Cornish wrestling in the nineteenth century

Abstract

ABSTRACT During the first half of the nineteenth century the Cornish economy was thriving, dominated by the metal mining industry. When the economy was thriving Cornish wrestling was at the height of its popularity when a large number of wrestlers entered numerous tournaments for lucrative prizes and witnessed by large crowds. It was also the time when the sport flourished in London. The leading wrestler during this period was Tom Gundry, who in a relatively short career won many of the tournaments in Cornwall, Devon and London and consequently was able to amass a significant sum in prize money. Despite his prominence he occasionally resorted to match-fixing or ‘faggoting’ with his opponents. During the second half of the nineteenth century, however, there was a collapse of the economy which had a deleterious effect upon Cornish wrestling with decreases in numbers of wrestlers, tournaments, prize money and spectators. The sport also disappeared from London. The common thread running throughout the nineteenth century is a ‘persistence of difference’. Cornwall’s historical experience was different from the rest of Britain and that difference has persisted over time and has led to a unique identity. Cornish wrestling contributed to the construction of that identity.