Bull Baiting
The top motif is of Horse Chestnut leaves and conkers.
Top Border Motifs from left to right
One of the windows from the Hunting Lodge, with some locals watching the performance. A needle and thread representing the sewing of costumes. A cockerel.
Top Border Motifs from left to right continued
A book with the scenes title. The sun represents the weather on the days of the performance. Sand bags representing the sand that covered the entire town square for the performance. A first aid kit for the injuries that took place during the performance of the scene.
The Middle
The Bull Baiting that took place in Axbridge in 1805. On Nov 5th The Mayor and Corporation had banned the Baiting of the Bull, denouncing it as 'vile and despicable behaviour', but the rabble in defiance of the authorities still baited the bull.
The Middle continued
The scene is set in the Town Square and shows the banned Bull Baiting taking place. The rabble are armed with staves and the poor bull, who lost an eye, is being attacked by dogs. Local constables on the bottom right, with their stovepipe hats, are arresting one offender. On the top right are the horrified Mayor and Corporation on their way to Church.
Bottom Border Motifs from left to right
The Crowd. A Buzzard. The 1835 Act of Parliament banning Bull Baiting. A King George III Sovereign.
Bottom border motifs continued
Constables stovepipe hats and truncheons. Motif of Nelson and the Battle of Trafalgar 1805. The Crowd.