Filter:
Sir Thomas Elyot is believed to have been born in Wiltshire. XVII. Exercises wherby shulde growe both recreation and profite. WRASTLYNGE, is a very good exercise in the begynnynge of youthe, so that it be with one that is equall in strengthe, or some what under, and that the place be softe, that in fallinge […]
Deadman’s Alley, pp. 11. Plain John Garnet looked somewhat preoccupied now, sitting moodily over his punch, and the influence of his demeanour seemed to steal upon the company in general. Mr. Gale, indeed, held forth loudly on horse-racing, cock-fighting, and such congenial topics, but spent his breath for an inattentive audience, not to be interested […]
NOTES BY THE WAY : A DEVONSHIRE WRESTLING MATCH. HEARING from a fellow traveller in the train that there was to be some wrestling on the morrow at Moor Town, South Devon, and having some faint recollections of a grand description of the same in one of the London papers, probably the Daily Telegraph, we […]
Bob Fitzsimmons (1863–1917) — Helston, Cornwall Bob Fitzsimmons is not merely the most significant Westcountry boxer of the post-Pugilistica era; he is, by any reasonable measure, one of the most significant British boxers in the entire history of the sport. Robert James Fitzsimmons was born on 26 May 1863 at Helston, Cornwall, England, and was […]
I find that in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, we had of both Sorts that were excellent in their Way, and it is hard to say by which of the two we acquired the greatest Fame. Out-play Wrestlers did not shuffle, and dance about, and threaten, bur laid Hold, and never quited till they brought […]
Litt, Walter (1823), Wrestliana; or, An historical account of ancient and modern Wrestling. Available online via Archive.org.
Baring-Gould, S. (1908). Devonshire characters and strange events. John Lane, The Bodley Head. DEVONSHIRE WRESTLERS. WRESTLING was the favourite sport in former days in Devonshire and Cornwall. Evelyn, in his Diary, speaks of Westcountrymen in London contesting against men of the North, and in all cases the former were the victors. And Ben Jonson, in […]
THE LONDON MAGAZINE, 1826. WRESTLING. THE amateurs of athletic performances were gratified towards the end of last month, with an exhibition of the old national feat of wrestling. Several matches were played between Devonshire and Cornwall men, on the 19th, 20th, and 21st, at the Eagle Tavern green, in the City Road. The variety of […]
Howitt, W (1838); The rural life of England, Longman, Orme, Brown, Green, & Longmans. WE must not close this department of our subject, without saying a word or two on wrestling. This exercise, which at one time was almost universal, is now, like many others, fallen into general disuse; and is confined almost entirely to […]
HONE’s TABLE BOOK Hone, W (1827); The table book: or, Daily recreation and information concerning remarkable men, manners, times, seasons, solemnities, merry-makings, antiquities and novelties, forming a complete history of the year, W. Tegg. DEVONSHIRE WRESTLING. For the Table Book. Abraham Cann, the Devonshire champion, and his brother wrestlers of that county, are objected to […]
WRESTLING IN DEVON AND CORNWALL. Richard Polwhele’s Historical Views of Devonshire (1793) constitutes the first modern county history of Devon and provides the earliest sustained account of popular recreations—including wrestling—in the region at the close of the eighteenth century, predating all newspaper sources in the archive by approximately a decade. Polwhele observes that wrestling was […]
1753 a very beautiful gold laced vest of leather was “to be wrestled for in Plymouth, organized on the green, a hat decorated of silver laced was to be cudgeled for, and a Holland shift to be run for by women”. In 1783, at the Pentecost games, a wrestling contest organized by a local Pub, […]
XXXIX It is to be regretted that the old Cornish games are gradually losing their hold and are dying out in the country. The wrestling matches which formerly were well attended and patronized by the local gentry are now with few exceptions got up by the publicans as means of selling liquor, and in place […]
A LITTLE more than a century ago the Rector of Ladock was the Rev. Mr. Wood, who was a most zealous churchman even in the days of misty prejudice, when churchmen in general looked upon nonconformists as scabbed sheep in their fold, and held that no schismatics were to be tolerated. From having unwavering faith […]
THE FOURTH CHAPTER. WHEN Brute had entred this land, immediatlie after his arriuall (as writers doo record) he searched the countrie from side to side, and from end to end, finding it in most places verie fertile and plentious of wood and grasse, and full of pleasant springs and faire riuers. As he thus […]
Despite the title of the book, Stanley Bacon was a practitioner of a range of styles, including Cornish Wrestling. In his work he covers a few techniques common in the Westcountry, although in his example, applied without jackets. The main Westcountry technique Bacon described was the Fore Crook, or Fore Lock (pp.54-55). CORNISH LOCK FORWARD […]
In By Right of Conquest; or, With Cortes in Mexico Mr. Henty tells the story of the Spanish triumph over the Aztecs attained by Cortez and his small but daring band of followers. The hero of the tale is an Englishman named Roger Hawkshaw, who goes West in a trading vessel from Devon, and is […]
The wrestlers of Cornwall and their wrestling-matches are still famous, and in the May of 1868 4,000 assembled one day on Marazion Green, and 3,000 the next, to see one. The wrestlers of this county have a peculiar grip, called by them “the Cornish-hug.”…. “The next day the fair begins, a trivial matter, except […]
This artefact has internal references to illustrations, but currently no version with illustrations has so far been discovered. Full title: Delbridge’s guide on grab hold, or, Cornish style of wrestling [microform] : a complete guide on wrestling with full and simple instructions / by James Delbridge. Artefact is stored at the Library of Congress, United […]
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 […]
“In Brittany the West-Country Englishman or a Welshman finds himself quite at home… The Breton peasant is a distinct figure among the workers of France. He is proud, and brave, and independent. He loves liberty, and he is his own master, tilling his plot of land or going to sea in his own fishing-boat… In […]
Wrestling IN CORNWALL AND DEVONSHIRE. To the Editor. Sir,-The ready insertion given to my letter on the above subject, in the second volume of the Every-Day Book, (p. 1009,) encourages me to hope that you will as readily insert the present, which enters more fully into the merits of this ancient sport, as practised in […]
The Cornish-men they are stronge, hardye and nymble, so are their exercises violent, two especially, Wrastling and Hurling, sharpe and seuere actiuties; and in neither of theis doth any Countrye exceede or equall them. The firste is violent, but the seconde is daungerous: The firste is acted in two sortes, by Holdster (as they called it) […]
Modernisation: Wrestling is a sport that relies on skill as much as strength. A skilled wrestler can throw an opponent even when they are not the strongest. Like all sports, wrestling has its own terminology, with names for each type of hold, trip, or technique. The main terms are as follows: Terms Used in […]
Drayton, Michael, et al. (1636), Annalia Dubrensia: upon the yearly celebration of Mr. Robert Dovers Olimpick Games upon Cotswold-Hills, London: Robert Raworth. Available online via Folger Shakespeare Library, and archive.org.
Synopsis The story follows Daniel Sweetland, a high-spirited and controversial young man known for his poaching activities. His life becomes increasingly complicated due to his deep love for the moors and his conflicts with local authority, specifically his father, who serves as the head gamekeeper. Wrongful Accusation: Daniel is falsely accused of a serious crime: often […]
CUDGELLING In the last issue of Wiltshire Folklife there was a request for information on a number of interests. Two responses focus attention on cudgelling. Mrs. F. Morrison contributes her note and illustration below. This is followed by a note dated 1763 sent by Miss M.H. Nichols which presents the sport in a particular context. […]
pp.118-123. “We wish to say a few words, my men, to those who are ” going to play with the sticks or wrestle to-day. There has ” been agood deal of talk about these sports, as you all know ; ” and manypersons think they shouldn’t be allowed at all now” a-days-that thetimefor them has […]
“The play of Cornwall and Devonshire is the same, with a difference. They both have the jacket, and they play for a hitch in the same fashion. Sticklers are appointed, who keep the ring, and the public are present in crowds. In Cornwall, however, the man steps into the ring in his stockings or socks. […]