I’m
an inveterate English Heritage blue-plaque spotter – and if I’d missed this one
in Panton Street, Haymarket, London, the pub sign would have been enough to
tell me that I was standing outside the home of Bristol pugilistic champion Tom
Cribb (1781-1848).
Cribb
was born in Hanham but moved to London when he was a boy. He went on to work as
a bellhanger, then a coal porter – which job earned him the nickname The Black
Diamond. He later joined the Navy. His first fight was a seventy-six round bout
against George Maddox in 1805. His only defeat was against George Nicholls in
the same year.
Cribb
then trained under the famous sportsman and pedestrianist Captain Barclay, who
prepared him for his 1807 fight against the reigning champion of England, Bristolian Jem
Belcher. After his defeat, Belcher demanded a rematch, which took place in 1809
with the same result. (You can read more about Jem Belcher and other pugilists
who are mentioned in Bloodie Bones: A Dan Foster Mystery on the Dan Foster’sWorld webpage).
Cribb
fought the black American pugilist Tom Molineaux in 1810. During the forty-round
fight, the former slave was treated to a barrage of racist abuse from the crowd. The spectators also demonstrated their partiality in a practical way when two hundred of
them stormed the ring to drag Molineaux off Cribb, who he had trapped against
the ropes. In the twenty-eighth round Cribb was knocked down but was given time
to recover by the delaying tactics of his seconds who falsely accused Molineaux
of hiding lead weights in his fists. Molineaux demanded a rematch, which took
place in 1811; the American ended up the loser with a fractured jaw. On his
return to London, Cribb was cheered through the streets. He was presented with
a silver cup celebrating his victories, on which was engraved the Bristol coat
of arms and a motto from Macbeth: “And damn’d be he who first cries, Hold!
Enough!”
Cribb,
like many pugilists, became a publican when he left the ring. He ran the Golden
Lion in Southwark, then the King’s Arms on Duke Street, and finally the Union
Arms on Panton Street – now called The Tom Cribb. The pub – known as Cribb’s Parlour
– was a popular haunt with the Fancy (prize fighters and their fans), Lord Byron
amongst them.
Cribb
was the unchallenged champion of England between 1811 and 1821, after which he
was allowed to retain the title of champion until he died. He was one of the
prize fighters who guarded the entrance to Westminster Hall during George IV’s
coronation. Thereafter things began to fall apart: after suffering heavy
gambling losses he lost The Union Arms. His last years were spent living off
the generosity of friends and admirers, and he died in his son’s house in 1848.
You can preview Bloodie Bones: A Dan Foster Mystery here.
Visit
the Tom Cribb page on Open Plaques website (Open Plaques is a community project
which catalogues blue plaques) http://openplaques.org/plaques/6326
English
Heritage – Plaques to Sporting Achievers
https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/content/imported-docs/a-e/blue-plaques-to-sporting-achievers.pdf
Picture: Michael Freeman
I found this blog when I was looking for information about Cribb's Parlour, a place that is mentioned in several of Georgette Heyer's books. Is there any proof that there was such a place for gentlemen of a sporting mien to enjoy the physical pursuits of boxing etc.?
ReplyDeleteHallo, thanks for your comment. There is indeed proof that such places existed.Cribb's Parlour is referred to eg in The Bristol Boys by Jack Allen (2009). Also The Times 18 Sept 1821 refers to it in connection with a stage production at Astley's. Pearce Egan refers to it in his 1820s Tom and Jerry stories. Many boxers owned pubs - eg John Gully; also Jem Belcher - Hen Pearce fought Joe Berks in a room at Belcher's London pub. Such sporting clubs/venues were very popular with The Fancy. Incidentally if you are looking for contemporary information on rackety life in London you will find Pearce Egan's Life in London (1823) invaluable - and a cracking read!
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