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A Wrestling Festival A purely wrestling festival is a most uncommon sight out of doors, but I must recall with great pleasure the day when, at that delightfully situated old Cornish village, St Colomb, the centenary celebrations were held of a great wrestling match when one, Polkinghorne, the Cornish champion, overcame Cann, the pride of […]
Created by the British engraver Richard Gilson Reeve. The print commemorates the historic, highly-publicised inter-county wrestling match that took place on October 26, 1826, between the Cornish champion James Polkinghorne and the Devonshire champion Abraham Cann. The event drew over 10,000 spectators and remains one of the most famous encounters in the history of traditional […]
A modern replica (1996) of a poster believed to be original. The printers were listed as Nicholls & Peowrie, confirmed to be active between 1835-1836. This is currently in the private collection of Matthew Bennett-Nichols, and provided here with express written permission. The poster reads: Devon Wrestling AND SINGLE STICK, May 5th, 6th and 7th, […]
[WRESTLING]. Pair of Hand-Colored Portraits of Famous British Wrestlers who Faced Each Other in the Ring. Including: [CANN, Abraham, subject]. “The Wrestling Champion of England, Abraham Cann. Who challenges all the World for 100 Sovereigns…” [Exeter: Geo. Rowe, Aug. 10th, 1826]. Hand-colored full-length portrait of Cann in profile outdoors, with caption. 12 ¾ x 9”. […]
The origin and author of these lyrics (also described as a ballad) are unknown. The song was printed in a broadside newspaper in December 1826. Tripp states that it was sung to the tune of The Night I Married Susy, or The Coronation. When Polkinghorne did first agree, And Cann the day did fix, Sir, […]
WRESTLING. To Mr. ABRAHAM CANN, St. Thomas’s, Exeter. SIR, Although you did not answer mine of Sept. 20th, nor accept the proposals with respect to time, place, and amount of stake——I see yours of the 10th inst., in the Devon Freeholder, dated Dec. 2, wherein you now assert your readiness to try the championship of […]
ST. COLUMB CELEBRATES CENTENARY OF FAMOUS WRESTLER. THOUSANDS HONOUR MEMORY OF GREATEST CORNISH CHAMPION. CORNISH WRESTLING CENTENARY AT ST COLUMB Saturday will stand out as a red-letter day in the history of Cornish wrestling. From all parts of the Duchy, supporters of the old county sport poured into the quaint little town of St Columb […]
A souvenir programme created for the 150th anniversary of the Cann vs Polkinghorne match. This event took place at Polkinghorne’s public house at St. Columb. This programme was gifted to The Devonshire Wrestling Society by Gerry Cawley, Historian of The Cornish Wrestling Association in 2015.
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 […]