Sunday 1 July 2012

Sunday Times Where Was I? Holiday Competition

Near as I can figure it, the most likely answers this week are:

Q1. The Battle of Stirling Bridge

Q2. The River Teith

(NB, for question 2, the river Allan/Allan water also flows into the Forth but it is nearer than two miles to the Stirling bridge location and the does not match the linguistic clue given, also if it is called Allan water and not the river Allan, then that too could exclude it as a possible answer, though technically, it's still a river. The Eastender is going with the distance information on this one and picking the river Teith).

The initial clues place us in Stirling, which was awarded city status in 2002. There is an earthworks structure just below the castle, on the western side which is known as king Arthur's knot or king's Knot and is believed by some to be the origin of the round table myth. Some sources claim that the town of Stirling was known as 'The key to Scotland', because of its strategic importance. There was a battle at Stirling bridge recorded as taking place around the 11th September 1297, in which a tactically challenged numpty called John de Warenne, 6th earl of Surrey, thought it would be a great idea to send his army over the bridge (two abreast) onto a spit of land which was looped by the river on three sides and hemmed in by the opposition on the other, needless to say his force was routed and they had to flee for their lives.

From his description, the author appears to be passing the Bannockburn battlefield on the train, fought seventeen years after the first battle, by a good ol' Norman rebel called Robert the Bruce, in 1314.King Robert's wife was called Elizabeth. A stream called the Bannockburn flows close to the battlefield but from the map, it looks like it is fed by a reservoir only  around two miles west/south west. 

The author has likely visited the stone bridge at Stirling, which was constructed c1500 and it spans the river Forth. There seem to be varying opinions on just how long this river is but I have found several sources which claim that it is around 65 miles, which matches the description in the text. Stirling bridge was also constructed at the lowest crossing point on the Forth. The river which joins the Forth, two miles or so north west of the author's position is the river Teith and although he is possibly implying that its name in English sounds like teeth, in the original language Teith can mean pleasant

A king who died in Stirling castle c1214 was William the first, the lion of Scotland and a king who committed a murder there (he killed the 8th earl of Douglas at dinner on 22nd February 1452) was James II. James II was married to Mary of Guelders. Several royals have been crowned in Stirling castle but the one who fits the bill here, is most likely James V (crowned c 21 September 1513). James V's second wife was called Mary of Guise. A king who was baptised at Stirling castle on 17th September 1566 was James VI of Scotland/James I of England (father Henry Stuart, lord Darnley). A football, which is reputed to be one of the oldest, was found behind the panelling of the queen's chamber in Stirling castle. Stirling Albion football club was founded c1945 and an alchemist who tried to fly from the walls of Stirling castle, was James IV's alchemist, John Damian (c1507).

4 comments:

  1. Hi again, not sure about river Teith rather than Allan Water (River Allan?). Doesn't the Teith join the Forth more or less West (or West/North West of Stirling whereas the Allan is definitely North West. I don't understand the 'literary' reference about teeth? Is he saying that the bridge or the river would be better named? (Any suggestion of 'Brig o' Teith'?)

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  2. The Allan is closer to the Bridge than two miles. The guy that writes this puzzle is not always very accurate with distances and the Teith looks like it joins the Forth about 3 kilometers or so from Stirling old bridge. I could be wrong but I think he is saying that name sounds like teeth, because the army that crossed the bridge were chewed up by the forces on the other side of it.

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  3. I agree with The East Ender Himself. Looking at Bing Maps the River Teith joins the River Forth near Drip Bridge on the A84 north west of Stirling. The Allan Water (River Allan) joins the Forth about half a mile from the old Stirling Bridge and not two miles as the author states.

    David Smith

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  4. The reference to the River Forth assuming another name refers to traders who travelled between important trading places on the River Teith and if they met any hostile forces they were "Armed to the Teeth"

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