The Prize Fights at Acorn Bridge near Shrivenham

This Listing is to record the events of Prize Fights that took place somewhere close to Acorn Bridge, on the Oxon (Berks)/Wilts border. Up to the latter part of the 18th century, Acorn Bridge was a wooden bridge that crossed the River Cole and was generally documented as 'Hackern Bridge.' With the arrival of the Wilts and Berks Canal around 1800 followed by the Great Western Railway in 1840, there were three bridges, and the name evolved to Acorn Bridge.

Some where very close to this junction of bridges was the Prize Fight location. The first fight took place on Tuesday 3rd February 1846, and was between Ben Terry of Birmingham and Harry Broome of London. The organisers of the fight agreed to meet at a place half way between Birmingham and London, and hence the vicinity of Swindon was chosen. This was narrowed down to the Berks/Wilts border and hence Acorn Bridge was chosen. We can only assume that the owner or occupier of the field chosen was paid handsomely for allowing his field to be used. The fighters were fairly evenly matched but when one began to gain the  advantage, the supporters of the other brought the whole proceedings into utter chaos.

To read a more detailed account of this and the other two fights that took place later in the same year and at the same location, please go HERE