2007 Christmas Quiz

Thanks to everyone who entered this year's competition. We had a large number of entrants again this year. Our congratulations to the winners listed below:

Winner:
Harriet Courtney of Worcester
Runners up:
Davis Evans of Worcester
Eileen Hughes of Worcester
Susan Terry of Dorridge

Answers

Which prolific author, who was educated at Worcester High School and Malvern School for Girls, wrote at least 723 novels?
Barbara Cartland

2.Who was the lady, born in Friar Street, Worcester, who famously disguised herself as a man, joined the army and went off to search for her husband?
Hannah Snell

3.Where in Worcestershire is there a Plum Fayre held each August?
Pershore

4.Where is the steepest railway gradient in England (1 in 37 for two miles), causing at least one railway engine to explode trying to go up it?
Lickey Incline, near Bromsgrove

5.Who was known as the Salt king?
John Corbett

6.Which Worcestershire House was home to the Wintour family, who were key players during the Gunpowder Plot?
Huddington Court

7.After the Dunkirk evacuation, plans were drawn up for Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret to be taken to which Worcestershire house in case of invasion?
Madresfield Court

8.Whose opposing armies camped on Woodbury Hill and Abberley Hill in 1405?
King Henry IV (Abberley Hill) and Owain Glyndwr and his Welsh/French army (Woodbury Hill)

9.Which Queen resided in Worcestershire towards the end of her life, and is commemorated in a window in Malvern Priory?
Queen Adelaide, who lived at Witley Court between 1843-46

10.Which village was the scene of an infamous murder in 1806, when a rector was killed, followed by the murderer himself being killed by the people who paid him?
Oddingley

Describe these occupations, taken from Worcestershire census and parish registers

11.Higgler
“Baptised 26 February 1826, George, son of Robert and Mary Hassell, Redditch, Higgler”.  St Stephen’s, Redditch, Parish Register.
An itinerant trader or pedlar who haggles

12.Ostler
“Alfred Glover, 17, unmarried, Ostler, living at 12 Mill Hill, Evesham.”  1851 Census.
Someone who looks after the horses at an inn

13.Compositor
“Enos Button, 25, married, Compositor, living at 6 Palace Row, Worcester.”  1881 Census.
Typesetter for a printer

14.Japanner
“Jane Jones, 21, single, Japanner, 20 Spring garden, Worcester.  1881 Census.
Applier of Japanese varnish to furniture etc.

15.Cordwainer
“2 January 1820, Maria Yarnold, baptised, daughter of John and Sarah , Cordwainer, Dolday”.  All Saints, Worcester, Parish Register.
Leather worker, sometimes a shoemaker

What are these items, listed in inventories as part of wills?

16.Andirons
Metal bars used to hold logs for burning in a fireplace, also called firedogs

17.Cricket or Crickett
Low wooden stool or footstool

18.Gallipot
Small earthen glazed pot, sometimes used for medicines

19.Kittermuster
A type of light material made in Kidderminster

20.Piggin
A pail, usually wooden with one stave serving as a handle