celebrity as a funeral procession of black taxi cabs accompanied his body across town. In 1945, enough donations were raised to erect a memorial fountain for humans and dogs alike in his honour, using material from old Waterloo Bridge.
Old Wembley Stadium
WRONG Paddy The Wanderer was an Airedale Terrier who wandered the streets during the Great Depression. He was the beloved pet of a 13-year-old and took to wandering the wharf after his young owner died of pneumonia. Paddy soon became a familiar face as dockers, sailors and taxi drivers kept him well-fed and even turn took turns paying for his annual dog license. When he died of old age in 1939, hundreds of people mourned the loss of their local celebrity as a funeral procession of black taxi cabs accompanied his body across town. In 1945, enough donations were raised to erect a memorial fountain for humans and dogs alike in his honour, using material from old Waterloo Bridge.
7. St. Paul’s Chapel in present-day Manhattan is a direct architectural copy of which famous London church?
St. Paul’s Cathedral
WRONG St. Paul’s Chapel is Manhattan’s oldest public building still in use and is considered the closest replica to St. Martin’s in the Fields, it was designed in 1764 by Thomas McBean, a student of James Gibbs who created St. Martin’s in the Fields, it has the combination that is the signature feature of many New England churches, a monumental portico and an elegant steeple.
St. Clement Danes
WRONG St. Paul’s Chapel is Manhattan’s oldest public building still in use and is considered the closest replica to St. Martin’s in the Fields, it was designed in 1764 by Thomas McBean, a student of James Gibbs who created St. Martin’s in the Fields, it has the combination that is the signature feature of many New England churches, a monumental portico and an elegant steeple.
St. Martin’s in the Fields
CORRECT St. Paul’s Chapel is Manhattan’s oldest public building still in use and is considered the closest replica to St. Martin’s in the Fields, it was designed in 1764 by Thomas McBean, a student of James Gibbs who created St. Martin’s in the Fields, it has the combination that is the signature feature of many New England churches, a monumental portico and an elegant steeple.
8. What was the first biscuit consumed on the moon?
Garibaldi
WRONG Although all these biscuits were invented in Peek Freans’ Bermondsey factory (some dispute this), the bourbon stands as being the very first biscuit to be consumed on the moon by Edwin Aldrin in 1969. The Bourbon biscuit is the 5th most popular biscuit in the United Kingdom selling £80 million, certainly not crumbs.
Custard cream
WRONG Although all these biscuits were invented in Peek Freans’ Bermondsey factory (some dispute this), the bourbon stands as being the very first biscuit to be consumed on the moon by Edwin Aldrin in 1969. The Bourbon biscuit is the 5th most popular biscuit in the United Kingdom selling £80 million, certainly not crumbs.
Bourbon
CORRECT Although all these biscuits were invented in Peek Freans’ Bermondsey factory (some dispute this), the bourbon stands as being the very first biscuit to be consumed on the moon by Edwin Aldrin in 1969. The Bourbon biscuit is the 5th most popular biscuit in the United Kingdom selling £80 million, certainly not crumbs.
9. The prelate of the Vatican wears coloured vestments each signifying the wearer’s position in the church or marking the religious point in the calendar. Which colour was invented in London?
Purple
CORRECT Purple once a rare dye due to its cost, is worn by bishops symbolizing penance, humility and sorrow for Jesus’ suffering. An economical purple was accidentally made by 18-year-old William Perkin at his East End home.
Red
WRONG Purple once a rare dye due to its cost, is worn by bishops symbolizing penance, humility and sorrow for Jesus’ suffering. An economical purple was accidentally made by 18-year-old William Perkin at his East End home.
Green
WRONG Purple once a rare dye due to its cost, is worn by bishops symbolizing penance, humility and sorrow for Jesus’ suffering. An economical purple was accidentally made by 18-year-old William Perkin at his East End home.
10. At Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri can be found a memorial dedicated to Winston Churchill. What forms its centrepiece?
Crosby Hall
WRONG Destroyed on 13th December 1940 by German bombs, St. Mary Aldermanbury’s 7,000 stones were, in the 1960s, relocated on the other side of the Atlantic. The stones had been jumbled and it took a day to locate the first two stones, and a decade to build. Crosby Hall was relocated to Chelsea from The City, while Temple Bar went from Fleet Street to Cheshunt returning to Paternoster Square near St. Paul’s.
St. Mary Aldermanbury
CORRECT Destroyed on 13th December 1940 by German bombs, St. Mary Aldermanbury’s 7,000 stones were, in the 1960s, relocated on the other side of the Atlantic. The stones had been jumbled and it took a day to locate the first two stones, and a decade to build. Crosby Hall was relocated to Chelsea from The City, while Temple Bar went from Fleet Street to Cheshunt returning to Paternoster Square near St. Paul’s.
Temple Bar
WRONG Destroyed on 13th December 1940 by German bombs, St. Mary Aldermanbury’s 7,000 stones were, in the 1960s, relocated on the other side of the Atlantic. The stones had been jumbled and it took a day to locate the first two stones, and a decade to build. Crosby Hall was relocated to Chelsea from The City, while Temple Bar went from Fleet Street to Cheshunt returning to Paternoster Square near St. Paul’s.

Khan’s critics

Sadiq Khan has recently announced that there have been 230,000 racist tweets directed at him. Two questions arise from that disclosure: why would nearly a quarter of a million think the mayor deserves a tweet about his ethnicity when there’s plenty to criticise on his ability to run London? And is he employing staff, at our expense, to supply him with statistics about nasty things said about London’s most useless leader?

Johnson’s London Dictionary: River Thames

RIVER THAMES (n.) Watercourse meandering through London once called ‘liquid history’, today ‘liquid wet wipes’ doth describe this morass of rubbish.

Dr. Johnson’s London Dictionary for publick consumption in the twenty-first century avail yourself on Twitter @JohnsonsLondon

The London Grill: Jane Northcote

We challenge our contributors to reply to ten devilishly probing questions about their London and we don’t take “Sorry Gov” for an answer. Everyone sitting in the hot seat they will face the same questions ranging from their favourite way to spend a day out in the capital to their most hated building on London’s skyline to find out what Londoners think about their city. The questions are the same but the answers vary wildly.

Jane Northcote (JaneSketching.com) is an urban sketcher and printmaker based in the City of London. She sketches in pen and ink and watercolour. She aims to show the changing city: new and old structures together, the often surprising juxtapositions that result from patchwork planning decisions and historical changes of use. Drawing a building is a good way to notice it. Jane’s drawings take about 1-2 hours, done mostly on location. Looking at a building for that length of time reveals architectural details and odd quirks of design, which enriches the experience of the city. Image above shows The Globe Moorgate, sketched 29 August 2022, details can be found here.

What’s your secret London tip?

It’s often quicker to walk. Look at a street map, not the Tube Map. For example, St Pauls to the Barbican is a 5 min straightforward walk north, but a complicated and lengthy Tube journey. It looks a long way on the Tube Map, but the two locations are really close.

What’s your secret London place?

Cleary Gardens off Queen Victoria Street. This garden is almost invisible from the street, it looks built up. But go inside and you find a terraced garden, sheltered by vines and trees, with benches. A lovely quiet sanctuary in the City.

What’s your biggest gripe about London?

The air quality. Cars running their engines when stationary. People leaving rubbish, especially takeaway food containers, in public places. Often they stack them neatly, or line up the discarded cans, as though that makes it better! Bicycles jumping the lights. I am a cyclist. A minority of cyclists zip through red lights and onto pavements, often at unexpected angles. This scares pedestrians and irritates motor vehicle drivers. As well as this being unbelievably dangerous, these selfish miscreants give all cyclists a bad name, and drivers get angry at all of us. I’m in favour of bike registration, as in the Netherlands.

What’s your favourite building?

The ruined church of St Mary Aldermanbury, North of the Guildhall in the City of London. The truncated columns of the church are still there, and the old walls are covered in moss. I like to imagine the church. Sometimes the best buildings are those of the imagination.

What’s your most hated building?

122 Bishopsgate. It’s huge, bland, and has a forbidding entrance at street level. Perhaps it’s nicer on the inside?

What’s the best view in London?

From the Millennium Bridge, early in the morning, looking east.

What’s your personal London landmark?

The Post Office Tower, now the BT Tower. It is often visible from the most surprising places. A sudden view of the BT Tower helps me orient myself.

What’s London’s best film, book or documentary?

There are many. My current favourite is the Slough House series by Mick Herron, starting with “Slow Horses”. He evokes the enormity and the detail of London.

What’s your favourite restaurant?

Am I allowed two? The Turks Head Wapping: a great restaurant, tables in amongst the trees. The Wren Café in St Nicholas Cole: wonderful views of stained glass windows inside, wonderful views of St Pauls outside.

How would you spend your ideal day off in London?

A walk up the river to the Turks Head, lunch outdoors under the trees, a walk back, sketching on the river foreshore, a stroll around exploring city lanes, tea at the Barbican lakeside.