Pre Industrial Britain

When was pre-industrial Britain?

Pre 1780

What was life like? 9

• Limited transport

• Limited communications

• Widespread illiteracy- lower classes were uneducated

• Harsh conditions

• Violence

• Cruel life for lower classes, luxury life for upper classes

• Limited free time- dictated by agricultural seasons

• Very long working hours

• Two tier society- feudal system

What were the characteristics of popular recreation? 7

• Occasional- due to long working hours

• Specific to each community- as they were rural and spread out so used natural resources, little transport

• Basic, localised rules- low literacy and communication (e.g. unlimited players + time, no ref)

• Violent, damage to properties- due to cruel society and male-dominated activities

• Gambling / betting was common

• Activities were linked to your job

• Lower classes only, upper didn’t participate

Characteristics of Haxey Hood football 5

• Church grounds- focal point of community, brings people together

• Lots of people, theatrical nature- happened rarely so lots of excitement

• Prizes- gambling was common

• ‘Swaying’ resembled a crowd crush- violent and aggressive

• Used sackals- natural resources

Characteristics of Ashbourne Shrovetide football 4

• No limit on people- local rules, limited rules

• Jumping on each other- violent, aggressive, male-dominated, injury was common

• Unorganised, simple rules- illiteracy and poor communication

• Played by lower class- class division

Characteristics of Real Tennis 5

• Only for upper class- very exclusive

• Did not reflect popular recreation

• Lacked violence, played in a civilised way

• Equipment could only be afforded by upper class

• Upper classes had lots of leisure time to learn skills as it was a technically difficult game

Characteristics of Athletics (pedestrianism) 4

• Hired servants of upper classes raced as messengers to see how much land they could cover in a certain period of time

• Upper classes would place bets on the races

• Having a better foot racer showed superiority and status so the upper class wanted to improve their servants skills

• Patrons (upper class people) would look after lower-class performers by arranging competitions, prize money, housing and feeding them and looking after them or even training them.