# The Cockermouth Christmas Quiz - sources

Every question was checked against the source listed (accessed 23 Oct 2026). Local facts are mainly from the Wikipedia article on Cockermouth and linked articles, which cite primary sources. Please re-check anything time-sensitive before the night.

## Round 1: Local Round - Cockermouth

1. Cockermouth takes its name from its position at the mouth of which river? **The River Cocker** - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cockermouth
2. And the Cocker flows into which larger river at Cockermouth? **The River Derwent** - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cockermouth
3. Which poet was born in Cockermouth in 1770, in a Georgian townhouse now owned by the National Trust? **William Wordsworth** - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wordsworth_House
4. Which leader of the 1789 mutiny on the Bounty was born at Moorland Close, near Cockermouth, in 1764? **Fletcher Christian** - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fletcher_Christian
5. Which scientist, who introduced atomic theory into chemistry, was born in 1766 in Eaglesfield, near Cockermouth? **John Dalton** - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Dalton
6. Which Scottish queen came to Cockermouth in 1568 after her defeat at the Battle of Langside? **Mary, Queen of Scots** - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cockermouth
7. Which England cricketer moved to Cockermouth aged 12 in 2003, attended Cockermouth School and played for Cockermouth Cricket Club? **Ben Stokes** - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Stokes
8. Cockermouth is twinned with which town in France? **Marvejols** - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cockermouth
9. Which Cockermouth-born astronomer (born 1788) was appointed by the Admiralty as astronomer at the Cape of Good Hope? **Fearon Fallows** - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fearon_Fallows
10. Which motorsport company, known for its Ford World Rally Championship entries, is headquartered at Dovenby Hall near Cockermouth? **M-Sport** - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M-Sport

## Round 2: Pub & Street Round

1. Which brewery, founded in Lorton in 1828, moved to the Castle Brewery in Cockermouth in 1874? **Jennings (Jennings Brewery)** - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jennings_Brewery
2. In which year did Carlsberg Marston's close the Jennings brewery in Cockermouth? (a year either way for a half point if you like) **2022** - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jennings_Brewery
3. The Bitter End's address is 15 ... what? It's the tree-lined street of 17th and 18th-century terraces running down towards the River Cocker. **Kirkgate** - https://bitterend.co.uk/ ; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cockermouth
4. Which MP for Cockermouth, later Viceroy of India, is commemorated by a statue on Main Street? **Lord Mayo (Richard Bourke, 6th Earl of Mayo)** - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cockermouth ; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Bourke,_6th_Earl_of_Mayo
5. Cockermouth Town Hall on Market Street was converted for council use in 1934. What type of building was it originally? **A Wesleyan Methodist chapel (built 1841)** - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cockermouth
6. In the medieval town layout, the 'back lane' on the south side is known today by what name? **South Street** - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cockermouth
7. The site of Cockermouth's old railway station is now home to the fire station and which volunteer rescue team? **Cockermouth Mountain Rescue** - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cockermouth
8. Which comic duo's 1963 song 'Slow Train' namechecks Cockermouth among the railway stations it laments? **Flanders and Swann** - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slow_Train_(Flanders_and_Swann_song)
9. In 1881 Cockermouth may have been the first town in Britain to pilot what kind of street lighting? **Electric lighting (six electric lamps)** - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cockermouth
10. In which year did the November floods see more than 200 people rescued in Cockermouth, some by RAF helicopters? **2009** - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cockermouth

## Round 3: Christmas General Knowledge

1. Which author published 'A Christmas Carol' in 1843? **Charles Dickens** - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Christmas_Carol
2. In 'A Christmas Carol', what is the name of Scrooge's late business partner? **Jacob Marley** - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob_Marley
3. If every gift in 'The Twelve Days of Christmas' is repeated in each verse, how many gifts are given in total? **364** - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Twelve_Days_of_Christmas_(song)
4. Which reindeer was created by Robert L. May? **Rudolph (the Red-Nosed Reindeer)** - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudolph_the_Red-Nosed_Reindeer
5. The poinsettia is named after Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first US minister to which country? **Mexico** - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poinsettia
6. Boxing Day usually coincides with the feast day of which saint? **Saint Stephen** - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxing_Day
7. Who commissioned the first commercial Christmas card in 1843? **Sir Henry Cole** - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_card
8. Tradition says which London confectioner invented the Christmas cracker in 1847? **Tom Smith** - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_cracker
9. Which king made the first royal Christmas broadcast, on the radio in 1932? **King George V** - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Christmas_message
10. The decorated Christmas tree custom developed in Central Europe, especially in which present-day country (also home of Prince Albert)? **Germany** - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_tree

## Round 4: Picture Round - Christmas Close-ups

1. Picture 1 **A Christmas bauble (tree ornament)** - Original image generated for this quiz
2. Picture 2 **A Christmas pudding** - Original image generated for this quiz
3. Picture 3 **A mince pie** - Original image generated for this quiz
4. Picture 4 **Mistletoe** - Original image generated for this quiz
5. Picture 5 **A Christmas cracker** - Original image generated for this quiz
6. Picture 6 **A poinsettia** - Original image generated for this quiz
7. Picture 7 **A candy cane** - Original image generated for this quiz
8. Picture 8 **A nutcracker (soldier figure)** - Original image generated for this quiz
9. Picture 9 **A snow globe** - Original image generated for this quiz
10. Picture 10 **Holly** - Original image generated for this quiz

## Round 5: Christmas Music & Film

1. Which 1946 Frank Capra film follows George Bailey on Christmas Eve? **It's a Wonderful Life** - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It%27s_a_Wonderful_Life
2. Which duo released 'Last Christmas' in 1984? **Wham!** - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Last_Christmas
3. Which singer duets with Shane MacGowan on The Pogues' 'Fairytale of New York'? **Kirsty MacColl** - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairytale_of_New_York
4. What is the name of the boy played by Macaulay Culkin in 'Home Alone' (1990)? **Kevin McCallister** - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_Alone
5. Which band released 'Merry Xmas Everybody' in December 1973? **Slade** - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merry_Xmas_Everybody
6. Who plays Buddy in the 2003 film 'Elf'? **Will Ferrell** - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elf_(film)
7. In which year was Mariah Carey's 'All I Want for Christmas Is You' first released? **1994** - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_I_Want_for_Christmas_Is_You
8. Which actor plays Scrooge in 'The Muppet Christmas Carol' (1992)? **Michael Caine** - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Muppet_Christmas_Carol
9. Bob Geldof co-wrote Band Aid's 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' with which Ultravox singer? **Midge Ure** - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Do_They_Know_It%27s_Christmas%3F
10. Which 1982 animated film, based on Raymond Briggs' book, features the song 'Walking in the Air'? **The Snowman** - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Snowman_(film)

## Round 6: General Knowledge

1. What is the capital city of Australia? **Canberra** - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canberra
2. What is the highest mountain in England? (Clue: it is in the Lake District.) **Scafell Pike** - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scafell_Pike
3. What is the largest natural lake in England? **Windermere** - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windermere
4. What is the longest river in Great Britain? **The River Severn** - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Severn
5. What is the chemical symbol for gold? **Au** - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold
6. In which year was the Battle of Hastings? **1066** - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Hastings
7. How many players does each rugby union team start with on the field? **15** - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rugby_union
8. Which planet is known as the Red Planet? **Mars** - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars
9. Who painted the Mona Lisa? **Leonardo da Vinci** - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mona_Lisa
10. How many sides does a hexagon have? **Six** - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hexagon

Tie-break: Cockermouth built-up area population 8,860 at 2021 census - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cockermouth

## Picture round images
All 10 picture round images are original images generated with an AI image tool specifically for this quiz (no third-party or copyrighted photos). Zoomed crops made from them.