200 Years Ago in Norwich : 3,000 People Watch Fight in Poringland

In the Norfolk Chronicle 200 years ago, there was an article about how 3,000 people turned out to watch a fight in Poringland. I suppose these were in the years before people could watch TV and go on-line, but it’s quite a fascinating article. It reads:

“A pitched battle was fought near the Dove in Poringland between Fenn and Camplin, two Norwich men. It is supposed that not less than 3,000 persons assembled to watch this battle, which after 76 rounds, during which very little science was exhibited on part of Camplin, who fell after every first blow, terminated in favour of Fenn. A countryman and a dyer afterwards amused the spectators for some time by milling each other at a desperate rate till at length both discovered that they were making sport at rather too dear a price, and they mutually agreed to put an end to the fun.”

Firstly, 76 rounds!!! And, relating to that, the Marquess of Queensberry Rules weren’t introduced until 1867, so it’s likely that this was bare knuckle boxing. I can’t say that I’m in awe of boxing, I’ve never quite understood physical violence, but each to their own I suppose. Despite attempts by Watney Mann brewery trying to close the pub in 1969, the Dove is still trading to this day.

The boxer in question was John Camplin who was a Norwich blacksmith and city weaver, although I can’t work out with Fenn was. I also can’t find out when Camplin died, the only possible death with that name was someone who lived in London.

I had to remind myself of the exact definition of what “milling” was, but the answer of ‘moving around in a confused mass’. Sounds reasonable as an after-fight fight…..