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A brief quizstory of YHA

History Quizzes
Published on 09/04/2020

Whether you’ve been part of the YHA family for a little or a long time, here’s an opportunity for a little fun as we split fact from fiction, tackle some trivia and take a spin around 90 years of hostelling adventures. Best of luck! And if you like this one, we’ll follow up with new quizzes on a variety of subjects over the coming weeks.

A trip to which country inspired the beginnings of youth hostels in Britain?
America
Germany
France
Switzerland

Correct!

Better luck next time

Our first youth hostel opened in December 1930, but what was it called?
Idwal Cottage
Bridges
Street
Pennant Hall

Correct!

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At the outset, YHA welcomed which types of people to its membership?
Men under 30
Men and women between 16 and 60
Walkers only
Everyone

Correct!

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Our first president was George Macaulay Trevelyan. But what was his profession?
Clockmaker
Artist
Historian
Explorer

Correct!

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In the beginning, 1/- bought a hostel bed, blankets and a pillow for the night. But what did members call the price of a night’s stay?
Taking the King’s shilling
The magic shilling
Cut off with a shilling
Daylight robbery

Correct!

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In which decade did we open the first London hostel?
1930s
1940s
1950s
1960s

Correct!

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At the outbreak of the Second World War, a third of all youth hostels were requisitioned to help with the war effort. But what were they used for?
To house the homeless
To accommodate soldiers on leave
As temporary schools
An ambulance unit training camp

Correct!

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When YHA began, guests were expected to travel to hostels under their own steam. Arrival on foot, by bike or canoe was acceptable. Horseback was frowned upon and arrival by car was forbidden. But when was this rule officially abandoned?
1947
1969
1973
1981

Correct!

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Who is YHA’s patron?
Chris Eubank
The Queen
Michael Palin
Clare Balding

Correct!

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And finally, in July 2019, we added two new hostels to the network. One of them occupies the site of a former gaol and house of correction. But where is it?
Forest of Dean
Brighton
Newcastle
Hadrian's Wall

Correct!

Better luck next time

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A brief quizstory of YHA

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A quiz like this is only possible thanks to the wealth of research made available by the amazing work and dedication of John Martin, honorary archivist, and Duncan Simpson, writer of a definitive history of YHA, Open to all: how youth hostels changed the world. (Any typos or misquotes are entirely the fault of the quiz author – sorry if you spot any.)

For more information about our archive, held at the Cadbury Research Library, University of Birmingham, please visit our dedicated YHA history page.

If you’d like a truly brilliant read, you can purchase Duncan Simpson’s Open to all (and other works) for Kindle and in hard copy here.

Until next time quiz fans!

Written by Ruby Higton

Here is Ruby and she is a digital marketer at YHA. She looks after all things social media, as well as content writing for livemore.yha.org.uk and SEO. Her favourite YHA is YHA Perranporth.

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