|
|
 |
 |
||||||
Navigation » Home » Featured Visits » Wonders of the Peak » Famous People » About Us » Subscribe » Advertise with Us » Things to Do » Contact Us » Random Visit » Local Links » Link to Us » Site Information » Site Map » Getting Here » News » Visit Our Blog Search the Peak District Buy Antique Prints of » The Peak District And also :- » Scotland » Wales » Ireland » Devon » Cornwall » Yorkshire Dales » Lake District » London » Channel Islands 
Royal Shrovetide Football, AshbourneRoyal Shrovetide Football, Ashbourne Every year, on the afternoon of Shrove Tuesday, a football game best described as a friendly war kicks off in the normally peaceful town of Ashbourne, Derbyshire. Royal Shrovetide Football is an ancient annual event that takes place on Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday. It has little to do with normal football, for the game has few rules. Murder and manslaughter are barred as is the transportation of the ball by vehicle. Play after midnight is also forbidden. There are 2 goal posts, one at Sturton Mill, the other at Clifton Mill, a distance of 3 miles apart, and the 2 sides are made up of those that live north of Henmore Brook, called the Uppard`s, and those who live south of it, called the Down`ards. In reality anyone can join in the fun. Ashbourne town centre is boarded up for the occasion and the game starts around 2pm, with a leather and cork ball being `turned up` at Shaw Croft by a local dignitary, usually after a short speech. The ball is hardly ever kicked, but mostly `hugged` by a scrum which tries to move forward. At times there seems to be hardly any movement at all, except for players desperate to get into the scrum. Sometime or other, the ball has to go into Henmore Brook and everyone follows, regardless of the soaking they will get. If a goal is scored before 5pm, a new ball is turned up at Shaw Croft, as the scorer is allowed to keep the ball. It is called `Royal` because in 1928 the ball was `turned up` by the then, Prince of Wales, later to become Edward the Eighth. In 2003 the ball was turned by by Prince Charles. It is thought the game was originally played as part of pagan rituals which welcomed back the sun after the winter solstice, or celebrated the return of spring. View Larger Map Weather Forecast 
Accommodation Bolehill Cottages Bagend Cottage Environment NewLandOwner Artists Kute Fine Art Paragon Prints Accommodation - Self Catering Bolehill Cottages Bagend Cottage Accommodation - Youth Hostel YHA Alstonefield Accommodation - Pet Friendly Bolehill Cottages The Dog Inn Media Paragon Prints Lifestyle NewLandOwner Consultancy NewLandOwner I.T. Zycomm Electronics Limited Retail Kute Fine Art Paragon Prints Attraction Kute Fine Art Gallery Most Popular Places Air Crash Site Riber Castle Woodhead Pass Titan Cave System Mam Tor Recently Updated Places Air Crash Site Kute Fine Art Galle... Matlock Bath Grand ... Bottoms Reservoir Norbury Admin Login | |||||||
 |
 |
||||||
 |
 Copyright © 2013 Peak District View. All Rights Reserved. |
 |
||
 |
||||