COCK-FIGHTING AT THE MOUNT PLEASANT INN, 1835.

 From The Western Times, 18th April, 1835:

"COCKING.  -   Lord Lisle and -- Newman Esq. of Exmouth....last Monday gave an unusual treat to the fancy by getting up a grand Cock Fight at Mount Pleasant Inn, above the Dawlish Warren.   Of course the birds were duly trimmed, and also spurred with thick needles bent upwards, two inches and a half long.  A good company was assembled in the pit, though 2s a man was demanded for admittance.   Mr Newman wan the main of 7 fights against his Lordship, by 4 victories and one drawn game.  The stakes £5 the game and £50 the main.  Besides these 4 byes were also fought, 3 turning out in favour of Mr Newman.  The favourite of the day seemed to be a Ginger Cock bred at Kenton.  The drawn game lasted an hour and a half, at the end of which neither bird being able to stand up longer, and therefore not strong enough to kill each other, but only to peck now and then, the noble Lord and Mr N. humanely agreed that it should be a drawn game.  The birds bred by Mr. Matthews, of Brixham, uniformly shewed great spirit, holding their tails high and throwing their spurs up determinedly; rushing at their antagonists at the onset, and never ceasing to worry them till one was disabled and the pair fresh pitted.  Many of the Cocks suffered a good deal of punishment, having their eyes picked out and bleeing tenderly,  but owing to judicious treatment, we understand only 3 or 4 were found dead in their coops the next morning.  Altogether the whole party had much enjoyment of the sport, and the only feeling was that in these degenerate days the neighbourhood might furnish a few more gentlemen of the tastes and sympathies that animated the gallant principals."

I'd like to think that the Western Times reporter had his tongue in his cheek when he was writing this column, particularly the last line looks as though it ought to be pure irony but I fear that it probably is not.  I suppose someone ought to apologise to the bleeding and blinded Cocks for the cruelty of our cocking fathers,  -  the landlord of The Mount Pleasant Inn perhaps! 

It was heartening to discover that cock-fights, as this report indicates, were rare in and around Exeter. In North Devon and Somersetshire they were a regular entertaiment.  I  am surprised that I cannot discover anything more about the two principals.   Who was this Lord Lisle?   Who was Mr -- Newman?  They seem to have left no other trace than the above.  I don't think I would have warmed to either of them.

The Mount Pleasant Inn, from its remoteness, would lend itself to dark deeds but there was clearly no shame felt by the party that had much enjoyment of the sport.   Apart fron the decadence of it, imagine the tedium of watching two cockerels locked in mortal combat for an hour and a half!  By comparison  a BBC social-documentary would seem to be wildly entertaining.