Bear baiting - a traditional English pastime
Bear and bull baiting were a traditional pastime, not only in London with its famous Bear Gardens but throughout England. In Colchester, Essex, around 1365 there's already mention of bear baiting at 'The Bearstake' at the North Hill area. In the County of Staffordshire, renowned of its fighting dogs, there are also early references that bear baiting occurred as early as the 14th century. In Newcastle under Lyme there was the Ironmarket, which was the place for bear baiting, in Walsall there is mention of a Bear Garden at Church Hill in the 17th century, in Smethwick (at Bearwood Hill) and Lichfield (at Green Hill); baiting events were held up to the 19th century...
Robert Laneham wrote in his 'Laneham's Letter' about bear baiting at the Castle of Kenilworth (Warwickshire) in 1575:
"It was a sport very pleasant to see, these beasts; to see the bear with his pink eyes leering after his enemies approach, the nimbleness and wait of the dog to take his advantage and the force and experience of the bear again, to avoid the assaults; if he were bitten in one place, how he would pinch in another to get free; that if he were taken once, then what shift, with biting, with clawing, with roring, tossing and tumbling, he would work to wind himself from them; and when he was loose, to shake his ears twice or trice with the blood and slaver about his phiz, a matter of a goodly relief..."
Robert Laneham wrote in his 'Laneham's Letter' about bear baiting at the Castle of Kenilworth (Warwickshire) in 1575:
"It was a sport very pleasant to see, these beasts; to see the bear with his pink eyes leering after his enemies approach, the nimbleness and wait of the dog to take his advantage and the force and experience of the bear again, to avoid the assaults; if he were bitten in one place, how he would pinch in another to get free; that if he were taken once, then what shift, with biting, with clawing, with roring, tossing and tumbling, he would work to wind himself from them; and when he was loose, to shake his ears twice or trice with the blood and slaver about his phiz, a matter of a goodly relief..."
In London, special theatres arose, with removable floors, kennels and all the benefits in favor of the bloody spectacle...however, throughout the country these events usually were held in the open field, whether or not in simple arenas, often circular fenced off. Sometimes with wooden bleachers built around...
Thomas Bracebridge, a 16th century Puritan mentioned a Bear Garden in Bansbury (Oxfordshire) and a little to the south, in Oxford bear baiting took place at the Bath Place area (Turf Tavern) and at St. Clement's. Oxford also knew many bull rings (Carfax, Headington, Cowley Marsh and Northgate), but it's not certain that bear baiting events were also held there.
Another area in England which was known for its baiting sports was Greater Manchester, North-West England. In Wigan, a town west of Manchester there's a reference about bear baiting; 1624, the Bishop of Chester, John Bridgeman (1577-1652) indicates his disapproval about the barbaric and brutal sport of bear baiting at The Wakes. Yet he allows, at request of the Mayor, the event to happen, on Market Hill, after the market.
Originally, a celebration of the dedication to the Parish Church, The Wakes grew into a festival full of gambling, alcohol abuse, immoral behavior, riots and blood sports...
During the late 18th century the call for abolition of animal baiting at The Wakes became increasingly profound. In Flixton, baitings during The Wakes stopped in 1816.
Although these practices as such occurred untill 1835 in Flixton, the Lord Nelson Hotel was such a place; already in 1788 the inn keepers of Flixton didn't get a license anymore to organize such events....
Prestwich banned baiting at The Wakes in 1832, the following was stated on the poster:
"The committee of these sports have to announce to the public that they have declined the bull and bear baiting system, as they consider them injurious to the morals of the rising generation."
Thomas Bracebridge, a 16th century Puritan mentioned a Bear Garden in Bansbury (Oxfordshire) and a little to the south, in Oxford bear baiting took place at the Bath Place area (Turf Tavern) and at St. Clement's. Oxford also knew many bull rings (Carfax, Headington, Cowley Marsh and Northgate), but it's not certain that bear baiting events were also held there.
Another area in England which was known for its baiting sports was Greater Manchester, North-West England. In Wigan, a town west of Manchester there's a reference about bear baiting; 1624, the Bishop of Chester, John Bridgeman (1577-1652) indicates his disapproval about the barbaric and brutal sport of bear baiting at The Wakes. Yet he allows, at request of the Mayor, the event to happen, on Market Hill, after the market.
Originally, a celebration of the dedication to the Parish Church, The Wakes grew into a festival full of gambling, alcohol abuse, immoral behavior, riots and blood sports...
During the late 18th century the call for abolition of animal baiting at The Wakes became increasingly profound. In Flixton, baitings during The Wakes stopped in 1816.
Although these practices as such occurred untill 1835 in Flixton, the Lord Nelson Hotel was such a place; already in 1788 the inn keepers of Flixton didn't get a license anymore to organize such events....
Prestwich banned baiting at The Wakes in 1832, the following was stated on the poster:
"The committee of these sports have to announce to the public that they have declined the bull and bear baiting system, as they consider them injurious to the morals of the rising generation."
Especially in Eccles, animal baiting was a common pastime, as also during the annual Eccles Wakes. Baiting events usually were held at the Cross Keys hotel area. Even into the 1930's the program contained bull, bear and badger baiting. In the Liverpool Mercury of september, 10th, 1830 an announcement appeared about the sport events of The Wakes that year....
"On saturday, August 28, 1830, at the house of Miss Alice Cottam, sign of the King's Arms, near Eccles.
A. C. with great pleasure informs her friends and the public in general, that she has, at a considerable expense, engaged an excellent bull, bear and badger, for the
gratification of those who may favour her with their company; the bull will be baited three times a day, namely, half past nine o'clock in the morning, at half past one in the afternoon, and at five o'clock in the evening, every day during the Wakes. The bear will be baited at eleven o'clock in the forenoon, and three o'clock in the afternoon. The badger will be baited
every evening.
N. B. the bull, bear and badger will be baited on saturday night previous, to commence at six o'clock precisely, subject to such conditions will be then and there produced. The whole is so arranged as to form a never-failing source of amusement. By order of the stewards. God save the King."
Also well-known of its bear fights in the 17th century was Congleton, Cheshire, which nickname was 'Bear Town'.
The story goes that there wasn't enough money to buy a suitable bear for fighting so they used the money of the bible fund in order to get a fighting bear.
There is written a song about it (Congleton bear by John Tams)...
"Congleton rare, Congleton rare
They sold the bible to buy a bear."
At the site of The Dog Inn in Knottingley, Yorkshire is said to be the last place where a bear bait took place...
"On saturday, August 28, 1830, at the house of Miss Alice Cottam, sign of the King's Arms, near Eccles.
A. C. with great pleasure informs her friends and the public in general, that she has, at a considerable expense, engaged an excellent bull, bear and badger, for the
gratification of those who may favour her with their company; the bull will be baited three times a day, namely, half past nine o'clock in the morning, at half past one in the afternoon, and at five o'clock in the evening, every day during the Wakes. The bear will be baited at eleven o'clock in the forenoon, and three o'clock in the afternoon. The badger will be baited
every evening.
N. B. the bull, bear and badger will be baited on saturday night previous, to commence at six o'clock precisely, subject to such conditions will be then and there produced. The whole is so arranged as to form a never-failing source of amusement. By order of the stewards. God save the King."
Also well-known of its bear fights in the 17th century was Congleton, Cheshire, which nickname was 'Bear Town'.
The story goes that there wasn't enough money to buy a suitable bear for fighting so they used the money of the bible fund in order to get a fighting bear.
There is written a song about it (Congleton bear by John Tams)...
"Congleton rare, Congleton rare
They sold the bible to buy a bear."
At the site of The Dog Inn in Knottingley, Yorkshire is said to be the last place where a bear bait took place...
THE COLONIES
The British took their penchant for blood sports with them to their overseas colonies and in the rugged and wild America it enjoyed unprecedented popularity, especially dog fighting became a cultural heritage. Fights were usually organized at public houses and inns, and gambling was a common feature....
In cities like New York, Boston and Philadelphia, animal baiting was a common practice. Famous places in New York were the Bull's Head, a tavern in the Bowery, where butchers and traders from the nearby cattle market got their booze and entertainment. This market was a closed area, in which bear baiting events were being organized during the colonial period. According to W. Harrison Baynes (Old taverns of New York, 1915), 'bear baiting soon became rare as the animals disappeared from the neighborhood'. He further refers to Bunker Hill, Tower Hill and De Lancey Arms tavern as baiting locations.
It's due to Henry Bergh (1811-1888), founder of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals (ASPCA), that in New York, all kind of animal fighting became banned by law in 1867 and in the next century, the other States will follow this initiative.
Miraculously, bear baiting still occur in the United States...In the guise of training of hunting dogs, bear baiting is still legal in as many as 12 states (Alaska, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey).
Although colonial Australia and New Zealand became also familiar with this phenomenon, it were the Indian and Burmese regions where bear baiting became really popular, even up to this day....
'TIERHETZEN'
In German-speaking Europe were some famous theatres, which were used for baiting events. The 'Fechthaus' in Nurnberg was built in 1628 and offered up space for 3000 spectators! Although mainly in use for theatre, the building had removable wooden stage floors and in the brick section below the galleries were animal enclosures located....During the 18th century, butchers organized bear - and bull baiting contests at the 'Fechthaus'.
Joachim I (1484-1535), Elector of Brandenburg kept a huge amount of wild and domestic animals, including bears, for the purpose of hunting and baiting events for the people of Colln (part of todays Berlin).
Under the reign of Elector Friedrich III (1657-1713) an arena was created around 1690, the 'Hetzgarten' in Berlin. Moreover, he also ordered to build a second Hetzgarten in Konigsburg, Preusen (nowadays Kalinigrad, Russia), at the site of todays 'Paradeplatz'. It's been said that, in 1705, he took wild animals like leopards, lions and apes from Tunis, to fight in the Hetzgarten...A year prior to his death, a fire destroyed the cadets academy of Berlin and the Hetzgarten was designated by Friedrich as temporarely replacement. His succesor, Friedrich Wilhelm I (1688-1740) made this permanently and this ment the end of bear baiting in the Hetzgarten.
The British took their penchant for blood sports with them to their overseas colonies and in the rugged and wild America it enjoyed unprecedented popularity, especially dog fighting became a cultural heritage. Fights were usually organized at public houses and inns, and gambling was a common feature....
In cities like New York, Boston and Philadelphia, animal baiting was a common practice. Famous places in New York were the Bull's Head, a tavern in the Bowery, where butchers and traders from the nearby cattle market got their booze and entertainment. This market was a closed area, in which bear baiting events were being organized during the colonial period. According to W. Harrison Baynes (Old taverns of New York, 1915), 'bear baiting soon became rare as the animals disappeared from the neighborhood'. He further refers to Bunker Hill, Tower Hill and De Lancey Arms tavern as baiting locations.
It's due to Henry Bergh (1811-1888), founder of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals (ASPCA), that in New York, all kind of animal fighting became banned by law in 1867 and in the next century, the other States will follow this initiative.
Miraculously, bear baiting still occur in the United States...In the guise of training of hunting dogs, bear baiting is still legal in as many as 12 states (Alaska, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey).
Although colonial Australia and New Zealand became also familiar with this phenomenon, it were the Indian and Burmese regions where bear baiting became really popular, even up to this day....
'TIERHETZEN'
In German-speaking Europe were some famous theatres, which were used for baiting events. The 'Fechthaus' in Nurnberg was built in 1628 and offered up space for 3000 spectators! Although mainly in use for theatre, the building had removable wooden stage floors and in the brick section below the galleries were animal enclosures located....During the 18th century, butchers organized bear - and bull baiting contests at the 'Fechthaus'.
Joachim I (1484-1535), Elector of Brandenburg kept a huge amount of wild and domestic animals, including bears, for the purpose of hunting and baiting events for the people of Colln (part of todays Berlin).
Under the reign of Elector Friedrich III (1657-1713) an arena was created around 1690, the 'Hetzgarten' in Berlin. Moreover, he also ordered to build a second Hetzgarten in Konigsburg, Preusen (nowadays Kalinigrad, Russia), at the site of todays 'Paradeplatz'. It's been said that, in 1705, he took wild animals like leopards, lions and apes from Tunis, to fight in the Hetzgarten...A year prior to his death, a fire destroyed the cadets academy of Berlin and the Hetzgarten was designated by Friedrich as temporarely replacement. His succesor, Friedrich Wilhelm I (1688-1740) made this permanently and this ment the end of bear baiting in the Hetzgarten.
One of the most prestigeous arenas was in Vienna, built by the French Carl Defraine in 1755 at todays Hetzgasse, Landstrasse. The circulair, wooden building had 3 floors, it could accomodate about 3000 people and there were 20 animal enclosures. The events usually took place between march and november but in 1796 the theater burned down completely, all animals present here were killed and Emperor Franz II (1768-1835) did not allow for more bloody animal fights ... the theater was never rebuilt. The Vienna Hetztheater was not the first of that region, already in the early 1700's an amphitheatre was taken in use in Leopoldsburg (which was re-located around 1720 to the gardens of the 'Zum Schwarzen Adler' inn (Taborstrasse, Leopoldsburg).
Another in Josefstadt around 1720 and also in Landstrasse (Heumarkt), a theatre was built around 1735. However, this theatre was shut down again around 1743 because of the planned construction of cavalry barracks.
From Vienna, these bloody spectacles spread through the Empire, Preszburg (todays Bratislava in Slovakia), Regensburg (Bayern, Germany) and Graz were known of its animal baiting. In Graz, an arena was built in 1776 at the current Bruckenkopfgasse...3 floors and it could accomodate 12 dogs, completely surrounded by a high wall; Unfortunately, manager Josef Jacobelli (1729-1801), already in 1783 got no longer permission to organize baiting events and in 1768, Emperor Josef II (1741-1790) shut down the theater and banned animal baiting.
Another in Josefstadt around 1720 and also in Landstrasse (Heumarkt), a theatre was built around 1735. However, this theatre was shut down again around 1743 because of the planned construction of cavalry barracks.
From Vienna, these bloody spectacles spread through the Empire, Preszburg (todays Bratislava in Slovakia), Regensburg (Bayern, Germany) and Graz were known of its animal baiting. In Graz, an arena was built in 1776 at the current Bruckenkopfgasse...3 floors and it could accomodate 12 dogs, completely surrounded by a high wall; Unfortunately, manager Josef Jacobelli (1729-1801), already in 1783 got no longer permission to organize baiting events and in 1768, Emperor Josef II (1741-1790) shut down the theater and banned animal baiting.
THE LOW LANDS
Although not as widely spread as in the British Isles, bear baiting also occurred in the Low Lands. The most famous spot where this bloody spectacle took place was the 'Beere-Beyters Herberg', better known as 'The Beerebyt'. Located at the Amstel river, just outside the 'Utrechtse Poort' (demolished around 1858), one of the gates in the Amsterdam fortifications. Here it was not a sport of the nobility but of the common people and july 20th, 1689 bull - and bear baiting became prohibited, under the penalty of 100 guilders, which was a considerable sum those days. The main reason for the prohibition were the riots which these events were accompanied by. And still, despite the ban, according to poet Jan van Gyzen (1668-1722), during Easter celebration 1719, both a fight between two Bulldogs as bear baiting took place at the Overtoomsche weg in Amsterdam. The poem is as follows:
"Paaschviering anno 1719 te Amsterdam
Bij Paulus Settel op de Overtoomsche weg
Alwaar de Druyf uythangt, let leezers, wat ik zeg
Zal op Paas-Maandag, als de klok is vier geslaagen
Na kerktijd iets geschieden, dat ieder zal behagen
Voor eerst zoo zal men zien het knupp'len van een gans
En 14 gulden voor den winnaar van de kans
Van zilver. Endanom de tijd met vreugd te slijten
Zal men een pekelharing zien de kop afbijten
Met mosterd digt besmeerd
Des and'ren daags alweer
Te weeten Dinsdag ten 3 uuren, zal een beer
Zichzelf dood vegten met weergadelooze honden
Zoo lang, totdat hij door dezelve is verslonden
Ook zal aldaar een kamp van 2 Bulhonden zijn
Die 't wind, 6 dukaten en goedkoop bier en wijn..."
Jan van Gysen - Amsterdamsche Merkurius, 07-04-1719
Meanwhile, in the Southern Netherlands, animal fights just went through, not widely but especially during holidays these events occurred. One of the places of which it is known that animal fights were organized is 'De Meiboom', a tavern in the city of Brugge (todays Belgium).
Belgium became separated from the Netherlands in 1830 and in june 1867, a law passed regarding keeping and attending animal fights, which meant a complete ban. But already in 1844 a Dutch newspaper placed an article about the fact that animal fights are prohibited in Brussels and apparently been replaced by violent wrestling matches (Vlissingsche Courant, 12-01-1844). A year before, a man who came from Paris, travelled with 3 bears, 2 wolves, a wild boar, a bull, 2 horses, 2 mules and about 30 'English Dogges', he arrived in the city of Kortrijk (Belgium) in order to organize animal fights...after it was explicitly forbidden to him, he traveled to the Netherlands to try his luck there (Utrechtse Provinciale - en Stadscourant, 1843).
Although not as widely spread as in the British Isles, bear baiting also occurred in the Low Lands. The most famous spot where this bloody spectacle took place was the 'Beere-Beyters Herberg', better known as 'The Beerebyt'. Located at the Amstel river, just outside the 'Utrechtse Poort' (demolished around 1858), one of the gates in the Amsterdam fortifications. Here it was not a sport of the nobility but of the common people and july 20th, 1689 bull - and bear baiting became prohibited, under the penalty of 100 guilders, which was a considerable sum those days. The main reason for the prohibition were the riots which these events were accompanied by. And still, despite the ban, according to poet Jan van Gyzen (1668-1722), during Easter celebration 1719, both a fight between two Bulldogs as bear baiting took place at the Overtoomsche weg in Amsterdam. The poem is as follows:
"Paaschviering anno 1719 te Amsterdam
Bij Paulus Settel op de Overtoomsche weg
Alwaar de Druyf uythangt, let leezers, wat ik zeg
Zal op Paas-Maandag, als de klok is vier geslaagen
Na kerktijd iets geschieden, dat ieder zal behagen
Voor eerst zoo zal men zien het knupp'len van een gans
En 14 gulden voor den winnaar van de kans
Van zilver. Endanom de tijd met vreugd te slijten
Zal men een pekelharing zien de kop afbijten
Met mosterd digt besmeerd
Des and'ren daags alweer
Te weeten Dinsdag ten 3 uuren, zal een beer
Zichzelf dood vegten met weergadelooze honden
Zoo lang, totdat hij door dezelve is verslonden
Ook zal aldaar een kamp van 2 Bulhonden zijn
Die 't wind, 6 dukaten en goedkoop bier en wijn..."
Jan van Gysen - Amsterdamsche Merkurius, 07-04-1719
Meanwhile, in the Southern Netherlands, animal fights just went through, not widely but especially during holidays these events occurred. One of the places of which it is known that animal fights were organized is 'De Meiboom', a tavern in the city of Brugge (todays Belgium).
Belgium became separated from the Netherlands in 1830 and in june 1867, a law passed regarding keeping and attending animal fights, which meant a complete ban. But already in 1844 a Dutch newspaper placed an article about the fact that animal fights are prohibited in Brussels and apparently been replaced by violent wrestling matches (Vlissingsche Courant, 12-01-1844). A year before, a man who came from Paris, travelled with 3 bears, 2 wolves, a wild boar, a bull, 2 horses, 2 mules and about 30 'English Dogges', he arrived in the city of Kortrijk (Belgium) in order to organize animal fights...after it was explicitly forbidden to him, he traveled to the Netherlands to try his luck there (Utrechtse Provinciale - en Stadscourant, 1843).
RUSSIA
Bear baiting has been a popular pastime in Russia for centuries, but here was another variant, which perhaps was even more popular...man vs bear.
History tells us that at the court of Tsar Ivan IV (1530-1584), better known as Ivan Grozny, regularly fights with bears were organized. Special built arenas were not there, fights were held in one of the courtyards at the Kremlin. Also Ivan's successor Tsar Fedor I (1557-1598) was a devotee of bear baiting. Around the 17th century bear baiting events were held at the courtyard near the Patriarch Palace.
Bear baiting also seemed to be a popular entertainment amongst the lower class, as E.A. Warner writes in her 'Russian Folk Theatre':
"Bear baiting was not only a sport for royalty. It was followed by keen interest by the ordinary people too. In Moscow itself public spectacles took place behind the Rogozskaya Zastava up to the sixties of the 19th century, and crowds of people would gather to watch them every sunday. The sport was abolished in the 1860's, when an animal protection society was formed."
Besides the above mentioned countries, bear baiting took place in many other countries and regions too, France and the Iberian peninsula were notorious for their blood sports. Bull baiting was their favorite pastime, however, dogs not played the leading role in this, human fighters determine the game, whether or not with the assistance of dogs.
Bear baiting has been a popular pastime in Russia for centuries, but here was another variant, which perhaps was even more popular...man vs bear.
History tells us that at the court of Tsar Ivan IV (1530-1584), better known as Ivan Grozny, regularly fights with bears were organized. Special built arenas were not there, fights were held in one of the courtyards at the Kremlin. Also Ivan's successor Tsar Fedor I (1557-1598) was a devotee of bear baiting. Around the 17th century bear baiting events were held at the courtyard near the Patriarch Palace.
Bear baiting also seemed to be a popular entertainment amongst the lower class, as E.A. Warner writes in her 'Russian Folk Theatre':
"Bear baiting was not only a sport for royalty. It was followed by keen interest by the ordinary people too. In Moscow itself public spectacles took place behind the Rogozskaya Zastava up to the sixties of the 19th century, and crowds of people would gather to watch them every sunday. The sport was abolished in the 1860's, when an animal protection society was formed."
Besides the above mentioned countries, bear baiting took place in many other countries and regions too, France and the Iberian peninsula were notorious for their blood sports. Bull baiting was their favorite pastime, however, dogs not played the leading role in this, human fighters determine the game, whether or not with the assistance of dogs.