I was hoping to share a long blog post this week introducing you to the enigmatic wrestler, writer and referee Walter ‘The Cross-Buttocker’ Armstrong, but he is quite the character with quite the life, and it is taking longer than anticipated to do him justice. So instead I spent my lunch-break today writing up a… Read More 21 March 1887: Jack Wannop fills the New Cross House with fancy dogs
On Wednesday 3rd February 1892 a most irregular thing occurred in New Cross (when does it not?). That morning’s copy of The Sporting Life reports: WANNOP’S GYMNASIUM, NEW CROSS GATE No-night [sic], a grand assault at arms, consisting of two six round boxing contests and exhibition wrestling and boxing. Also comic wrestling match. Mr Dais… Read More #justiceforstevethedonkey
[Tom ‘Curly’ Thompson (1869-1906) and Jack Wannop (1855-1923), published in Walter Armstrong’s 1890 book, ‘Wrestling’] In late 2018 I had the pleasure of reading two articles by Goldsmiths, University of London’s Professor Les Back and Professor Tim Crook, which detailed the history of the Laurie Grove Baths in New Cross. Initially built as a public… Read More “A man of great renown in the stormy, strenuous days of hard fighting and severe wrestling…”
Grappling With History 