TOMBSTONE IN MARY TAVY CHURCHYARD The following may be worth preserving in the Western Antiquary it is copied from a tombstone not in situ but stand ing on its edge by the side of the wall of the church at Mary Tavy The church having been restored the prob ability is that this stone was […]
Har. How did you divert yourself ? Tim. Oh, we ha’ pastimes enow there :—we ha? bull-baiting, and cock-fighting, and fishing, and hunting, and hurling, and wrestling. Har. The two last are sports for which that country is very remarkable in those, 1 presume, you are very expert. 8 Tim, Nan! What? Har. 1 say […]
John Prowse, who had now taken me under his protection, was a good specimen of the North Devon peasant; lively and intelligent, stout and muscular, nearly six feet high, and with shoulders that would not have disgraced Hercules. Besides this, he was upright as a dart, a grace he had acquired by having been some […]
The athletic exercise to which these people are mostly addicted is that of wrestling. This is pursued with great fervour and emulation by the young farmers and peasantry in the country It is common on these occasions for a purse of six eight or ten guineas to be made by gentlemen fond of promoting this […]
An illustration by Thomas Rowlandson (London 1756-1827) ‘A Cornish wrestling match’ – bears indistinct inscription (lower centre), pen and ink and watercolour on paper laid down on card 18.2 x 30.6cm (7 3/16 x 12 1/16in). Sold at Bonhams for £1,062.50 inc. premium: 26 July 2017, 10:00 BST, London, Knightsbridge Available online: https://www.bonhams.com/auction/24193/lot/552/thomas-rowlandson-london-1756-1827-a-cornish-wrestling-match/
The only amusement generally indulged in, the mode of which is almost peculiar to the county, is that of wrestling. It differs much from the sport so called and practiced in Cornwall and the North of England, inasmuch as the cruelty of kicking the shin is permitted; a custom which is very prolific of obstinate […]
Their ancient exercises have been archery, hurling, wrestling, football, dancing, and such like forcible exercises of strength and activity; recreating and hardening, and enabling their bodies and minds for more noble (though more uneasy and dangerous) martial employment; for which they are apt and in readiness with the foremost at all times. But these exercises […]
Abraham Cann’s memorial stone in St. Andrew’s churchyard, Colebrooke, bears the inscription: ‘SACRED to the memory of Abraham Cann who departed this life April 7th 1864 aged 69 years. Champion of Devon Wrestlers.’ (Trewman’s Exeter Flying Post, April 20, 1864, p. 8)
pp.622, A minor reference to a Devonshire Wrestling in a fictional work. Reference to good breeding. “Upon my word, madam,” the General protested, “you use the doctor badly. He is blamed if he kills people, and he is blamed if he keeps them alive. What is he to do?” “Do? He can’t help saving the […]
This county [of Devon] as it is populous, so are the natives of a good and healthy constitution of body; of proportion and stature generally tall, strong, and well compact; active and apt for any forcible exercises (and if I may have leave to borrow a stranger’s words in their encomium); bold, martial, haughty of […]
CANN Abraham the Dict states VIII 410 was baptized at Colebrooke near Crediton 2 Dec 1794 and was the son of Robert Cann a farmer from whom he inherited a love of wrestling. Having thrown all the best wrestlers in Devonshire he was known as the champion of the county and in Oct 1826 wrestled […]
Devon wrestling differs from most other modes. It would, however, be easy to demonstrate its superiority over that practised by other wrestlers, who are unable, with any amount of success, to meet any stranger who does not conform to their own style, whereas knowledge of Devon wrestling enables man to successfully meet whomsoever cares to […]
Excerpt referring to Wrestling, in discussion about ‘Author’s counties’, in ‘Atalanta’: Volume 8 (1895) …. Another of Mr Blackmore’s novels is set partly in Devon it is that of ‘Clara Vaughan’ one of his earliest if not his earliest work. It is not equal to his later novels and yet contains in it scenes of […]
(Feature image: The Sporting Life, November 1901). This Japanese form self-defence is, without doubt, far superior either to ancient or modern style of Devonshire or any other county form of wrestling, when matched side by side. The grips used are entirely different, and they are both effective and deadly in character. If the opponent struggling […]
Page 60 ACCORDING to the fictitious History of Britain by Geoffrey of Monmouth, Brutus the Trojan, with Corineus and other companions, landed at Totnes to take possession of the giant-haunted island which had been prophesied should be his own. Then, forraging the Ile, long promis’d them before, Amongst the ragged Cleeues those monstrous Giants sought: […]