The following is an shortened and edited exerpt from our upcoming research into the history of Devon Wrestling: ‘Devon Wrestling: Archives of a Combat Sport (1800-1950)’.
Cover art (conceptual) produced for the Devon Wrestling archives book. Targeted release 2025.
This study provides a modern reader a detailed understanding of the following factors of the sport:
Professional Development: The sport evolved from local contests to a sophisticated professional circuit with standardized rules and prizes.
Economic Significance: The substantial prize money (up to £100 for major tournaments, around £10k in today’s money) indicates significant economic activity around the sport.
Geographic Expansion: While centered in Devon and Cornwall, the sport developed a significant London presence, creating a regular circuit between the regions. There were also exhibition matches hosted around the UK.
Social Evolution: The sport transitioned from rural entertainment to organized professional competition while maintaining local traditions.
Early Period (1800-1827): Rise of county styles
Date
Location
Participants
Prizes
Winner
Citation
06 Aug 1812
Exeter, King’s Nympton
Champion Flower, Robert Beal (George Nympton)
Best prize
Robert Beal
Exeter Flying Post
16 Jun 1827
London (Tavern, City)
Abraham Cann, Chapple, Anderson, Dobson, Stone, others
£100 prize, various minor prizes
Abraham Cann
Exeter & Plymouth Gazette
23 Jun 1827
Mile End Road, London
Murray, Howard, Finny, James Stone, Lander, others
Various prizes
James Stone
Exeter & Plymouth Gazette
14 Jul 1827
St. Thomas, Exeter
Gaffney, Cornish wrestlers, Devon wrestlers
£100 prize proposed
Not specified
Exeter & Plymouth Gazette
28 Jul 1827
St. Sidwell’s, Exeter
John Newman, William Bradford, Simon Webber, Abraham Cann
Various prizes
Abraham Cann
Exeter & Plymouth Gazette
26 Sep 1827
Mile End Road, London
Abraham Cann, Gaffney (Ireland)
60 guineas vs 50 guineas bet
Abraham Cann
Morning Post
Golden Age (1828-1850): Peak of inter-county rivalry
Date
Location
Participants
Prizes
Winner
Citation
08 Mar 1828
Haigh Park, near Leeds
Wrestlers from Devonshire, Cornwall, London, Yorkshire
£30 (1st), £20 (2nd), £15 (3rd), £10 (4th)
Not specified
Western Times
03 May 1828
London & Leeds
James Cann, Simon Webber, Roach, Jordan
£100 and other stakes
Abraham Cann
Western Times
20 May 1828
City Road, London
James Copp (Devon), Laurence Hanlon (Ireland)
£20 side bet
James Copp
Morning Chronicle
13 Apr 1829
St. Thomas, Exeter
James Cann, Wm. Hill, Webber (Baker), Esworthy (Alphington)
Not specified
James Cann
Sherborne Mercury
05 Jun 1830
Blue Ball, Heavitree, Devon
Cann, Bolt, Stone, Webber, Newton, Jordan
£40 overall prize fund
Jordan
Western Times
06 Jul 1844
St. Mary Church, Devon
Various participants
£30 total prize pool
Not specified
Exeter & Plymouth Gazette
30 Jul 1844
St. Mary Church, Devon
Various wrestlers (from Devon & Cornwall)
Best Man prize, Second Best Man prize, minor prizes
Tozer (Babbicombe), Arle (Marldon), Lewis (St. Mary Church), Branscombe (Dartmouth), Jury (Brixham), Bolt (North Tawton), Hill (Marldon), Gillard (St. Mary Church), Lane (Torre)
Verron (Birmingham), C. Reiford (Devon), Jeffery (Cornwall), D. Bradford, Trimlett, Paul, Boyland, Higgins, C. Bray, Kemp, W. Thomas, J. Thomas, C. Eason, Ayres, Flanagan, Bartlet, Gifford
First prize £6, Second prize £4, Third prize £2
Jeffery (Cornwall)
Not specified
Methodology
All events mentioned in the source material are included
Prize money is given in original currency (£/s/d)
Missing or unclear information is marked with [?]
Inferred information is marked with *
Direct quotes are given in “quotation marks”
Cross-referenced information is marked with †
Key to Abbreviations
[?] = Information not provided in sources
* = Inferred from context
† = Cross-referenced from multiple sources
(D) = Devon
(C) = Cornwall
s. = Shillings
d. = Pence
Bibliography
The following newspapers and records were consulted across 1800-1950.
