Read the article below and answer the questions at the end of the text.
Clues to the answers can be found within the text:
I am heading for a world of creeks, mud flats, sprawling orchards and industry
established in the cobwebs of time. Thus, driving towards a town, I pass
through a village – childhood home of a county cricketer. Born in 1920, he
became one of Britain’s most noted wicketkeepers, playing his first Test
match in 1946. He once batted in a Test for 95 minutes before scoring.
Three northerly miles later, I arrive in a creekside town. In 1847, the
world’s first guncotton factory was established here – little surprise, as
local prosperity was built, in no small part, on saltpetre, charcoal and
sulphur. The explosives industry first arrived here in the 16th century,
maybe earlier; and a nearby factory was the scene, in 1916, of the
industry’s worst-ever explosion. Hardly surprising, therefore, that I
stumble across a (now restored) gunpowder mill – one of the world’s first.
However, there is more to this place than gunpowder, not least that it is home
to possibly the world’s first officially recognised company – of
12th-century origin. And here is a church – national shrine of a 1st-century
saint, popularly patron of hopeless cases. The parish church, meanwhile, is
the county’s second biggest and has its largest brass. And here is the site
of the abbey, burial place of a king (his mother: Adela); his wife and
consort; and her father. A second king (his wives: Anne and Mary) was
imprisoned here while attempting to flee the kingdom. Oh look: there’s
Britain’s oldest brewer, as well.
But now it is time to move on. As it is a crisp autumn day, I elect to walk.
Thus, I soon reach the outskirts of a second village, also noted (since
1694, perhaps earlier) for gunpowder manufacture. There I join a
long-distance path (total length: more than 160 miles) that follows the
course of a creek across a nature reserve until, 1½ miles later, it reaches
the coast. As an early-afternoon mist slowly caresses the marshes and birds
wheel in the sky, I gaze out across the mud flats towards what, according to
my map, is a small “island”. But is it? For sure, it is part of a larger
island, being on its southeastern tip. But an island in its own right? On
this occasion, it isn’t explosively clear.
THE QUESTIONS
1 What is the name of the town?
2 What is the name of the “small” island?
ENTER
THE COMPETITION
Enter by clicking on the link above by Wednesday. The winner will be announced
in next week’s Directions. Only one entry per person. Normal Times
Newspapers rules apply. No correspondence will be entered into.
The prize: The winners will stay for three nights, B&B, at L’Abbaye
de La Bussière, a 12th-century Cistercian abbey now restored as an
award-winning hotel. Set in 15 acres of parkland, it is a short drive from
Dijon and the vineyards of the Côte d’Or. Its chef, Olivier Elzer, was
awarded a Michelin star this year. For details, call 00 33 3 80 49 02 29 or
visit www.abbayedelabussiere.fr.
Return travel, by train from London St Pancras to Dijon, will be in Leisure
Select on Eurostar and in first class on the connecting SNCF trains, with
Rail Europe (0844 848 4070, www.raileurope.co.uk).
The journey time from London can be under five hours, and return fares start
at £79pp in standard class and £169 in first.
At Dijon, the winners will collect an economy-class hire car from
Carrentals.co.uk, the award-winning car-hire website, which compares deals
from up to 50 companies. It is offering one-week rentals in Dijon in
February from £130. For details, visit www.carrentals.co.uk.
The prize must be taken between January 2 and June 30, 2009, excluding public
holidays and May 23-30, and is subject to availability.
Last week's answers
The answers to last week's competition are the Open University and Fenny
Stratford. The winner is Joanne Elliott of Warwickshire, who wins a
luxurious spa break for two people in the Swiss mountain town of Gstaad,
courtesy of the Gstaad Palace Hotel, British Airways and Carrentals.co.uk.
CONDITIONS OF ENTRY
This competition is open only to registered Times Online members.
If you are already a Times Online member, please ensure that you are logged
in. If you are not logged in, then you will be required to enter your
username and password before you can proceed through to the competition
entry form. Click the "ENTER THIS WEEK'S COMPETITION" link above
to proceed.
If you are not a member, and this is the first time you've entered the Where
Was I? competition online, you will need to register your details with us.
Online registration is free, should only take a few minutes to complete and
you will not be required to register for future competitions. Click the "ENTER
THE COMPETITION" link above to proceed.
