Cotswold Olimpick Games

The Cotswold Olimpick Games is an annual public celebration of games and sports now held on the Friday after Spring Bank Holiday near Chipping Campden, in the Cotswolds of England. These games likely began in 1612 and continued, with some breaks and revivals, until they stopped completely in 1852. They were brought back to life in 1963 and are still going strong as of 2024.

The games started because of a local lawyer named Robert Dover, who had the support of King James I. Dover may have thought that physical exercise was important to protect the country, or he may have wanted to bring people from all walks of life together. During the games, people from all levels of society came to watch and take part, and once even royalty attended.

Events

The Cotswold Olimpick Games featured many fun activities like horse-racing, running, jumping, dancing, and wrestling. People also enjoyed games such as chess and cards, and there was plenty of food for everyone. A special wooden structure called Dover Castle was built with small cannons to start the events.

These games were normally held in mid-May or mid-June. Over time, the games changed and included new activities like tug of war, motorcycle scrambling, and morris dancing. Today, the games continue each year on the Friday after the Spring Bank Holiday, keeping alive an old tradition. The British Olympic Association has recognised the Cotswold Olimpick Games as "the first stirrings of Britain's Olympic beginnings".

Origins

The first Cotswold Olimpick Games were likely held in 1612, organized by a lawyer named Robert Dover. Not much is known about Dover, but he probably grew up in Norfolk and studied at Queens' College at Cambridge. He later moved near Chipping Campden.

The games may have started from an existing event, like a church ale. They had the support of King James, who believed that public games could help people feel connected to their king. Dover wanted the games to promote physical fitness and bring people together. Famous poets praised the games for being peaceful and well-behaved. By the time the Annalia Dubrensia was published in 1636, the games were called "Olimpicks," linking them to the Olympics of ancient Greece.

Proceedings

The Cotswold Olimpick Games were held in a natural amphitheatre on Dover's Hill, above the town of Chipping Campden in Gloucestershire. The games took place on the Thursday and Friday of Whit-Week, which usually occurred between mid-May and mid-June. Participants and spectators enjoyed a variety of sports and activities, including horse-racing, running, jumping, dancing, sledgehammer throwing, and wrestling. Prizes such as silver trophies were awarded to winners.

The events were lively and festive, with visitors from all levels of society attending. Entertainment included a harper dressed as the Greek poet Homer and a maze made from turf called a Troy Town. Small games of chance were also played in booths and tents. The games concluded with a grand firework display.

Controversy

In the 1600s, many Puritans thought that any fun activity could be wrong and might anger God. They did not like celebrations such as the Cotswold Olimpick Games, believing they were old traditions that led to bad behavior.

King James and later King Charles I supported these games, even though some people tried to stop them. Charles I made a rule allowing people to enjoy feasts and games, but fighting during the English Civil War in 1642 stopped the games for a time.

First revival, 1660–1850

The Cotswold Olimpick Games were revived after the Restoration of 1660. Though they had once been a famous event, they became more like a lively country festival. By the 1740s, the games were popular again and featured events such as backsword fighting and wrestling. The games were organized by local leaders and drew large crowds.

By the mid-1800s, changes in land use ended the games. The area where they were held was divided up, and the last games took place in 1852.

Shakespearean connection

Some historians think the Cotswold Olimpick Games might have inspired William Shakespeare. They point to a possible reference in his play The Merry Wives of Windsor, but this reference didn’t appear until after Shakespeare’s death, in a later book called the First Folio. Because of this, it’s not certain if Shakespeare actually wrote it or if he even saw the games.

Scholars like Samuel Johnson and Edmond Malone were among the first to suggest a link between the games and Shakespeare’s works. More recently, a historian named Francis Burns thinks the wrestling scene in As You Like It shows influence from these games. However, there is no proof that Shakespeare ever attended the games himself.

Second revival, 1951–present-day

Dover's Hill was purchased by the National Trust in 1928. The games were revived for the 1951 Festival of Britain and have been held yearly since 1966, usually on the evening of the Friday after the Spring Bank Holiday. Thousands of visitors attend to enjoy events such as tug of war, gymkhana, shin-kicking, dwile flonking, morris dancing, and more. After dusk, a bonfire is lit, followed by a torchlight procession to Chipping Campden.

The British Olympic Association recognized these games as an early influence on the Olympic Games. Despite some cancellations due to weather, disease, or other issues, the games continued with new events each year, including special activities for children. The games were paused in 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic but have since resumed.