Part 5
For fully a century, and probably a much longer period, Melmerby has been known as a noted place for upholding the manly back-hold wrestling of the North. On Old Midsummer Day--that is, on the 5th of July of each year--this village commenced its annual two-days' sports, which consisted of prizes for wrestling, leaping, foot-racing, dog-trailing, etc. The wrestling took place on that part of the green known as the cock-pit, where many a doughty champion has been sent sprawling at full length on his back. Although the amount given in prizes was small,[8] the entry of names was always large, from sixty to seventy being the average number; while more than four-score men have contended at various times. By being held at the season of the year when the days were longest, and when they wore their sunniest aspect, Melmerby Rounds were invariably attended by vast concourses of spectators. The Alstonians used to muster remarkably strong; the miners and others coming over Hartside in considerable droves from that town, and the neighbouring villages of Nenthead and Garrigill-gates. So great became the celebrity of the Melmerby ring, that first-rate wrestlers have frequently travelled as far as thirty and forty miles to throw and be thrown upon its village green. Buying and selling was a thing unknown. One friend might give way to another sometimes; but, as a rule, it was purely the honour of becoming victor, for the time being, that emulated most of the competitors.
A veritable giant in height and strength, who was in his prime about 1805, being ambitious to excel as an athlete, attended these sports for several years, but never succeeded in carrying off a single prize. This was Teasdale Thompson of High Rotherup, near Alston, whose height exceeded six feet two inches, and whose weight was in proportion to his height. Among well-known men who attended these meetings, but failed to achieve success, may be mentioned Robinson of Renwick, and William Earl of Cumwhitton, the former of whom figured several times.
About a quarter of a century ago, the squire of Melmerby Hall interested himself a good deal in establishing spring and "back-end" fairs in the village, for the sale of cattle, sheep, &c.; and on this account it was thought better to abolish the annual Rounds. Accordingly this ancient gathering came to a sudden and unexpected collapse, about the year 1850, after having existed in an unbroken link for fully a century.
The following is as complete a list of the winners of the wrestling at Melmerby Rounds, as we have been able to collect. The local newspapers were carefully ransacked for intelligence, but being found singularly barren in this respect, our information had to be gathered in almost every instance from aged fell-side chroniclers, who had either been frequent or occasional attenders at these meetings, the principal of whom was Mr. John Dodd of Broadmeadows, Melmerby.
About 1788 Adam Dodd of Langwathby Mill, won _several_ years.
About 1798, James Fawcett, miner, Nenthead.
" 1799, " " "
" 1800, " " "
" 1801, " " "
" 1802, " " "
" 1803, " " "
" 1804, " " "
" 1809, Thomas Golightly, miner, Alston.
This wrestler afterwards removed to the West Cumberland mining district; and in February, 1819, was killed by the fall of part of a roof in one of the Whitehaven coal pits.
About 1810, Robert Rowantree, shepherd, Kingwater.
About 1815, Andrew Armstrong, farmer, Sowerby Hall.
About 1816, Thomas Peat, farmer's son, Blencow.
" 1817, John Dobson, Cliburn.
" 1818, John Robley, Scarrowmannock.
" 1819, " "
Robley emigrated to America several years after this date.
About 1820, Isaac Maughan, Alston.
" 1821, " "
Maughan settled in Newcastle-on-Tyne, where he died during the cholera of 1832.
About 1823, J. Spottiswoode, miner, Alston.
" 1825, John Weightman, husbandman, Hayton.
About 1826, John Weightman, husbandman, Hayton.
Weightman won two years, and received a guinea and the belt each time, these being the usual awards to the victor at that date.
1828, Thomas Armstrong, Carlisle; Elliot (perhaps of Cumrew) wrestled second. Bowman, of the Gale, won the second day's wrestling.
About 1830, Joseph Graham, Dufton Wood, Appleby.
About 1833, Jonathan Woodmas, Alston.
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.