The Cotswolds Olympicks

The historic Cotswolds Olympicks were first held more than 12 centuries after the last ancient Greek Olympics and almost 3 centuries before the modern Olympic Games, which began in 1896. 2023 wcelebrates the 411th anniversary of the games that are held in the arena that bears the founder’s name – Dover’s Hill in Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire. 

Robert Dover was born in Norfolk sometime between 1575 and 1582. He went to Queens College Cambridge to study Law, where he met a nephew of Baptist Hicks, a great benefactor of Chipping Campden. Having qualified he moved to the area and, while there, he came up with the idea for a modern Olympics-style competition to positively channel some of the more competitive traits of the local people. It is believed his vision was backed by Baptist Hicks, a rich cloth dealer who financed the idea. What we now call Dover's Hill was chosen as the location, about half a mile outside of Chipping Campden, which made it easily accessible but far enough away to avoid damage and vandalism if the competitive spirit got out of hand. 

The King, conscious of the need for a fit, strong, athletic and skilled population from which to recruit troops, encouraged sports of any kind. Thus Prince Rupert’s probable visit and the publication of a collection of poems supporting Dover’s Olympicks by poets such as Ben Johnson and Michael Drayton would have gained royal encouragement and possible patronage. The quality of the paper and binding of Annalia Dubrensis suggest an affordable and therefore widespread distribution and appreciation. You can download the Annalia Dubrensia here to read on most devices including your Kindle.

The Civil War in 1642 curtailed most non-military or essential activities and so Dover's Games was suspended. Although Dover himself died before the restoration when Charles II took over the throne the Games were instantly revived. It says something about their enduring popularity that, after an forced  gap (the Puritans were not keen on fun and entertainment) of around eighteen years and with their founder dead, the show was back on. The next two hundred years saw peaks and troughs in popularity but the core activities, athletics, throwing, jumping, wrestling, horse racing and of course eating and drinking remained. Gambling of many types, fortune telling and sharp practises appeared from time to time and music was constantly present. 

This second phase of the Games came to a close in 1862, not because of drunkenness, rowdy behaviour and vandalism, as has been reported but simply because vested interests led by Canon Bourne of Weston Subedge wanted the land enclosed. But, in 1951, as part of the celebrations for the Festival of Britain, the Games were revived. They proved so popular that it was decided to make them an annual event again but fate intervened just one year later, when an outbreak of foot and mouth disease closed all available land. In 1953 the Coronation celebrations took centre stage and the momentum was once again lost. It wasn’t until ten years later that a group of the Scuttlebrook Wake Committee restarted the Games and by the late 1960’s they had their own Committee and Constitution. Various ups and downs have followed, including an abortive attempt to move both the day and the venue, but tradition prevailed.