Bird and duck
hunting was usually with flint lock guns instead of hawks, as the
hedges provided cover from hawks. There was fishing with line,
hook, and bait. Watching the hanging of felons, about 35 a year in
London, was popular, as was going to Bedlam to watch for a fee the
insane being flogged. People went to the Tower to try to get a
glance at a famous prisoner looking through a window or taking a
walk along the battlements. Besides the grand pleasure gardens for
gentry, there were lesser pleasure gardens in London for working
families, which offered fresh air, tea, beer, swimming, fishing,
courting, bowling, and cheap entertainment. Running, vaulting, and
leaping were still popular in the countryside. Fairs had
amusements such as fire swallowers, ventriloquists, puppet shows,
acrobats, jugglers, animal performances, pantomimes, boxing,
dwarfs, and albinos, but less trading. In 1769 was the first
circus. Circuses included feats of horsemanship and clowns. There
was also eating and drinking competitions, foot races, football,
archery, some wrestling, and some bowling on greens or alleys. In
winter there was ice skating with blades and sliding. The right of
public access to St. James Park became entrenched by the 1700s.
There was sailing, rowing, swimming, and hopscotch. George III
made sea-bathing popular and it was supposed to be good for one's
health. There was steeple chasing as of 1752.
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