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 […]
EXETER GRAND WRESTLING MATCH. THE ANNUAL PRIZE of TWENTY GUINEAS, will be WRESTLED for this year, on Wednesday and Thursday, the 4th and 5th of August next. The play to begin precisely at seven o’clock in the morning. The usual encouragement will be given to players. Exeter, 21st July, 1813.
The Wrestling Match at Chawleigh, Devon, last week, afforded much sport, most of the matches being strongly contested. The prizes were won by Smith, of Swimbridge, and Totty, of Meshaw. The latter threw the champion Flower, a most tremendous fall, whom he fairly raised above ground by mere strength of arm.
TO be WRESTLED FOR, at the Butchers’ Arms Inn, in Chulmleigh, a PRIZE of FIVE GUINEAS, on Tuesday the 9th day of August next, precisely by ten o’clock in the forenoon; the first man that gets a share before eleven o’clock to have half-a-guinea, the best man to have two guineas, and all gentlemen wrestlers […]
EXETER GRAND WRESTLING MATCH. TO be WRESTLED FOR, on Wednesday and Thursday the 10th and 11th of August instant, in a Field adjoining the Black Boy Turnpike, A PURSE of TEN GUINEAS. To every double player Five Shillings. The play to begin at eight o’clock in the morning. The players are requested to give in […]
A purse of five guineas was wrestled for at Chulmleigh yesterday. The weather being fine, and a good ring provided for the contest, the play went off in fine stile. The champion Flower, with a very small party, had to contend with a large party from the north of Devon: he sustained the contest with […]
Sixty years ago this curious West-country ditty was sung not only from the Tamar to the Land’s End, but from Barnstaple Bay to the Rame Head. It describes, in rough and ready rhyme, the experiences of a country yokel who was carried off by a press-gang from a wrestling match on Maker Heights, near Plymouth. […]
Exeter Grand Wrestling. TO be WRESTLED FOR, in a Field at Hill’s Farm, in the parish of St. Sidwell’s, on Thursday and Friday, the 24th and 25th instant, a PURSE of at least TEN GUINEAS. Play to begin each day at ten o’clock in the forenoon.—In order to encourage early attendance, the first double player […]
BRIXHAM ANNUAL DIVERSIONS, in Whitsun-week, will be generally attractive, from the variety of amusements, and particularly so on Wednesday, the 5th June, to the admirers of SCIENTIFIC WRESTLING, from the expectation that a PURSE of FIVE GUINEAS, which will be the winner’s prize, will bring together many competitors for fame, in this national and English […]
MODBURY, DEVON. TO be WRESTLED FOR, at Modbury, on Tuesday and Wednesday, the 11th and 12th days of June, 1816, the following PRIZES, viz. SEVEN POUNDS for the best man, TWO POUNDS for the second best, a handsome GOLD LACED HAT for the third best, and Seven Shillings for every other Standard. The play to […]
The sports at Morice-Town Fair, Plymouth-Dock, last week, afforded much amusement. On Thursday the wrestling matches began, in which 22 standards, comprising the best players in Devon and Cornwall, among others the two Jordans, Jackman, Polkinghorne, Flower, Cann, Cowling, Webber, &c. &c. maintained the character of their respective counties with matchless strength and dexterity. The […]
Exeter Grand Wrestling. TO BE WRESTLED FOR, IN A FIELD, AT HILL’S-COURT, IN THE PARISH OF ST. SIDWELL’S. ON MONDAY and TUESDAY, the 8th and 9th Days of JULY, 1816, A Purse of at least Fifteen Guineas. Play to begin at ten o’clock in the forenoon. In order to encourage an early attendance, the first […]
The Prince Regent’s Birth-Day.—Every thing that could contribute to the cheerfulness and enjoyment of a public festival was experienced at Barnstaple on Monday last. It being the anniversary of the Regent’s birth-day, the morning was ushered in by a well-rung peal on the church bells; and in a field adjoining the town a Grand Wrestling […]
CREDITON, DEVON. TO be SOLD in Fee, with immediate possession, all that Field or Close of Land, containing about one acre (more or less) called the LITTLE CLOSE, or WRESTLING FIELD, situate near Thresher’s Causeway, in Crediton, and now in possession of Mr. Philip Stone.—Also, for the Life of the said Philip Stone, aged 50, […]
Dartmouth Whitsuntide Amusements. ON TUESDAY, the 27th of May, 1817, to be WRESTLED FOR, on the SOUTH GROUND, a PURSE of EIGHT GUINEAS, and other AMUSEMENTS.—And on WEDNESDAY, the 28th of May, to be WRESTLED FOR, a PURSE of THREE GUINEAS, BOAT RACING, and a variety of other AMUSEMENTS.
The Wrestling-Match at Ide, yesterday, afforded great amusement to the lovers of that manly and athletic diversion; a number of first-rate players attended from different parts of the County, and most of the matches were strongly contested.—The play was kept up, with great spirit, until two o’clock this morning, when the prize was won by […]
The men of the moors in Devonshire, and the adjacent county, being famous for wrestling, we may add to what has been said upon the subject, from the observations of old Carew, who in his quaint style remarked, “You shall hardly find an assembly of boys in Devon and Cornwall, where the most untowardly among them will not as […]
WRESTLING.—A few days since was wrestled for, about a mile and half from Chulmleigh, a purse of five guineas and a hat, given by Mr. Jas. Baker.—Several first rate players attended—amongst them were, the Wrefords, Jolly, Lewis, Flower, and a youth, not twenty years of age, named Woolaway, six feet two inches and a half […]
Diversions at Paignton Fair. TO take Place on the 23d and 24th of May, 1820, being TUESDAY and WEDNESDAY in WHITSUN-WEEK. ON WEDNESDAY, WRESTLING, for the following Prizes, To begin precisely by one o’clock. The best Man………… £5 0s. 0d. Second best Man……. £2 0s. 0d. Each Standard……….. 5s. 0d. Fair play will be shewn, […]
Page 608 EXMOUTH WRESTLING. Rosalind. —— Shall we see this wrestling, coz? Le Beau. You must, if you stay here, for here is the place appointed for the wrestling, and they are ready to perform it. As You Like It. Page 609-611 [The first part describes a Londoner’s life and the author’s visit to Exmouth […]
To the Admirers of the CHASE, the TURF, the STUD, the RING, &c. On the 1st of January, 1822, was published, (to be continued Monthly,) price 2s. 6d., No. I. of the ANNALS of SPORTING and FANCY GAZETTE; a MAGAZINE entirely appropriated to SPORTING SUBJECTS and FANCY PURSUITS; containing every thing worthy of remark on […]
The Topsham Annual Wrestling Match commenced in the Bowling-Green, at the Salutation Inn, on Monday forenoon, and was not concluded until near three o’clock this morning. There were 14 double-players, and many of the matches were strongly contested. The 1st and 2d prizes were won by Abraham and James Cann, of Cheriton-Bishop, and the 3d […]
The Topsham Annual Wrestling Match commenced in the Bowling-Green, at the Salutation Inn, on Monday forenoon, and was not concluded until near three o’clock this morning. There were 14 double-players, and many of the matches were strongly contested. The 1st and 2d prizes were won by Abraham and James Cann, of Cheriton-Bishop, and the 3d […]
“I run, I wrestle, I can well throw the barre” – Barclay To the editor of the Sporting Magazine. SIR, THE men of Devon have ever been renowned for their great skill in the manly sport of wrestling. They are, in general, particularly well formed for the play, broad in the shoulder, strong in the […]
Litt, Walter (1823), Wrestliana; or, An historical account of ancient and modern Wrestling. Available online via Archive.org.
ANNALS OF SPORTING. Published on the first of every Month, price 2s. 6d. each Number. THE ANNALS of SPORTING and FANCY GAZETTE; a Magazine entirely appropriated to Sporting Subjects and Fancy Pursuits; containing every Thing worthy of Remark on Hunting, Fishing, Single Stick, Rowing, Shooting, Cocking, Pedestrianism, Sailing, Coursing, Pugilism, Cricket, &c. &c. Racing, Billiards, […]
A woodcut by George Cruikshank, currently held in the British Museum (id: 1978,U.3287). It bears the label: Two Cornish men wrestling, a large crowd of rustic men gathered around the ring and watching with interest, some seated on a bench, flags flying from the covered stand behind; a version of the etching; illustration to the […]
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/
Although listed variously as ‘A Cornish wrestling match’, ‘Two Cornish men wrestling’ et al., this artefact produced by Cruikshank clearly depicts Moor-men (wrestlers from Dartmoor) who were known to wear Red/Green and Black Cockerels/Lions on their backs*. The pictures also show wrestlers wearing skillibegs (‘shin-padding’) and shoes, distinctive equipment of the Devon style. Credit to […]
The wrestling and other sports on the Hoe, are going on with much spirit, and is not expected to be finished until the latter end of the week.
The Devonshire Wrestling Society archive has been assembled over more than twelve years of systematic research into the history of Westcountry martial arts. When this work began, the documentary record was sparse and dispersed: sources were few, descriptions were thin, and access required navigating institutional barriers that most researchers would not have the time or resources to overcome. The archive now comprises 421 records — 322 newspaper articles (1778–1947), 35 manuscripts, 11 posters, 48 books, one letters patent, two cemetery inscriptions, and two memorials — spanning approximately one thousand years of history across five defined periods and three core disciplines: wrestling, cudgelling, and pugilism.
The material has been drawn from archives, museums, and libraries at both local and national level, as well as from diaspora communities. Access varied considerably: some holdings were straightforwardly available through public or gated online repositories; others required direct institutional inquiry, formal licensing, or payment. Licence fees for individual items have, in some cases, reached several hundred pounds. Items acquired under licence are retained for private research purposes only and are not published. A small number of items from private collections likewise remain unpublished, pending permission. All records for which publication rights have been secured are made freely and openly available.
The cost of the archive — in time and in money — has been substantial. It is offered without charge because the traditions it documents belong to the communities that produced them, and because those who come after should not be required to repeat the effort already expended.
Every record in the archive was acquired through a consistent five-stage process:
Identification. Awareness of potential sources was established through systematic searches of public and private institutional indexes worldwide, and through direct correspondence with subject specialists already engaged with relevant holdings.
Access. Depending on the institution, access was obtained through online repositories, direct application, or formal licensing. Correspondence was initiated with several hundred institutions over the course of the project. Where institutions confirmed the absence of relevant holdings, this was recorded. Where access was granted, the means of access was documented.
Storage. All acquired material is held in a single centralised repository, ensuring that research access is permanent and that no duplication of acquisition effort is necessary.
Preparation. Every record has been transcribed to render it fully searchable and taggable. Images have been assigned metadata recording provenance, licensing terms, and resolution specifications for publication purposes.
Publication. The publicly available inventory represents all records for which the requisite permissions have been obtained.
In order to ensure consistency and intellectual coherence across the archive, all prospective additions are evaluated against the following criteria, which are applied collectively and in sequence. A record should satisfy the majority of these criteria before inclusion is considered.
Relevance. The record must have a demonstrable and direct connection to the Six Shires (Devon, Cornwall, Somerset, Dorset, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire) as the location of practice, the origin of practitioners, or the primary institutional context. Records concerning Westcountry practitioners competing elsewhere (in London, the United States, or South Africa, for example) are eligible where the practitioner’s regional identity is explicitly identified in the source. Records documenting the export of Westcountry martial arts beyond Britain are admissible and desirable, consistent with existing holdings relating to California, Japan, New Zealand, and South Africa. The record must concern one or more of the three disciplines in scope: Westcountry wrestling (Devonshire or Cornish style), cudgelling or single-stick as practised in the region, or pugilism and boxing with a demonstrable Westcountry connection. Records documenting the co-occurrence of two or more disciplines are particularly valuable and should be prioritised.
Integrity. The source must be primary or a reliable early secondary record. For newspaper sources, this means a contemporaneous report; for books, a first or early edition, or a verified transcription thereof. Secondary scholarship is admissible where it contains primary-source quotations not otherwise independently accessible, provided these are clearly identified as such.
Balanced representation. The curatorial target is approximate parity — not of record count, which will inevitably reflect the uneven survival of evidence — but of intellectual representation across the three core disciplines. Where any discipline is underrepresented relative to this target, acquisitions in that discipline should be prioritised accordingly.
Material culture. Physical objects — trophies, belts, equipment, and architectural features — are admissible where they carry inscriptions or documentary provenance that independently attest to the practice of a discipline in the region.
Verifiability. The source must be identifiable with sufficient bibliographic precision to be cited in APA format and, where possible, to be independently verified by a reader consulting the original. Oral tradition, undocumented folklore, and secondary paraphrases without citation do not meet this standard. Where a source is available online, a direct URL must be provided.
