Year
|
Hint
|
Answer
|
1997
|
This territory is handed back to China, ending more than 150 years of British rule.
|
Hong Kong
|
1980
|
One of the "fab four", this person is murdered in New York City.
|
John Lennon
|
1971
|
Decimalised currency is introduced. The Five "New Pence" coin replaces this old denomination.
|
Shilling
|
1966
|
England wins this international footballing competition.
|
FIFA World Cup
|
1958
|
This very long running BBC children's TV programme is broadcast for the first time.
|
Blue Peter
|
1948
|
This institution for the provision of medical care is formed.
|
National Health Service
|
1939
|
The first German aircraft to be shot down in WW2 is a victim of a clash with two squadrons of this legendary fighter aircraft.
|
Supermarine Spitfire
|
1926
|
This inventor holds the first public demonstration of his mechanical television system.
|
John Logie Baird
|
1916
|
Admiral Sir John Jellicoe commands the British Grand fleet in this major naval battle.
|
Battle of Jutland
|
1905
|
Emmeline Pankhurst leads the first public protest of this "Votes for Women" movement.
|
Suffrage
|
1894
|
This iconic river-crossing over the Thames is opened for traffic.
|
Tower Bridge
|
1886
|
This man becomes Prime Minister for the third time.
|
William Gladstone
|
1877
|
The All England Club, based in this London district, holds its first annual tennis tournament.
|
Wimbledon
|
1865
|
"Alice's Adventures in Wonderland", by this author, is published for the first time.
|
Lewis Carroll
|
1859
|
This book, considered the foundation of evolutionary biology, is first published.
|
On the Origin of Species
|
1840
|
The Penny Black is issued, the world's first example of this item to be used in public circulation.
|
Postage Stamp
|
1837
|
The long reign of this Queen begins.
|
Victoria
|
1822
|
This mathematician and inventor publishes a proposal for a "difference engine", a forerunner of the modern computer.
|
Charles Babbage
|
1818
|
This novel, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, is published for the first time (anonymously).
|
Frankenstein
|
1805
|
Admiral Horatio Nelson defeats the French in this decisive naval battle.
|
Battle of Trafalgar
|
1796
|
This scientist inoculates an eight-year-old boy with cowpox as part of his pioneering work to prove the viability of a vaccine for smallpox.
|
Edward Jenner
|
1787
|
The First Fleet leaves Portsmouth with a consignment of convicts headed for this far away country.
|
Australia
|
1776
|
James Watt introduces the first practical version of this Industrial Revolution invention.
|
Steam engine
|
1768
|
This explorer departs Britain on HMS Endeavour on his first voyage of discovery.
|
James Cook
|
1755
|
This writer and lexicographer publishes his "Dictionary of the English Language".
|
Samuel Johnson
|
1746
|
This woman helps Bonnie Prince Charlie escape to France after he is beaten at the Battle of Culloden, the final confrontation of the Jacobite Rising.
|
Flora MacDonald
|
1739
|
This future Methodist leader preaches in the open air for the first time.
|
John Wesley
|
1721
|
This man becomes First Lord of the Treasury and Chancellor of the Exchequer, making him effectively the first "Prime Minister" of Great Britain.
|
Sir Robert Walpole
|
1718
|
This world famous cabinet maker is born.
|
Thomas Chippendale
|
1707
|
These two Parliamentary Acts are passed to establish the single Kingdom of Great Britain.
|
Acts of Union
|
1696
|
This tax is introduced which imposed a charge based on the number of a specific architectural item included in a property.
|
Window Tax
|
1681
|
This Londoner receives a royal charter to establish a colony in the Americas. He would later have U.S. state named after him.
|
William Penn
|
1676
|
This building by Christopher Wren is commissioned in Greenwich Park on the Prime Meridian.
|
The Royal Observatory
|
1666
|
The Great Fire of London starts at a bakery on this street.
|
Pudding Lane
|
1653
|
This leader becomes "Lord Protector" of England.
|
Oliver Cromwell
|
1645
|
Parliamentarians found this military unit during the English Civil War.
|
New Model Army
|
1633
|
This future naval secretary is born. He would become famous for his diary which chronicled events such as the Great Fire of London.
|
Samuel Pepys
|
1620
|
This ship leaves Plymouth carrying the Pilgrims to Cape Cod in North America.
|
Mayflower
|
1612
|
Ten people in Pendle Hill are hanged after being convicted of this crime.
|
Witchcraft
|
1605
|
Guy Fawkes and others fail in this attempt to blow up Parliament.
|
Gunpowder Plot
|
1599
|
This theatre, associated with the performance of Shakespeare plays, is built in London.
|
Globe Theatre
|
1588
|
This Spanish fleet is scattered during a failed attempt to invade England.
|
Spanish Armada
|
1577
|
This captain embarks on a circumnavigation of the globe aboard the Pelican - later renamed the Golden Hind.
|
Sir Francis Drake
|
1567
|
This woman is forced to abdicate the Scottish throne.
|
Mary, Queen of Scots
|
1553
|
This woman uses the title of Queen for nine days before being imprisoned and killed.
|
Lady Jane Grey
|
1542
|
This lady, the 5th wife of King Henry VIII, is beheaded at the age of 19.
|
Catherine Howard
|
1536
|
William Tyndale is executed for translating this book into English.
|
The Bible
|
1529
|
This stately residence is given to King Henry VIII by Cardinal Thomas Wolsey.
|
Hampton Court Palace
|
1516
|
This book, depicting a fictional island society, is written by Sir Thomas More.
|
Utopia
|
1502
|
This prince dies, making the future Henry VIII heir to the throne.
|
Arthur, Prince of Wales
|
1497
|
Italian-born explorer, John Cabot, explores the coast of this country and claims it for England.
|
Canada
|
1485
|
The Battle of Bosworth Field is fought, the last major conflict in this series of civil wars.
|
Wars of the Roses
|
1476
|
The first printing press in England is set up at Westminster by this English merchant.
|
William Caxton
|
1461
|
This town's strategic position on the Anglo-Scottish border leads to it being ceded back to Scotland by Margaret of Anjou.
|
Berwick-upon-Tweed
|
1453
|
This long war between England and France comes to an end.
|
Hundred Years' War
|
1440
|
This prestigious public independent boarding school is founded by King Henry VI.
|
Eton
|
1439
|
This town in the south-west of England becomes the first to be incorporated by Parliament.
|
Plymouth
|
1424
|
This new King of Scotland is crowned at Scone Abbey.
|
James I
|
1415
|
King Henry V's army defeats a large French force in this battle during a long running war.
|
Battle of Agincourt
|
1408
|
The Great East Window, the largest expanse of medieval stained glass in the world, is finally completed in this cathedral in the north of England.
|
York Minster
|
1399
|
King Richard II becomes the first English Monarch to undergo this process when he renounces the throne.
|
Abdication
|
1387
|
Geoffrey Chaucer begins writing this epic work, a collection of 24 stories.
|
The Canterbury Tales
|
1373
|
England signs an alliance with this seafaring nation. It is believed to be oldest alliance still in force today.
|
Portugal
|
1362
|
The first version of "Piers Plowman" appears. It is the first written mention of this folk hero.
|
Robin Hood
|
1351
|
To determine the ruler of Brittany, England and France stage this tournament between hand-picked knights. Although a fight to the death, it had breaks for refreshments.
|
Combat of the Thirty
|
1348
|
This pandemic arrives in England for the first time.
|
Black Death
|
1337
|
Edward, son of King Edward III, and known by this nickname, becomes the first English Duke.
|
Black Prince
|
1327
|
King Edward II is murdered while in captivity at this castle in Gloucestershire.
|
Berkeley
|
1314
|
Robert the Bruce defeats Edward II at this battle for Scottish independence.
|
Bannockburn
|
1306
|
According to legend, Robert the Bruce is inspired to persevere with his fight against the English after watching this creature struggle and eventually overcome.
|
Spider
|
1297
|
The forces of Andrew Moray and this Scottish leader defeat the English at the Battle of Stirling Bridge.
|
William Wallace
|
1283
|
Edward I completes the English conquest of this region.
|
Wales
|
1279
|
Coin production is unified into a single system forming the origins of this institution.
|
Royal Mint
|
1267
|
This English philosopher completes his most important work, "Opus Majus".
|
Roger Bacon
|
1259
|
King Henry III makes peace with this Welsh leader, who claims the title "Prince of Wales".
|
Llewelyn the Last
|
1240
|
This important cathedral, in its 4th incarnation, is completed and consecrated.
|
St. Paul's
|
1236
|
The future king Edward I is born. He would later earn this nickname.
|
Longshanks
|
1220
|
King Henry III begins major improvements to this fortification in the English capital.
|
Tower of London
|
1215
|
This "Great Charter" is signed by King John.
|
Magna Carta
|
1204
|
This lady, the Duchess of Aquitaine and the widow of King Henry II, dies.
|
Eleanor
|
1199
|
Richard I dies after a lifetime of crusading. His warrior reputation earned him this nickname.
|
Lionheart
|
1188
|
The chronicle "Flores Historiarum" commences. It would be the first to tell the legend of this woman, who rode naked through the streets of Coventry.
|
Lady Godiva
|
1170
|
This Archbishop of Canterbury is assassinated.
|
Thomas Becket
|
1168
|
Work begins on a major reconstruction of this important castle on the Kent coast.
|
Dover
|
1154
|
This dynasty comes to power in England with the coronation of Henry II.
|
House of Plantagenet
|
1145
|
This abbey in Bedfordshire, now most associated with a safari park, is established.
|
Woburn
|
1135
|
This period of civil war and chaos in England begins.
|
The Anarchy
|
1126
|
This office, responsible for the finances of the Kingdom of England, is formed.
|
HM Treasury
|
1110
|
This Berkshire castle becomes a Royal residence for the first time.
|
Windsor Castle
|
1100
|
King Henry I of England marries this sister of Edgar, King of the Scots.
|
Matilda
|
1096
|
The first lectures are held at this university, the oldest in Britain.
|
Oxford
|
1086
|
This "Great Survey" of England and parts of Wales is completed.
|
Domesday Book
|
1077
|
This tapestry, made to celebrate the Norman conquest, is believed to have been completed.
|
Bayeux Tapestry
|
1066
|
King Harold Godwinson is killed by the Normans at this battle.
|
Battle of Hastings
|
1056
|
The future King William II is born and given this nickname due to his red hair.
|
Rufus
|
1040
|
Later immortalised in a play by Shakespeare, this person becomes King of Scotland.
|
Macbeth
|
1035
|
This great Danish and English king dies in Shaftesbury. According to legend, he tried to hold back the tide.
|
Cnut
|
1028
|
This future conqueror of England is born in Falaise in Normandy.
|
William I
|
1018
|
A large Danegeld "tribute" is paid by the king to stop further invasions from these raiders.
|
The Vikings
|
1003
|
Destined to be the last king of the House of Wessex, this future "Confessor" is born.
|
Edward
|
actually, according to wikipedia, the combat of the thirty happened in 1351 (i never heard of it so i went looking... that's why i like these quizzes so much, by the way).
maybe i found a wrong date or maybe wikipedia is wrong (would not be the first time).
but if i'm correct, you may want to change the date.
some i knew though but werent accepted on minor technicalities. Like I tried fifa and worldchampionship. And also mint without the royal.
Thanks.
It's hard to grasp that a thousand years ago some people were already seeking to better themselves & humanity by organizing and creating a system of higher education. Thanks GB.