Good Luck!

Answers here

1. In 1982/3 an episode of Anglia TV’s Tales of the Unexpected featuring Peter Cussing was filmed at which location? (a) Oxburgh Hall, (b) Barton Bendish Hall, (c) West Dereham Abbey.
2. In what year did the Stoke Ferry Railway Station close completely to traffic? (a) 1946, (b) 1965, (c) 1983.
3. In what year was the first Sugar Factory built at Wissington? (a) 1918, (b)1925, (c) 1932.
4. What is the area around the church in Stoke Ferry known as? (a) Friday Market Place, (b) The Hill, (c) Market Square.
5. What is one possible reason for Whittington being named Whittington? (a) ‘After the ‘white’ limestone that was quarried there, (b) It was the birthplace of Dick Wittington, (c) The residents are witty.
6. What was the name of the pub on the corner of Low Road and Church Road, Wretton? (a) The Cock, (b) The Red Lion, (c) The White Hart.
7. In what year did the Downham-Stoke Ferry Company’s railway line first operate? (a) 1872, (b) 1882, (c) 1892.
8. In what year did the A134 By-pass officially open to the public? (a) 1985, (b) 1989, (c) 1992.
9. Who was the late-Victorian benefactor of Boughton village? (a) Richard Branson, (b) Richard Harwin, (c) Sir Henry Bedingfeld.
10. When was the pond at Wereham created? (a) c1899, (b) c1913, (c) c1924.
11. By what name is the village pond in Wereham known locally? (a) The Pit, (b) The Duck Pond, (c) Otter’s Holt.
12. Toll Roads radiating from the inland port of Stoke Ferry connected large private estates in which areas? (a) Barton Bendish, Oxborough, Cockley Cley, Weeting, (b) Barton Bendish, Oxborough, Cockley Cley, Wereham, (c) Barton Bendish, Oxborough, Wretton, Weeting.
13. In 1275, why were local villagers in dispute with the Prior of Shouldham? (a) Increased ferry charges, (b) High Taxes, (c) The Prior burnt a local witch.
14. In 1832 what was the toll paid at Stoke Ferry Turnpike for 20 lambs? (a) There was no toll for lambs, (b) A toll not exceeding £1, (c) A toll not exceeding 8 pence.
15. The new housing development in Whittington is called Whittington Mill. But what process originally took place there? (a) Grinding Corn, (b) Malting, (c) An iron works.
16. What kind of stream is the River Wissey? (a) A Fen Stream, (b) A Soda Stream, (c) A Chalk Stream.
17. Why is Chequers Road in Wretton so called? (a) Because of the road markings, (b) It is an old word for bridleway, (c) After an inn named The Chequers.
18. How many churches were built in Barton Bendish? (a) 1, (b) 2, (c) 3.
19. Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees filmed in which local village in 1984? (a) Wretton, (b) West Dereham, (c) Boughton.
20. When was Oxburgh Hall built? c.1233, c.1482, c.1588.
21. The Wissey was once navigable from Oxburgh Hythe to King’s Lynn. (a) True (b) False.
22. There was once a school on Old Methwold Road, Whittington? (a) True (b) False.
23. In what year did the original Bradfield School open for free to boys and girls from Stoke Ferry & Wretton? (a) 1745, (b) 1799, (c) 1819.
24. What is the name of Wereham’s Parish Church? (a) All Saints, (b) St Margaret’s of Antioch, (c) St Andrew of the Cross.
25. Stoke Ferry was given its Charter to hold a market on The Hill in 1239. Who was the monarch in that year? (a) Henry III, (b) Henry XIII, (c) Elizabeth I.
26. In what year was Stoke Ferry’s stone bridge across the Wissey demolished? (a) 1899, (b) 1923, (c) 1942.
27. The original Bull Public House in Stoke Ferry burned down in which year? (a) 1922, (b) 1930 (c) 1955.
28. What kind of design is Wereham’s new Village Hall? (a) Eco-Friendly, (b) Passive House, (c) Passivhaus.
29. Which of the following is a Lane in Wereham? (a) Fore Lane, (b) Back Lane, (c) The Row Lane.
30. Wereham’s only pub was recently up for sale. What is its name? (a) George & Dragon, (b) The Nag’s Head, (c) The Crown.
31. Which of the following is NOT in Barton Bendish? (a) Barton Bendish Hall, (b) Avenue Farm, (c) Holly House, (d) Barton Bendish Priory.
32. Which of the following was NOT an old business on Stoke Ferry’s High Street? (a) Smith & Wesley, (b) Barclays Bank, (c) Johnson’s Corner Shop, (d) Self’s Stores.
33. What is the name of Oxborough’s pub-hotel? (a) The Bedingfeld (b) The Bedingfeld Arms, (c) The Bedingfield Arms, (d) The Bedingfield Hotel.
34. When was the New Cut completed? (a) 1935, (b) 1948, (c) 1964.
35. How many Methodist Chapel buildings remain in Stoke Ferry? (a) 1, (b) 2, (c) 3.
36. What was the name of the seal that lived in Wereham’s village pond? (a) Sammy, (b) Billy, (c) Curtis.

Local History Quiz – ANSWERS

1. (a) Oxburgh Hall.
2. (b) 1965.
3. (b) 1925.
4. (b) The Hill.
5. (a) After the ‘white’ limestone that was quarried there.
6. (b) The Red Lion.
7. (b) 1882.
8. (a) 1985.
9. (b) Richard Harwin, who made his money in colonial South Africa.
10. (b) c1913.
11. (a) The Pit.
12. (a) Estates of Sir Berney, Sir Bedingfeld, John Daswood, Earl Mountrath respectively.
13. (a) Increased ferry charges. Villagers built a bridge which the Prior took down until a local court ordered him to have it rebuilt.
14. (c) A toll not exceeding 8 pence.
15. (b) Malting.
16. (c) Chalk Stream, i.e., a river that rises from a spring in a landscape with chalk bedrock.
17. (c) After an inn named The Chequers Public House (closed c1937).
18. (b) Two. St Andrew’s, and St Mary’s (St Mary’s is now in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust).
19. (a) Wretton.
20. (b) c1482.
21. (a) True.
22. (b) False. The Voluntary Aided School was on Church Lane, Whittington. It was built in 1844 as a Wesleyan Chapel and became a school c1875. It closed in 1966 and converted to a house in 1972.
23. (c) 1819.
24. (b) St Margaret’s of Antioch; the patron saint of pregnant women and servant maids.
25. (a) Henry III.
26. (a) 1899; as it was not suitable for steam-powered traction engines.
27. (b)1930.
28. (c) Passivhaus; it provides a high level of comfort while using very little energy.
29. (b) Back Lane.
30. (a) George & Dragon; the other pubs mentioned have been lost.
31. (d) Barton Bendish Priory.
32. (d) Self’s Stores. This was on Lynn Road, Stoke Ferry.
33. (b) The Bedingfeld Arms.
34. (c) 1964.
35. (b) Two churches. One on The High Street and the second on Furlong Road. An earlier one on Wretton Road was demolished.
36. (b) Billy; do look up The Village Pet (1931) on YouTube.

How did you score?

18 or less correct. Maybe you should join the Stoke Ferry & District History Group?

18-24 correct. You should definitely join the Stoke Ferry & District History Group!

25-36 correct. You should present a local history talk!