Pre industrial Britain

What is pre-industrial?

before 1850

How does socio-cultural factors link with sport historically?

Sport helped with prep for war, hunting for food and improving fitness for work

Mob sports characteristics

Played by peasants
between villages
no rules
done on holidays

Upper class pre 1850s

land owners
only watched sport/ looked down on mob sports
took part in cockfighting, tennis and foxhunts

What is cockfighting?

14ft square with 2 male chickens
fight to death or serious injury
upper class would bet on these

Characteristics of upper class sports

focus on betting
played regularly
complex rules

Characteristics of lower class sport

no rules or equipment
played on religious holidays
mob games, bare knuckles, fights

Amateur definition

person who competes not for financial gain

Professional definition

person who competes and gains money from it

Upper and lower class same sports

Walking races, lower competed, upper sponsored

Male dominated sports

mob games, cockfighting, cricket

Female sports

Lower class - frock races
Upper class - archery, horse riding, dance

Law and order pre 1850’s

little law and order - reflected in the games
few rules, violence
cruelty to animals

Education and literacy lower class

not educated, illiterate
no rules can be read so no written rules introduced

Education and literacy upper class

well educated, literate
rules can be read and understood

Time availability - lower class

lower class worked long hours
little want for extra exercise
only played on festivals, holidays

Money availability - upper class

can buy horses, equipment, facilities, clothing

Transport availability

upper class could travel to courts
many lower class never left village
walking or horse and cart