Pre-Industrial

• Features of Popular Recreation

  Simple and unwritten rules

  Violent nature of the sport

  Men only

  Only occasional (mostly on holy days / days of rest)

  Wagering in the upper class
• Features of Popular Recreational Society

  Two-Tier class system

  Extremely poor lower class

  Wealthy and influential upper class

  Population centers were in the countryside

  Widespread illiteracy
• Example of Popular Recreation Sport

  Mobbed Football (Lower class)

  Real Tennis (Upper class)
• What Period was Britain Popular Recreation?

  Pre 1780's
• Lower Class vs Upper Class (Popular Recreation)

  The two classes were almost entirely separated during sport

  Upper class sports were exclusive to the rich while lower class sports were public and open

  Upper class sports were revolved around fair play and sports etiquette, Lower class sports were unsophisticated and crude
• Characteristics of Mobbed Football

  Played locally (poor transport)

  No development to rules

  Played rarely

  Violence was prevalent

  Involved gambling

  Unpopular with authorities
• Characteristics of Real Tennis

  Played in halls built on the player's property

  Highly exclusive sport

  Written and strict rules

  Occurred commonly as the upper class had more time for leisure
• Foot Racing 


  Involved both the upper and lower class

  Lower class performers would travel distances for prizes

  Upper class patrons would offer the money

  Winning increased the social status of both the patron and player
• Patron 


  An upper class sponsor of someone who participated in the race

  Facilitated gambling in the upper class