Living North's Great North Quiz
Test your knowledge on the North East with this quiz for our 25th birthday
1. How tall is Penshaw Monument?
A. 70ft B. 55ft C. 62ft
2. In what year did the first Greggs store open?
A. 1965 B. 1960 C. 1951
3. How long in miles is Hadrian’s Wall?
A. 98 B. 82 C. 73
4. When it was first built in the 1950s, the Tyneside Pedestrian Tunnel had the longest single-rise escalators in the world. But how long were they?
A. 200ft B. 175ft C. 165ft
5. Where is Mr Bean actor Rowan Atkinson originally from?
A. Byker B. Alnwick C. Consett
6. Lead singer and Wallsend lad Gordon Sumner is more commonly known by another name, and was the front man for which band?
A. ACDC B. The Police C. Dire Straits
7. The smash hit detective series Vera is based on the books of which North East author?
A. LJ Ross B. Ann Cleeves C. Bob Mortimer
8. International rockstar Sam Fender famously turned his Brit Award into a hand pump at which pub?
A. The Low Lights Tavern B. The Gunner C. The North Star
9. In which year did Sunderland AFC move from Roker Park to the Stadium of Light?
A. 1996 B. 1997 C. 1998
10. The official Newcastle United emblem from 1969–1976 contained the city’s latin motto Fortiter Defendit Triumphans, but what does it mean?
A. Defending the land with bravery B. In triumph we stand C. Triumphing by brave defence
11. During the First World War hundreds of women’s football teams were formed across the country to raise money, including Blyth Spartans Ladies and their famous player Bella Reay. But how many goals did Wor Bella net over 30 matches?
A. 87 B. 109 C. 133
12. Dating back to 1834 (with its roots going back even further) Durham Regatta is the second oldest regatta in England, predating the famous Henley Royal Regatta by how many years?
A. 5 B. 1 C. 11
13. Fantasy author George RR Martin was partly inspired by which North East landmark when writing A Game of Thrones?
A. Bamburgh Castle B. Durham Cathedral C. Hadrian’s Wall
14. Harry Potter famously filmed scenes at Durham Cathedral, but what other blockbuster hit filmed at the iconic location?
A. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides B. Avengers: Endgame C. Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of The Crystal Skull
15. Which famous North East home was used to film scenes in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom?
A. Seaton Delaval Hall B. Cragside C. Raby Castle
16. Which famous author was a regular visitor to the North East and married the daughter of the then editor of the Evening Chronicle?
A. Thomas Hardy B. William Wordsworth C. Charles Dickens
1. What is the official name for this art installation, and where can you find it?
2. This world famous actor originally trained to be what in Newcastle?
3. What is the name of this naturally occurring cave that was transformed into a changing spot for swimmers, and where can you find it?
4. This energy drink was invented by a North East pharmacist in 1927, but what was his name?
5. This art installation by Fenwick Lawson depicts six monks on a sombre journey to Durham, but who are they carrying?
6. The North East is known for many classic regional dishes including Middlesbrough’s parmo. But who is purported to have first invented the beloved dish?
7. Which was the last Northern county to receive its own flag, and in what year did it get one?
Unscramble the letters to figure out the connection between these anagrams
1. ROB KEG VERY
2. REHIRED GOOSE
3. RAVE
4. HERB BUN
5. DRUDGING POEM HUNT
6. 55 HORNED EGRETS
7. ARTSY BOOT
Forget the stock market or the state of the pound, these are the figures that count – do you know them?
How many…
1. steps to the top of Penshaw Monument (if you’ve already made it to the base)?
2. runners take part in the Great North Run every year?
3. motors control The Bowes Museum’s silver swan?
4. cows did the Lambton Worm milk?
5. tons of steel were used in Stockton’s Infinity Bridge?
How well do you remember the last 25 years? Below is a list of events, each of which correspond to one of the last 25 years. We’ve completed this year for you – see if you can figure out the rest!
1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024
The Mouth of the Tyne Festival launches in Tynemouth.
A 3.00 magnitude earthquake hits Stockton.
Sarah Millican wins the best newcomer award at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards for her debut solo show.
The first pine marten is spotted in Kielder Forest.
The Tall Ships Races come to Hartlepool.
Sir Bobby Robson is appointed as manager of Newcastle United Football Club.
2024 - Living North celebrates its 25th anniversary!
Sam Fender releases his debut studio album, Hypersonic Missiles.
The Redcar Beacon opens to the public.
Middlesbrough Football Club win the EFL Cup.
The first episode of Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway airs on ITV.
An arctic walrus is spotted in Seahouses.
The now classic film, Billy Elliot is released starring a young Teesside actor called Jamie Bell in the title role.
The England Lionesses win the Euros with a distinctly Northern lineup.
The Bowes Museum hosts the Yves Saint Lauren: Style is Eternal exhibition, the first exhibition of the designer’s work in the UK and the most successful in the museum’s history up to that point.
Roy Keane becomes manager of Sunderland Association Football Club.
Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art (or MIMA) opens to the public.
The Gateshead Millennium Bridge tilts for the first time.
Stockton holds its first ever Pop-Up Pride.
The first Lumiere light festival takes place in Durham.
The first performance of Kynren - An Epic Tale of England wows crowds in Bishop Auckland.
Newcastle Falcons win their first Premiership 7s title.
Charles Jencks’ Northumberlandia (the Lady of the North) landscape sculpture in Cramlington opens to the public.
Skybolt 2, the largest rocket to blast off from the UK mainland, is launched from the back of a truck in Otterburn.
One Direction play the Stadium of Light.
Antony Gormley plastercasts 240 nude volunteers at the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead.
1. How tall is Penshaw Monument?
A. 70FT
2. In what year did the first Greggs open?
C. 1951
3. How long in miles is Hadrian’s Wall?
C. 73
4. When it was first built in the 1950s, the Tyneside Pedestrian Tunnel had the longest single-rise escalators in the world. But how long were they?
A. 200ft
5. Where is Mr Bean actor Rowan Atkinson originally from?
C. Consett
6. Lead singer and Wallsend lad Gordon Sumner is more commonly known by another name, and was the front man for which band?
B. The Police
7. The smash hit detective series Vera is based on the books of which North East author?
B. Ann Cleeves
8. International rockstar Sam Fender famously turned his Brit Award into a hand pump at which pub?
A. The Low Lights Tavern
9. In which year did Sunderland A.F.C move from Roker Park to the Stadium of Light?
B. 1997
10. The first official Newcastle United emblem (1969-1976) contained the city’s latin motto Fortiter Defendit Triumphans, but what does it mean?
C. Triumphing by brave defence.
11. During the First World War hundreds of women’s football teams were formed across the country to raise money, including Blyth Spartan’s Ladies and their famous player Bella Reay. But how many goals did Wor Bella net over 30 matches?
C. 133
12. Dating back to 1834 (with its roots going back even further) Durham Regatta is the second oldest regatta in England, predating the famous Henley Royal Regatta by how many years?
A. 5
13. Fantasy author George R. R. Martin was partly inspired by which North East landmark when writing A Game of Thrones?
C. Hadrian’s Wall
14. Harry Potter famously filmed scenes at Durham Cathedral, but what other blockbuster hit filmed at the iconic location?
B. Avengers: Endgame
15. Which famous North East home was used for scenes in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom?
B. Cragside
16. Which famous author was a regular visitor to the North East and married the daughter of the then editor of the Evening Chronicle?
C. Charles Dickens
Connection: TV series that were filmed in the North East.
1. ROB KEG VERY
Byker Grove
2. REHIRED GOOSE
Geordie Shore
3. RAVE
Vera
4. HERB BUN
Hebburn
5. DRUDGING POEM HUNT
The Dumping Ground
6. 55 HORNED EGRETS
55 Degrees North
7. ARTSY BOOT
Boat Story
How many…
1. steps to the top of Penshaw Monument (if you’ve already made it to the base)?
76 steps have been built into one of Penshaw Monuments’ columns to take you to the top.
2. runners take part in the Great North Run every year?
60,000 according to the Great Run website (we’re assuming there are a few cold/injured feet that need to be factored in too).
3. motors control the Bowes’ Museum’s silver swan?
Three clockwork motors, control the swan. One for the music, one for the glass rods, and one that moves the head, neck and fish.
4. cows did the Lambton Worm milk?
‘He milked a dozen coos.’
5. tons of steel were used in Stockton’s Infinity Bridge?
450 tonnes or 408,233 kilogrammes.
1. What is the official name for this art installation and where can you find it?
Eat For England, between Cramlington and Seghill.
2. This famous actor trained to be what in Newcastle?
A teacher!
3. What is the name of this naturally occurring cave that was turned into a changing spot for swimmers and what county would you find it in?
Hartburn Grotto, Northumberland.
4. This famous energy drink was invented by a North East pharmacist in 1927, but what was his name?
William Walker Hunter.
5. This famous art installation by Fenwick Lawson depicts six monks on a sombre journey to Durham, but who are they carrying?
St Cuthbert
6. The North East is known for many classic regional food including the Parmo in Middlesbrough. Who is purported to have first invented the beloved dish?
Nico Harris, after spending time in the UK recovering in WW2.
7. Which was the last Northern county to receive it’s now flag and in what year did it get one?
County Durham, 2013.
1999 Sir Bobby Robson is appointed as manager of Newcastle United Football Club.
2000 The now classic film, Billy Elliot is released starring a young Teesside actor called Jamie Bell in the title role.
2001 The Gateshead Millennium Bridge tilts for the first time.
2002 The first episode of Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway airs on ITV.
2003 Antony Gormley plastercasts 240 nude volunteers at the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead.
2004 Middlesbrough Football Club win the EFL Cup.
2005 The Mouth of Tyne festival launches in Tynemouth.
2006 Roy Keane becomes manager of Sunderland Association Football Club.
2007 The Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art (or MIMA) opens to the public.
2008 Sarah Millican wins the best newcomer award at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards for her debut solo show.
2009 The first Lumiere light festival takes place in Durham.
2010 The Tall Ships Races come to Hartlepool.
2011 Newcastle Falcons win their first Premiership 7s title.
2012 Charles Jencks’ Northumberlandia (the Lady of the North) landscape sculpture opens to the public.
2013 The Redcar Beacon opens to the public.
2014 One Direction play the Stadium of Light.
2015 The Bowes Museum hosts the Yves Saint Lauren: Style is Eternal exhibition, the first exhibition of the designer’s work in the UK and the most successful in the museum’s history up to that point.
2016 The first performance of Kynren - An Epic Tale of England wows crowds in Bishop Auckland.
2017 Skybolt 2, the largest rocket to take blast off from the UK mainland, is launched from the back of a truck in Otterburn.
2018 The first pine marten is spotted in Kielder Forest.
2019 Sam Fender releases his debut studio album, Hypersonic Missiles.
2020 A 3.00 magnitude earthquake hits Stockton.
2021 An arctic walrus is spotted in Seahouses.
2022 The England Lionesses win the Euros with a distinctly Northern lineup.
2023 Stockton holds its first ever Pop-Up Pride.
2024 Living North celebrates its 25th anniversary!
