1838, Thomas Morton, farmer, The Gale, 1st; Isaac Farlam,
Bowness-on-Solway, 2nd.
About 1839, Thomas Morton, farmer, The Gale.
On one occasion Morton wrestled through the ring without taking his coat
off.
About 1841, John Salkeld, land-surveyor, Huddlesceugh.
1844, _First day_: Joseph Elliot, Croglin, 1st; Thomas Teasdale, Ousby,
2nd. (Sixty-five names entered, including John Buck, John Milburn, and
Joseph Morton.) _Second day_: John Nixon, Langwathby, 1st; John Slee,
Blencow, 2nd.
About 1845, Joseph Shepherd, Crewgarth, Melmerby.
1847, Joseph Morton, farmer, The Gale, 1st; John Milburn, Weardale, 2nd.
Joseph Morton also won once or twice on the second day. John Milburn
stopped at Melmerby on his way home from the Carlisle meeting, at which
latter place he carried off the head prize the two following years.
About 1850, Joseph Morton, farmer, The Gale.
Morton threw Halliwell of Penrith, and, we believe, Anthony Mc.Donald of
Appleby wrestled up with him. This was the last Round held at Melmerby.
FOOTNOTES:
[8] "Melmerby Annual Sports will take place on Monday, the 6th day of July,
1846, when the following Prizes will be given to contend for:--£2 to
Wrestle for; £2 for a Hound Race; and handsome prizes for Running, Leaping,
and other amusements, as usual."--[_Advertisement._]
LANGWATHBY ROUNDS.
Langwathby, like its twin-sister Melmerby, is strictly a rural village,
made up of snug homesteads, dropped here and there in picturesque
confusion. Crossing the bridge from the Penrith side, and coming in sight
of its modest church and spacious green, the most familiar sounds which
formerly fell upon the ear were the lowing of cattle, the bleating of
sheep, and the barking of dogs. The pastoral stillness which once
prevailed, however, is now abruptly broken by the shrill whistle of the
passing train, the snorting and screeching of engines, and the heavy thuds
which resound from the "shunting" and reloading of railway waggons
immediately above.
This old-world village, with few chances and changes to record, has found a
native bard to plead feelingly for the obscurity which the dim past has
wrapped around its history.
O! spot of all the land alone
Unsung, unheard of, and unknown;
Dim background of life's busy stage,
Scarce named in local history's page.
Neglected spot! what hast thou done,
That, ever since the world begun,
Thy name proscribed hath seemed to be,
In legend, tale, or minstrelsy?
That e'en no rustic bard hath owned thee,
And thrown a wreath of song around thee?
However much the paucity of general incidents may be felt in reviewing the
past history of this Cumberland village, it is pleasing to note that
Langwathby and Melmerby vie with each other in antiquity as promoters or
"handers down" of local athletic pastimes.
The famous Adam Dodd, "the Cock of the North," lived and died at Langwathby
Mill, which place is still--or was recently--inhabited and owned by the
same family. The last Adam Dodd of that ilk, was killed half a century
after the death of the first Adam, on his homeward journey with horse and
cart from Alston, while turning a sharp angle of the road a little above
Melmerby.
Langwathby Rounds, unlike those at Melmerby, were held annually in the
midst of "winter and cold weather"--that is to say, on New Year's Day and
the day following. Wrestling formed by far the greatest attraction of these
primitive gatherings; the yeomen, farmers, and husbandmen from the
neighbouring hamlets being the principal competitors. The sports took
place, as a general rule, in a field close to the village which belongs to
Mr. John Hodgson; but on some few occasions they were held on the opposite
or western side of the river Eden. The prizes given were of small value,
but great honour. During the latter part of the last century, a narrow
leathern belt of meagre appearance, or a pair of buckskin breeches, was
almost the only trophy given for wrestling. In the year 1816, when James
Robinson won, a couple of guineas was the full amount offered; and this
sum, we suppose, was never exceeded till many years after the King of
Mardale and the Bishop of Lichfield's brother had carried off the principal
prizes.
About the year 1820, on New Year's Day, the ground was covered with a
coating of snow three or four inches deep, when a curious scene took place
during the wrestling. It so happened that Isaac Mason of Croglin, was drawn
against Isaac Westmorland of Ousby. Mason--well known for his smuggling
adventures and his numerous eccentricities--entered the ring wearing an old
home-spun overcoat, so thick and patched that it set at nought all
Westmorland's attempts to clasp his arms around it. No persuasion could
induce Mason to try and accommodate matters by stripping. He would not move
a jot; and in the meantime his opponent was becoming quite numb and frigid
with cold. At length Mason showed signs of relenting, and ultimately took
off the obnoxious overcoat. Still Westmorland's arms were found to be too
short, and refused to meet. Continuing therefore to "doff" what was most
cumbersome--off went the coat, then the waistcoat, and finally Mason stood
stripped to his "sark" in the snow, with nothing on but his trousers,
where his opponent managed to keep him standing until he, in his turn, was
nearly starved to death!
Among other minor prizes at Langwathby, a pair of garters was given to the
boy who proved himself to be the fleetest runner. About forty years since
this prize was carried off by a youth of the village, who afterwards became
a successful rower, and, as one of the athletes of Queen's College, Oxford,
won the silver oar twice in succession.
A dance on the green among the village girls of four or five years old,
formed a pretty rural sight, even when witnessed amid the cheerless snow.
At the conclusion of these jocund rounds, each little maiden was presented
with a bright ribbon--such mementoes being popularly spoken of as
_fancies_. And while the procession of fiddlers and villagers were
marshalling in order, it was no unusual thing to hear an aged dame calling
from her cottage door: "Noo, honies, run an' git ye're _fancies_!"
The boys' race and the leaping usually succeeded the dancing on the green;
and by the time these pastimes were concluded, daylight had either gone or
was fast fading away. Owing to darkness setting in thus early, lanterns
were frequently in great request among the rough-spun frequenters of the
wrestling ring.
Following close in the rear of the New Year's pastimes, came the ancient
custom of _stanging_ on the Twelfth Night. A procession of young
fellows--dressed in fantastic garbs as clowns, accompanied by one in
woman's attire, and preceded by a couple of fiddlers--paraded the village
streets. Calling in rotation at the various houses on their way, the
"woman" commenced operations by sweeping up the fireside with a besom,
which she carried for that purpose, and then the leading clown delivered a
ludicrous speech to the inmates of the house. One Brunskill, shoemaker and
rustic humourist, is still remembered as being by far the cleverest clown
who figured at these Stangings. To his credit let it be mentioned that his
mirth was always kept well within the limits of decorum and decency.
The Langwathby Rounds continued to flourish after the Melmerby ones had
passed away, being kept up for full twenty years longer, and consequently
extended over a still greater period of time. The more intelligent dwellers
at this hamlet give it as their opinion, that so long as the Rounds
continued to be of a secluded character, and were almost entirely taken
part in by the villagers and the rural population, living under the shadow
of Crossfell or Hartside, things generally went well and smoothly; and that
it was reserved for these latter days to open up new roads, offer larger
prizes, and introduce a greater influx of "riff-raff" and unruly characters
from the towns, after which period the annual gatherings became more and
more degraded by tolerating unseemly abuses. About the year 1870, having
sunk in social status, these Rounds were finally given up, lest some riot
or other unpleasant circumstance might crop up, as did at Armathwaite,
between the English and Irish navvies, employed in cutting the extension of
the Midland line of railway from Settle to Carlisle.
The following is as full a list of the winners of the wrestling at the
Langwathby Rounds as we have been able to collect together, from a variety
of out-of-the-way and other sources.
About 1788, Adam Dodd of Langwathby Mill, won _several_ years.
About 1809, Paul Gedling, Culgaith, 1st; Isaac Dodd, Langwathby Mill, 2nd.
Dodd broke a blood vessel in the wrestle up, owing to which both men left
loose; the prize, of course, being awarded to Gedling. Isaac Dodd farmed
Barrock Gill, near Carlisle, for many years after this event.
1816, James Robinson, gamekeeper, Hackthorpe.
1817, Thomas Peat, Blencow, 1st; George Robinson, Langwathby, 2nd.
Robinson of Hackthorpe, and Joe Abbot of Thornthwaite, also wrestled.
1818, Thomas Richardson, Hesket-New-Market, known as "The Dyer," 1st; John
Dobson, Cliburn, 2nd.
About 1820, Isaac Mason, Croglin.
About 1824, John Holmes, King of Mardale.
About 1826, John Bowstead, yeoman, Beckbank.
Bowstead was one of the Bishop of Lichfield's younger brothers.
1829, Joseph Thompson, Caldbeck, 1st;--Milburn, 2nd.
Thompson was only an eleven stone man; while Milburn stood six feet two
inches, and weighed nearly sixteen stones. Thompson also distinguished
himself by throwing Ireland and Bird, both good wrestlers.
About 1830, Matthew Dixon, Penrith.
About 1831, George Bird, farmer, Langwathby.
1832, _First day_: Thomas Dobson, Sleagill. _Second day_: William Warwick,
Eamont Bridge.
About 1833, Richard Chapman, Patterdale, 1st; Benson of Hunsanby, 2nd.
About 1834, Richard Chapman, Patterdale.
" 1835, George Bird, farmer, Langwathby.
" 1836, Robt. Gordon, husbandman, Plumpton.
" 1837, George Bird, farmer, Langwathby.
" 1838, " " "
" 1839, ---- Moore, shoemaker, Melmerby.
" 1840, Thomas Morton, The Gale, Melmerby.
About 1841, John Spedding, husbandman, Skirwith.
" 1842, Thomas Morton, The Gale, Melmerby.
About 1843, Anthony Mc.Donald, Appleby.
" 1844, " " "
1845, _First day_: J. Shadwick, Lazonby, 1st; John Robinson, Langwathby,
2nd. _Second day_: William Buck, Temple Sowerby, 1st; John Buck Temple
Sowerby, 2nd.
About 1846, Anthony Mc.Donald, Appleby.
1847, _First day_: Anthony Mc.Donald, Appleby, 1st; John Shadwick, 2nd.
_Second day_: Joseph Halliwell, Penrith, 1st; John Shadwick, 2nd.
About 1848, Joseph Halliwell, Penrith.
1849, William Buck, Temple Sowerby, 1st; John Shadwick, 2nd.
About 1850, Anthony Mc.Donald, Appleby.
" 1851, " " "
" 1852, " " "
Anthony Mc.Donald won seven times in all, some of which were second day's
prizes.
About 1861, _First day_: John Wilkinson, Little Strickland, 1st; John
Salkeld, Melmerby, 2nd. _Second day_: Thomas Threlkeld, Langwathby, 1st;
Isaac Dodd, Langwathby Mill, 2nd.
1862, _First day_: William Jameson, Penrith, 1st; T. Salkeld, Great
Salkeld, 2nd. _Second day_: J. Brunskill, Penrith, 1st; W. Watson,
Winskill, 2nd.
About 1863, William Jameson, Penrith.
" 1864, _First day_: John Wilkinson, Little Strickland, 1st; John Atkinson,
Little Salkeld, 2nd. _Second day_: Isaac Lowthian, Plumpton, 1st; Philip
Lowthian, Plumpton, 2nd.
About 1865, _First day_: Isaac Lowthian, Plumpton, 1st; Thomas Sisson,
Temple Sowerby, 2nd. _Second day_: John Howe, Ousby, 1st; William
Cheesebrough, Langwathby Hall, 2nd.
About 1866, _First day_: Andrew Armstrong, Plumpton, 1st; Isaac Lowthian,
Plumpton, 2nd. _Second day_: Adam Slack, Skirwith Hall, 1st; James
Errington, Aiketgate, 2nd.
1867, _First day_: Adam Slack, Skirwith Hall, 1st; John Cheesebrough,
Langwathby Hall, 2nd. _Second day_: George Steadman, Drybeck, 1st; Ralph
Pooley, Longlands, 2nd.
About 1868, _First day_: Ralph Pooley, Longlands, 1st; William
Cheesebrough, Langwathby, 2nd. _Second day_: Ralph Pooley, 1st; John
Cheesebrough, Langwathby, 2nd.
_Nine-and-a-half stone prize_: Joseph Hodgson, Langwathby, 1st; John
Errington, Aiketgate, 2nd.
1869, _First day_: Joseph Hodgson, 1st; William Cheesebrough, 2nd. _Second
day_: Saunders Gedling, 1st; William Cheesebrough, 2nd.
_Ten stone prize_: Robert Mc.Crone, 1st; Thomas Holmes, 2nd.
1870, George Steadman, Drybeck, 1st; William Pigg, Sceugh Dyke, 2nd.
_Ten stone prize:_ Samuel Brownrigg, Clifton, 1st; Robert Gordon, Plumpton,
2nd.
This was the last Round held at Langwathby. There was only one day's
sports.
JAMES FAWCETT
OF NENTHEAD.
The following brief memoir of JAMES FAWCETT of Nenthead--one of the most
accomplished wrestlers on record--will carry the reader back to a byegone
period, when wrestling and various other amusements, which filled up the
day's programme, were far more a _rural_ following than at present; when
"Rounds" like Melmerby and Langwathby, when West Cumberland "Bridewains,"
when country meetings like Stone Carr, near Greystoke, produced at stated
periods an exciting animation in almost all northern villages, and afforded
a brief holiday to a numerous body of small "statesmen" and farmers, their
sons, and servants. Such gatherings are now, however, nearly all given
up--are only "lang syne" remembrances, and wrestling meetings are held
mostly in the large towns, and considerable sums offered to contend for. In
many cases they are got up by innkeepers, who depend on "gate money" to
recoup the outlay. Whether this change conduces to fair, manly, unbought
wrestling, is a matter of grave doubt. Wrestlings, we are afraid, will
never again be contests, like those of ancient Greece and Rome--_for honour
and fame_. We cannot look on this change otherwise than as unfortunate for
the rural population of the northern counties, who may justly asseverate--
There never was a game like the old English game,
That's played 'twixt the knee and the tee;
You may roam the world o'er, but the game at your door
Is the very best game you will see.
We regret being unable to furnish anything like a detailed account of Jemmy
Fawcett's feats in the ring, or more than a meagre outline of the general
particulars of his life. But what we do know of his career is so important
in wrestling annals, that we are inclined to believe it would be considered
injudicious to omit all notice of such a high class athlete. Most of his
achievements have become well nigh traditionary, and yet, in many respects,
his memory is as green as ever it was in the northern counties, and
particularly so in a wide circuit round Alston Moor.
Fawcett lived at Greengill, Nenthead, a mining village in East Cumberland,
four or five miles from Alston town, where he worked at his daily
occupation, in what is called a "hush," connected with the mines. His
height was five feet seven inches, and his general wrestling weight from
ten to ten and a half stone. His modes of attack and defence, and manner of
disposing of his opponents, seem to have been innumerable; in fact, he
appears to have been an adept in turning the most unlikely emergencies to
account. He was as active as an eel, could twist and wriggle like one, and
was nearly as difficult to hold. When an opening presented itself, he was
partial to getting his left side into play, and then immediately ensued a
decisive onslaught. Robert Rowantree, a big six foot, fifteen-stone man,
who practised a slaughtering cross-buttock, used to say that no man could
so effectually stop it as Jemmy Fawcett. Litt designates him, as "the very
best wrestler of his weight Cumberland, or indeed the United Kingdom, ever
produced." And again, "Jemmy must have been the most wonderful wrestler of
his own or any other time."
It was about the beginning of the present century that Fawcett attained his
prime. His wonderful success in carrying off the head prize at the Melmerby
"Rounds" for seven consecutive years, added considerable celebrity to his
other achievements. On one of these occasions, he went to Melmerby in
company with his friend, John Woodmas of Alston, with a full determination
of winning. A great stumbling block in the way to victory, presented itself
in the person of one "Pakin" Whitfield, who weighed from sixteen to
seventeen stones, and who had the reputation of being, at that time, the
strongest man in Cumberland. All went well and smoothly through several
rounds, until Fawcett and Woodmas were drawn together. What was to be done?
Woodmas, who weighed at least three stone heavier, argued thus: "Noo,
Jemmy, my man, what! thoo can dea nowte wid greit Pakin. Thoo's niver
fit to mannish him. Thoo'll just hev to lig doon to me!" "Nay, nay," was
the determined reply, "I'll lig nin doon to thee, ner neàbody else. I can
throw him weel eneùf, I know I can." When "Pakin" and Fawcett came together
in the next round, Woodmas used to say afterwards: "Sist'e! I fair trimmelt
ageàn for t' lile fellow. I thowt nowt but t' varra life wad be crush't oot
on him!" Standing side by side in the ring, the contrast appeared so great,
that it looked as if the struggle was to take place between a giant and a
pigmy. When the little man tried to span the back of the big man, and
failed to do so, derisive peals of laughter broke out in various parts of
the ring; and when the novel spectacle was presented of the little one
lengthening his reach by the aid of a pocket handkerchief, the risible
propensities of the spectators were tickled to a still greater extent.
Getting fairly into holds, the tussle, however, was not one of long
duration. "Pakin" commenced operations by making two or three futile
attempts to draw Fawcett up, so that he could hold him more firmly; but the
latter being fully prepared for any emergency, skipped about nimbly, and
evaded all the attempts made to grip him; then he suddenly slipped under
the big-one's chest with his left side, "gat in amang his legs, an' browte
him neck ower heels." No sooner was the immense mass of humanity rolled out
on the green sward, than the crowd went wild with excitement, and "varra
nar split Crossfell wid shootin' an' hurrain'!"
The annual Easter sports, held at Lowbyre, Alston, continued for many years
to be a centre for wrestlers to congregate, from the districts round
Weardale, Harewood, Knarsdale, Nenthead, and Garrigill. To one of these
meetings, came Cuthbert Peart from Weardale, a powerful well built man,
weighing sixteen stones nine pounds. Being drawn against Fawcett in one of
the rounds, Peart lifted him like a child, and while holding him dangling
in the air, asked, in a swaggering manner, where he would like to be laid.
Jemmy, however, "mannish't to bit on his feet, like a cat;" and then, quick
as lightning, down went the Weardale man, like a shot, from the effects of
one of Jemmy's deadliest chips. "Noo," said Fawcett, with mock gravity,
while stooping over the prostrate figure of Peart, "thoo can lig me
whoariver thoo likes!"
The brilliant manner displayed in carrying off Peart, filled the fallen man
with so much wonder and amazement, that he declared Fawcett to be the
cleverest wrestler in Britain, and forthwith took him over to Blanchland,
on the borders of Northumberland and Durham. At that place he wrestled a
match, with a sixteen-and-a-half-stone man, for a pair of leather breeches,
and won easily. On this occasion he had again to resort to the use of a
handkerchief.
Another fall, similar in some respects to the one with Peart, occurred at
Nentberry sports, about three miles from Alston, with one Thomas
Stephenson, a man of considerable stature and bulk, who was accounted a
good wrestler in his day and generation. On going into the ring for the
final fall, Stephenson repeated again and again, with much confidence: "The
little man _must_ go down--the little man _must_ go down, this time!" When
hold had been obtained, the big one led off very briskly with the swing,
but failing signally, Fawcett at once introduced the buttock, and brought
him over so quickly and effectually, that as soon as Stephenson had
recovered from his surprise, he burst out into passionate language,
exclaiming: "Jemmy Fawcett's nut a man, at aw! He's a _divel_--a fair
DIVEL! an' neàbody 'ill convince me to th' contrary!"
Jemmy continued to wrestle occasionally till he was nearly fifty years old.
Litt speaks of him figuring at Smaledale in Yorkshire, where he resided
about 1823.
During a lengthened career, Fawcett continued a great enthusiast in
wrestling matters. When lying on his death bed, while wrestling with a foe
sure to triumph in the end, the "ruling passion" exercised a strange
influence over him. He actually induced his son and daughter to take hold
in the room, for a tussle, in order that the son might be benefitted by his
instructions, relative to certain favourite chips. This anecdote is well
authenticated.
Fawcett died at Nenthall, near Alston, aged fifty-five or fifty-six years,
about 1830.
WILLIAM RICHARDSON
OF CALDBECK.
"_BELTED WILL._"
When Professor Wilson wrote a review of William Litt's popular
"Wrestliana," for _Blackwood's Magazine_, he stated that WILLIAM RICHARDSON
of Caldbeck, the winner of two hundred and forty wrestling trophies or
"belts," was "better entitled than old Howard of Castle Dacre himself to
the cognomen of 'Belted Will.'" From this sweeping dictum of the presiding
spirit of old Maga, we are inclined to dissent. William Richardson
doubtless gained his formidable list of prize "belts" mostly in well
contested but harmless fields of strife, and is fully entitled to the proud
distinction of having his familiar Caldbeck patronymic, "Will Ritson,"
elevated into "Belted Will." How, however, he is "better entitled" than the
grand border chieftain of the Howards--one of the most celebrated heroes
that shone in the long and deadly feuds which prevailed for generations
between the rival border houses of Scotland and England--we are at a loss
to conceive. Besides, they earned a similar designation in such different
fields. One is rendered for ever famous as one of the most renowned actors
in the fierce border raids that were wont to arise between England and
Scotland--a historic celebrity handed down to all time; and whose sword and
belt--still preserved amongst the Howard relics--astonish everyone
attempting to handle them. It is inconceivable that any one ever existed
with sufficient strength to wield such formidable weapons, without we fall
back to that giant of a "long time ago," yclept Samson, or to the other
strong man of heathen mythology, Hercules. Richardson, holding a high place
in the wrestling arenas of the north, and formidable from his overpowering
strength, contended only in fields where, it is true, there was keen
determined rivalry, but of an entirely harmless description to life or
limb--plenty brought to grass in a rough, tumble-down, unwelcome manner,
but not ending with the death-struggles of infuriate moss-troopers, hating
each other with a savage bitterness almost inconceivable at the present
day.
William Richardson was born at Haltcliff, in Caldbeck parish, in March,
1780. In the rural districts of Cumberland, families were frequently
numerous. The Richardsons were of this description--the subject of our
present memoir being the eldest but one of thirteen children. In his own
neighbourhood, indeed almost throughout Cumberland, he became familiarly
known as "Ritson," or "Rutson." In order to make his way in the world, he
was brought up to the occupation of a joiner, and continued to follow the
business for some years; but having a strong inclination for farming, and
breeding Herdwick sheep, he gave it up, and settled on an estate called
Netherrow, near Caldbeck. This farm was in the occupation of his father and
himself for eighty years.