Some Sporting Pursuits in the Longtown District
Life in Longtown
From the Carlisle Patriot (CP) and Carlisle Journal (CJ) newspapers
Hunting, shooting, fishing and hare coursing in Longtown were all popular activities, but subject to the permission of the Netherby Estate. January 25th 1812 CJPreservation of GameThe Game within the several Manors and Estates of Sir James Graham of Netherby, Baronet, having been of late most shamefully destroyed by poachers and other unqualified persons, and some unwarrantable liberties having also been taken lately in consequence of limited permission occasionally granted by Sir James, he finds it necessary to withdraw all permissions hereby granted to hunt or shoot upon his Estates.An additional number of keepers have been appointed to watch the grounds and whoever is hereafter found sporting thereon without leave will be prosecuted with vigour.March 3rd 1819 CPA long main of Cocks to be fought at Penrith on the 22nd, 23rd, and 24th April 1819 between the Gentlemen of CUMBERLAND and the Gentlemen of LANCASTER, for ten guineas a battle and 100 guineas a main. 3 turnouts on each day.March 20th 1819 CPTo the Editor of the Carlisle Patriot.Cambridge March 12th 1819SIR- I was surprised to see in the last Patriot that the Cockfighting has got to such a height in Cumberland that the Gentlemen of the West and the Gentlemen of the East have to advertise it. What are your magistrates about? As for the word Gentlemen, it must certainly be an error of the press. I hope, Mr Editor, that you will not fail to put it amongst the Errata next week.AN ENEMY TO CRUELTY February 13th 1819 CPCOURSINGA match, which had excited considerable interest in the sporting world, was decided on Tuesday last, on the estate of Sir James Graham, Bart. at Mossband, in the presence of a number of sportsmen, notwithstanding the extreme wetness of the day, between Mr R Norman's famous bitch Lemon and Mr Rae's bitch Whip, the former beating her adversary two courses out of three.March 31st 1821CJWe are happy to congratulate the fancy in this vicinity on a genuine set-to.George Irving of Moss Band and John Lamb, shoemaker of Longtown, were the heroes for two guineas aside. The fight took place on Thursday at Sarkfoot... it was real Moulsey- hurst milling, the battle lasting one hour and ten minutes, during which 49 rounds took place. After the first three, it was all Botchergate to a chandler's shop in favour of Irving, but Lamb was not sheepish, although a bad giver, he was an excellent taker, his receptions were in grand style, he got his nob in chancery once or twice, but he bore it very well, and although he was not able to fib as well as his opponent, he refused to lie unnecessarily.In the course of the fight, he had got more in his bread basket than he could hold, hence the knowing ones were obliged to convey him home by holding him on horseback.February 23rd 1822CJAt Mr A Goodfellow's annual hunt at Bolton -Fell-End on Monday last , the sons of Nimrod assembled early on the morning, and proceeded to Reaburn, a place celebrated for starting game. After a little search, the company drove off with upwards of seventy fine foxhounds at his brush, a brave fox in prime order, which instead of taking off across the country to the rocks, cliffs or woody braes of Cannoby, bent his course in a circuitous route to the east, taking first a serpentine direction to Stapleton Church, sometimes crossing the river Line... Reynard next took a range of mosses or flows straight easterly but finding no place wherein to escape his clamourous foes, and becoming exhausted, the exclamation of "Whoop! Dead!" was re-echoed at Troutbeck Nick, within less than five miles of the Northumberland border... The only riders who surmounted the difficulties were Mr Nicholson and a gentleman who rode Mr Amos's famous pony of Bolton Fell End.(March 2nd 1822CJIn our account of Bolton Fell End Hunt last week, we committed a few inadvertent errors. The fox was procured at Bradly in Liddesdale, and brought to Bolton Fell End where he was kept until the morning of the hunt, when he was turned out of a bag, a few yards from the house of Mr A Goodfellow. No horses were up at the time of death, nor could they be, owing to the state of the road. Instead of 5 miles from Northumberland, where he was killed, it was less than 2 miles...) March 2nd 1822 CPOn Wednesday last, a steeplechase for a considerable sum took place between Mr John Ferguson's black mare and a brown horse belonging to Lieut. Knox of the 2nd DG Guards, quartered in this city. The ground was that tract of land lying between Arthuret and Kirklinton churches, a distance of about 4 miles. The mare won easily in fine style, the horse was completely knocked up.September 7th 1822 CPWrestlingTo be wrestled for at Carlisle Races, on the second day, Wednesday September 25th, the sum of 20 guineas, in the following prizes:First Prize: Eight Guineas.He who wrestles the last fall with the winner to receive £1 1s.Second Prize: 1st £4 4 s 2nd £2 2s 3rd £3 3s etc.Every wrestler who throws his man in the first wrestle will be permitted to contend for the second class of prizes, with the exception of the winner of the 1st prize, in whose place a wrestler will be chosen by the Clerk to make the dividing number even.If the wrestlers do not take hold within half a minute after peeling, it will be within the discretion of the umpires to give the fall to him most willing to commence play.October 5th 1822CJOtter HuntOn Monday last, Mr Graham of Rigg Foot in the parish of Kirklinton, and Mr Thomas Musgrave of Fieldhead in the parish of Irthington being informed of the haunt of a very large otter in the river Cambeck, near to Walton Rigg, repaired to the place, accompanied only by two dogs, a hound and a greyhound, the property of the former Gentleman.They had scarce reached the spot when the otter appeared... the spirited manner in which the hound attacked the amphibious creature is worthy of notice, for regardless of the threatening aspect of his fierce opponent, he rushed furiously on, and assisted by the greyhound, soon gained a complete victory... May 1st 1824CJPedestrianismOn Monday last at Longtown, James Mullen undertook to walk 11 miles in two hours, which he accomplished four minutes within the time proposed.June 20th 1829CJWrestlingA match for a trifling wager was played at Longtown on Monday week between Wm Morrison and Wm Pattinson, the best of five throws, and was easily won by the former. After the contest, the victor was chaired through the town and on descending from his seat of honour made a long speech to which, our correspondent says, he cannot do justice. Perhaps our readers will not very seriously regret the omission.May 15th 1830 CJA match at Quoits was played at Westlinton on Tuesday last, between a gentleman of Longtown and a gentleman of Carlisle, for 5 sovereigns, which after a closely contested game, was won by the latter. A round sum of money changed hands on the occasion.January 14th 1832 CJCURLINGOn Saturday last, a well contested curling match was held at Gretna by Mr Roddick of Gretna, Mr Nixon of Rea Burnfoot, Mr Linton of Gretna Hall, against Mr Irving of Woodhouse, Mr A Yeoman of Snab, and Mr Martin Nichol of Springfield. April 14th 1832 CJLONGTOWN RACES 1832 A plate of 10 pounds, given by the Right Hon Sir James Graham, Bart. MP, for horses of all ages, bred upon the Netherby estate and bona fide the property of the Netherby TenantsMares and geldings allowed 3lb. Heats, twice round the course. 3 years old to carry 6st 12lb, 4 years old 8st 3lb, 5 years old 8st 12lb, 6 years and aged 9 st 3lb.April 25th 1835 CPGymnastics in LiddesdaleThe second exhibition of the Liddesdale Gymnastic Society will be held at Mangerton Holme near Newcastleton, on Wednesday 29th April 1835.Prizes will be awarded to successful competitors in the following GAMESWrestling - First Prize £5Throwing Hammer of 14lb £1Long Race of one mile £2Short Race of 500 yards £1Hop-Step-and-Leap with a race £1Running Leap £1High Leap £1Throwing Ball of 23lb £1Throwing Ball of 9lb £1Steeple Chase on Foot £1An old man race (age 70) a boll of oatmeal.December 6th 1844CPCumberland Stag Hunt.Monday - Uncarted "Galloway" on Rosley Hill, when he went away in his usual gallant style, but unfortunately for the gentlemen out, he selected the deepest and most steeply enclosed line of country in the neighbourhood. After passing Low Ling, Westward Cottages and Woodside, he crossed the railway and the river Wampool... up to the Carlisle Canal which was crossed near Warmanbie, thence over the deep meadows below Brough and Sansfield, where he crossed the Eden and steering a northerly course across the sands, he reached the Esk, near the junction with the Sark. By this time he appeared to be fully sensible of the luxury of cold water... for after crossing he followed the line of the Esk, keeping all the time in the water for near two hours, which so baffled the hounds and caused so much delay that before his line was made out, the scent was almost entirely gone, but the hounds with much difficulty made him off again, and ran to near the Iron Bridge, crossed the Glasgow Road and finally lost him on Mossband Moss, when they were taken home.Tuesday - (The hounds continued the chase from Mossband, across to Sandsfield then across the sands to Dornock) He ran onto Dornock Floe or Moss, where he must inevitably have perished, being repeatedly overhead in the bog, and the whole pack upon him, had not Joe Graham, (the whip) with his usual alacrity, dismounted on the verge of the moss, and after various flounderings, and at no little personal risk, succeeded in reaching him in time to save him from being smothered in the moss or torn to pieces by his ruthless pursuers.On a moderate computation, this fine stag must have run upwards of 25 miles on Tu and 15 on Tuesday, and had he not stuck fast on Dornock Floe, might have gone 15 miles further being apparently quite fresh at the time he was taken.June 7th 1851 CPLarge PikeOn Thursday 29th ult, a large fish of this description was captured with the rod in the River Esk, near Justus Town, by Mr J Graham of Longtown, which is found to weigh no less than 14 lb.. Mr Graham is a keen disciple of the angle, and threatens vengeance to this destructive tenant of the water.
A prize fight between Carter and Oliver took place at Springfield in 1816, for the championship of England. See HERE for the full story
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