Bear Garden
About Bear Garden
The Beargarden was a facility for bear-baiting, bull-baiting, and other "animal sports" in the London area during the 16th and 17th centuries, from the Elizabethan era to the English Restoration period. Baiting is a blood sport where an animal is tormented or attacked by another animal, often dogs, for the purpose of entertainment or gambling. Samuel Pepys visited the venue in 1666 and described it as "a rude and nasty pleasure". The last recorded event at the Beargarden was the baiting of "a fine but vicious horse" in 1682.
On the show · 7 mentions total
Famous baiting bears at the Bear Garden included Ned Whiting, Harry Hunks, Blind Bess and Sackerson, who gets a mention in Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor.
from 571: No Such Thing As Dudley And The Dippers · read transcript
More facts about Bear Garden
When one of the Bear Garden arenas collapsed on the South Bank, the Puritans said it was because God was displeased with what went on there.
571: No Such Thing As Dudley And The Dippers · listen
More places from this episode
No Such Thing As Dudley And The Dippers put 5 places on the map.
- Prato · Italy
- Royal Sea Bathing Hospital, Margate · United Kingdom
- Margate · United Kingdom
- Margate Beach · United Kingdom
Coordinates: 51.5083, -0.0956