Up to Scratch
Description
"The fight game in the raw great contests and some really hard men. What a life!" Roy Shaw
Prize-fighting was one of the greatest sporting attractions in the 18th and 19th centuries. Prize-fights attracted thousands of spectators from all walks of life and, nothwithstanding its illegality, was patronised by royalty and the aristocracy. The area outside London around Barnet, Whetstone, Finchley and up into Hertfordshire was one on the most popular for staging fights. Featured in Up to Scratch are many of the great champions - Tom Johnson, Daniel Mendoza, Jem Belcher, Tom Sayers and Jem Mace - as well as many forgotten but no less colourful fistic heroes.
Up To Scratch powerfully evokes an age when pugilism was a barbaric, corrupt and yet primarily noble activity.
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Content
- Cover
- Title
- Copyright
- Contents
- List of Illustrations
- Foreword
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction
- Part I The Early Days
- A Gypsy Prince
- The Fighting Miller from Hadley
- Cudgels Expert Felled by Local Pugilist
- Shepherd Metes Out Punishment to Butcher
- 'Death' at Barnet
- The Mysterious Peter Bath
- The Remarkable Bill Purdue
- Towers Has His Day
- Barnet Welcomes its First Champion
- Royalty on the Common
- Court Edict on Barnet Pitched Battles
- Coal-Porters Substitute at Finchley
- Cobbler Nailed by the 'Tinman'
- The Times Condemns Proposed Match
- Bruising Butchers
- "Rioters and Routers and Disturbers of the Peace"
- Part II The Middle Years
- The Bristolian Belchers
- Pig Displays the White Feather
- Mayor Voids Contest
- Kite Grounded by Drover
- Pugnacious Postboys
- The 'Gasman' Extinguished
- Justifiable Homicide?
- 'Young Gas' Resists Temptation
- A Convenient Stopping-place
- Savage Mêlée in the Mire
- Belcher's Novel Punchbag
- 'Jack of Finchley'
- A Little Set-to
- Off-colour Brown Punished by Jewish Hero
- Hasty Hostilities by the Roadside
- Mixed Fortunes for the Patlanders
- Bye-battles at Whetstone
- Cobbler Plucked by 'Gybletts' Chicken'
- Successful Launch of the 'East End Sailor Boy'
- Ex-partner Bows to 'Sprig of Myrtle'
- Fatal Milling
- 'Sailor Boy' Drops Anchor at 'Little Tim's'
- A Fair Fight?
- The 'Deaf 'un' Disappoints
- Magistrates Hoodwinked
- No Go for Gow
- Burke Storms to Victory
- 'East End Sailor Boy' Sinks M'Carthy
- Not Gilpin's Afternoon
- Ex-convict Makes Good
- 'Westminster Pet' Retires Richmond's Boy
- Mob Forces the Issue
- A 'Snip' Cleans Up at the 'Dirt House'
- Dual Preparations at Finchley
- Swift too Speedy for Heavier Hobbs
- Duo from St Giles
- A Full Day's Entertainment
- Thompson Tames 'Jaw Breaker'
- Waterman Damps Down Pulser's Challenge
- Swift Again
- The Lesser-known Molineaux
- Hibernians in a Murderous Mood
- Sutton Wards off Future Champion
- Bailey Butchered by Poulterer
- Double Début
- Unhappy Day for the Prize-Ring Commissary
- Milling between the Classes
- Boxing Day Fiasco for Burn's Pupil
- The Downfall of 'Deaf'
- Hannan's Training Sojourns
- Police Outwitted
- Part III The Latter Times
- Poisoned at the Five Bells?
- Prodigy Fails to Fulfil Potential
- Larcenous Goings-on
- Demise at Barnet
- Hail the 'American Giant'
- Failed Conspiracy
- Dover Champion Billeted at Whetstone
- Tom Sayers and the 'Benicia Boy'
- Napper's Tale
- Tom Paddock Remains at Finchley
- Jem Mace at the Five Bells
- The 'Royal Professor'
- Hell Hath No Fury .
- A Romany Encounter
- Resting-place for Lightweight Heroes
- Webb's Boxing Booth
- From Knuckles to Gloves
- Undercover Operation
- Fair Trickery
- Hatton's Hospitality Caravanserai
- Boxing 'Bosses' at the Belgrave Tavern
- Last Links
- Envoi
- Appendices & Bibliography
- Appendix A: Additional Training in the Barnet Area
- Appendix B: Advertisements for Pugilists' Catering Booths at Barnet Fair & Races/Finchley Steeple Chases
- Appendix C: Cognomens of Featured Characters
- Appendix D: Glossary
- Bibliography
- Index
