Roebuck Brewery Inn / Golden Lion, Lower High Street, Cheltenham

 

Hi Geoff,

 

James ‘Jem’ (“The Earwig”) Edwards, landlord of the Roebuck Brewery Inn later just Roebuck Inn was a champion middleweight bare knuckle prize-fighter who was born in Rutland Street (now Brunswick Street), one of Cheltenham’s most notorious slum streets in the 19th-century, colloquially known as “the City.” He had an unusual fighting stance, extending his right hand as a lead even though he was right-handed. One of his fights lasted 167 rounds, most of which he fought with a broken arm! Another of 58 rounds lasted 3 1/2 hours. (The rounds weren’t timed, but lasted until someone was knocked down).

 

The boxing salon in an upstairs back room, which you have a photo of, was reached via the arched passageway to the side of the pub, which still exists today. This is quoted from a passage quoted on the Facebook group Days gone by in Cheltenham posted 9 January 2017 by Wendy Clancy: “there was a sport that drew them down the dark passage. They turned down an alley to the right of the Lower High Street. This again had a sharp turn in and then there was an open door and a steep staircase. At the top of the stairs stood the Eary-wig himself for this was his shrine – The Roebuck Inn – and now his admirers were coming thick and fast – sporting men and old soldiers and sailors and college boys. It was a big room with two painted chimney pieces and old-fashioned wallpaper, which gave it a homely appearance. A big chandelier lighted it and there were a sort of raised tiers of seats at the end near the door and clear spaces at the top. The Eary-wig was going to box with his pupils.”

 

Edwards died at the Roebuck in 1857 aged just 35. The following is from a press report of his funeral also posted on the site:

 

“Funeral of Mr. James Edwards, the Pugilist. Early in the afternoon of Tuesday last, vast numbers of our townsmen thronged the High Street, from the Roebuck Inn to the Cemetery, to witness the removal of the mortal remains of James Edwards, from his late residence, to their last resting place in St. Mary’s Cemetery. At about half past one the funeral procession began to form, and the coffin was brought out, under the superintendence of an undertaker from Mr. Parsonage’s establishment. The coffin was borne by acquaintances of the deceased, who had volunteered their services…

In addition to the brothers and other family connexions of the deceased, there was an unusually large and highly respectable train of mourners, among whom we noticed Messrs Kear, Wheatsheaf Inn, High Street; Clifford, Beaufort Arms, Charlton Kings; F. Price; Best; G. Holder, Wellington Tavern; Lake, Devonshire Brewery; E. Raven, Royal Standard; W. Webley, Garrick’s Head; Butland, Old Stone House; White, Five Alls Inn, Bath Road…”

 

Apparently, as a student at Cheltenham College, the future Australian poet Adam Lindsay Gordon, who lived in Priory Street, once knocked out Jem Edwards in a sparring contest (with a good deal of luck I believe as he struck his head against the mantlepiece on the way down!). 

 

Regards,

 

Alan Jones