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Peter Welsh
Feb 718 min read
Draughts in Fatfield through the medium of John Groyne
Billiards, draughts and other pub games formed the cornerstone of leisure time in the 19th century, and still persists today though pale...


Mick Southwick
Jun 7, 20244 min read
The 'Royal Sport' - Cockfighting in Newcastle
The once popular blood sport of cockfighting was especially widespread in the north of England prior to its legal ban in the...


Dr Louise Powell
Apr 4, 20245 min read
Gone to the Dogs: A History of Flapping in the North East
"Going to the dogs" was an integral stitch in the social fabric of mining communities. Independent, or "flapping" tracks, congregated the...


James Hoare
Dec 28, 20237 min read
Try Again: An Early History of Tyneside Rugby League
The late 19th century on Tyneside saw the emergence of ball sports as the predominant pastime, leaving rowing and wrestling in the...
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