The Old Bull Ring

The Old Bull Ring

The Old Bull Ring
The Old Bull Ring

The old bull ring can be seen in Market Place, Preston. It is in the south west corner of the Market Place.

If you walk through Preston's Flag Market, beneath your feet is a little bit of history that generally goes unnoticed. It may look some kind of bodged job left behind, but it is actually remnants of an iron ring once used for the cruel sport of baiting. Many towns and villages would have a baiting ring and it was a popular form of entertainment. A bull, or sometimes even a bear, would have a collar placed around its neck and would then be tethered to a stake or iron ring like this one.

The Old Bull Ring on Preston's Flag Market
The Old Bull Ring on  Preston's Flag Market


Dogs would then be released on the captive animal and attempt to bring it down by grabbing it by the nose, which would bring it to the ground. The struggling, tossing and fighting would often end in death for either the dogs or the bull. The bull was on its way to the slaughter house anyway, so this was seen not only as a way to have a bit of ‘fun’ and a wager but also as a means of tenderising the meat. This (so called) sport was how the Bulldog got his name.

'Bull Baiting', by Henry Thomas Alken and published by Thomas McLean in 1820
'Bull Baiting', by Henry Thomas Alken and published by Thomas McLean in 1820


Bull baiting was popular at Preston Market and carried on under the auspices of the corporation until it was banned in 1726. The ban was not as you may think, out of considerations for the poor animals involved, but rather to keep the peace. A great number of fights broke out at these events relating to the betting that took place. Bull baiting was reported in the Fishwick area in 1808.

The practice was eventually made illegal by the Cruelty to Animals Act in 1835, which protected the rights of bulls, dogs, bears and sheep and prohibited bear baiting and cockfighting.


~


Further reading and sources of information

BULL-BAITING AND DOG-FIGHTS - UK Parliament
HC Deb 21 May 1823 vol 9 cc432-5

https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1823/may/21/bull-baiting-and-dog-fights

Location: 4 Cheapside, Preston PR1 2AP, UK

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