The Visitor Magazine Issue 447 February 2021

Page 20

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BEER & SK ITTLE S P. A. BAXTER WE ALL KNOW what the National Sport of Wales is, don't we? It's Handball! Of course, it is now rugby, but the first national sport from the land of the leek was declared to be ‘Handball’. Is that as much news to you as it was to me? As one who is continually surprised when these rare pub games are brought to my attention for the first time, I was even more surprised to learn about it when it received a lot of attention on the ‘Antiques Road Trip’, one of the innumerable programmes in the antique genre that infest the haunted fish tank. I have to admit to really liking some of these programmes, irrespective if it is more than a little contrived (the cameraman always seems to have got to the shops well before the presenters – has anyone else noticed that?) On this particular episode, antiques expert Phillip Serrell arrived in Nelson, South Wales, where the last surviving handball court in Wales is situated. Meeting with handball historian and enthusiast Kevin Dix, Phil was given a potted look at the previous popularity of the sport whilst they stood in the court. What do you need to play? A three-sided (outdoor) court, a ball and some tough hands! (I now raise the question; could this be a precursor to the racket sport of squash? The answer is, apparently, ‘no’!) The sides of churches were ideal places to play, but damage to windows soon condemned it as ‘the devil's game’ by the clergy. Hence special walls were constructed and Wales, it is claimed, had more courts back in the day than there are rugby 20 THE VISITOR February 2021

pitches today. Mr Dix believes that this game of ‘pel-law’ goes back to the ninth century, and has evidence to support this. Pubs were soon to cash in and drinking and gambling became part of the activity, and sometimes thousands of spectators could turn up at the venues. The court in Nelson, being built by the landlord of the adjacent ‘Royal Oak’ pub in 1865, was one of these. Huge purses were up for grabs to be taken by those who had the skill and stamina, and an old hand-bill of 1786 shows it could be of hundred of guineas, a veritable fortune in those days. Kevin relates how enthusiasts from the world over still come to this spot to play on which has become the most historical of courts. Phil was offered the opportunity to have a game with Kevin - a former champion - but despite being lithe of body and having the body of a young gazelle, Phil decided the 'apres-game' was more attractive and retired to the pub. To view the relevant episode, go to ‘YouTube’ and follow this link Antiques Road Trip | Series 21, Episode 15 | Full Episode | BBC. So where did the game come from and where is it still played? Versions of the game, also known as ‘Fives’, are played the world over and interestingly, when I first wrote about this many moons ago in these columns, I received correspondence from a visitor to the Basque region of Spain where it's known as ‘Pelota’. There is, as I'm sure you will have noticed, dear reader, more than a passing resemblance to the name given to the Welsh version. I was fortunate in being given a small booklet written and compiled by Graham White, a publication entitled ‘Fives-an old West Country Game’ which was sold with proceeds going to South Petherton Folk and Craft Festival in 1980. This brief introduction to the game also contains drawings of local fives walls and

Cheriton Hill, North Cheriton.

a list of where they can still be seen, as well as where the game was played against the church. It would appear that most, if not all, of these ‘towers’ as they are also known, are Grade II listed, but upkeep becomes the responsibility of the landlord. If the pub has been de-licenced and sold, the rap is in the hands of the new owner, although local councils have also taken responsibility for their maintenance in some cases. Whether there are grants to help with these potentially expensive repairs I cannot say, but maintaining a 30-foot wall that could be more than a couple centuries old is not going to be paid for with shirt buttons. To my shame over the years I have driven past several of the remaining 'towers' without even realising it. If one travels the road between Charlton Horethorne and Wincanton there is an obvious fives wall virtually right on the road at North Cheriton. This was the former ‘Windmill’

pub, closed in the early 1950's and even though doing a telephone repair as a BT engineer in the early 1990's, I didn't realise the significance of the structure. I guess one could say ‘hidden in plain sight’! This can be seen easily on ‘Google Earth’ as can many others. A view of the tower at the former ‘Crown Hotel’ in South Petherton can be seen from the village square whilst at the ‘Lord Poulett Arms’ in Hinton St George stands a tower referred to in old documents as ‘the Spanish wall’. At the ‘Fleur de Lis’ in Stoke Sub Hamdon there is a rather attractive tower in the grounds. (Drop by for a pint at these last two locations and take a good look as soon as you are able!).

Fives Wall at the Fleur de Lis, Stoke Sub Hamdon. Image: Nigel Mykura.

Basque Pelota.

Incidentally, according to Mr White, the ‘Fleur de Lis’ was the site of a victory in 1855 by local pair John Palmer and Frederick Fane against a duo from Bath who claimed to be ‘Champions of England’. More than £60 was taken on the gate and


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The Visitor Magazine Issue 447 February 2021 by The Visitor Magazine - Issuu