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This article constitutes the first modern scholarly account of the rise and decline of the Devonshire wrestling style during the nineteenth century. Writing from the Department of Economic History at the University of Exeter, Porter situates the sport within the broader historiographical expansion of sport history during the 1980s, noting that whilst cricket, football, prizefighting, […]
Reprinted in 1990 by the Federation of Old Cornwall Societies. Original date is unknown. Written by Bryan H. Kendall, descriptions by Bernard Chapman, Harry Gregory, Thomas John Cundy. Illustrated by Alexander (‘Sandy’) Anderson. Foreword by J.B Hooper. Covers techniques, rules, and some background.Photography of sportsman also included. This is taken from a copy in the […]
Michael Tripp’s doctoral thesis, submitted to the University of Exeter in May 2009 for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, constitutes the first comprehensive scholarly history of Cornish wrestling. Published in two volumes — the first containing the main analytical text (including introduction, seven substantive chapters, conclusion, and bibliography) and the second comprising twenty-one appendices […]
Jaouen G. Transforming cornish and devon wrestling (britain) and gouren (brittany – france) through sportification. International Journal of the History of Sport. 2014;31(4):474-491. doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/09523367.2013.869219.
An official badge of The Cornish Wrestling Association in the archives of The Devonshire Wrestling Society. Date is unknown, but it entered the archives in 2014.
Cornish Wrestling Motionmade, and Question proposed, (Jeremy Quin.) 8.31 pm. Scott Mann (North Cornwall) (Con). Full document available online, as per UK Government: Volume 661 No. 312 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Wednesday 12 June 2019
The “Devon Hercules” who fought the Cornish and became the Champion of England He’d deliver agonising kicks to the legs of opponents with his hardened bullock-blood boots. Charlotte Vowles, DevonLive reporter 12:39, 27 Jun 2020 Updated 12:58, 27 Jun 2020 A champion wrestler nationally acclaimed for a savage style of fighting, originally came from a […]
(pp355) Every bit as savage as bare-knuckle boxing was the ancient sport of Devon Wrestling, One of the last champions was Abraham Cann, who was nicknamed the Devon Hercules. In this painting by Henry Caunter (c. 1846), Cann is evoked as the last great exponent of the dying art of wrestling according to the brutal […]
A Blue Plaque commemorative at the site of St Bartholomew Street, Exeter. The only remnants of the Public house is now the foundations for the current properties. The Blue Plaque reads: Exeter Civic Society: Abraham Cann 1794-1864 Champion of England at Devonshire wrestling Landlord of the Champion’s Arms public house on this site 1828-1830 DWS […]
Traditional Wrestling Promoting Traditional Wrestling For Cultural Tourism and Local Development Main contributors in the project: Hristos Gatsios, Charalampos Elisiadis, Anta Tsaira, Guy Jaouen, Christian Pelé, Aurélie Epron, Marko Panović, Jovica Mihailović, Aca Stanojević, Dejan Čikarić Antonio Barreñada, Vicente Martín, Roberto Baelo, Nicolae Dobre, Cristian Vaduva, Marius Bolba. Funded by the European Union. Views and […]
Available online via HeardFamilyHistory.org.uk. Page updated 04/04/2024. © Nick Heard 2024
This research by Francis Edwards profiles Gerry Cawley (now Historian of the Cornish Wrestling Association), presenting him as the most successful and influential Cornish wrestler of the late 20th century and a central figure in keeping the tradition alive. Beginning as a young competitor in village tournaments, Cawley quickly rose through the ranks, winning multiple […]
An article written by Francis Edwards on 2nd August 2025 explores how Cornish wrestling became a popular spectator sport in 19th-century London, driven by urbanisation, media coverage, and organised promotion. At its centre is Joseph Menear, a Cornish miner turned wrestler who rose to dominate the London scene in the 1860s. Competing mainly at Hackney […]
The wrestling sources at Kresen Kernow form a rich, dispersed archive spanning books, manuscripts, organisational records, and visual material. Rather than a single collection, they collectively document the evolution, social role, and cultural significance of wrestling in Cornwall, offering multiple entry points for historical research. 280 records available. The wrestling results within the Kresen Kernow […]