Bell's Life in London
Encyclopedia
Bell's Life in London, and Sporting Chronicle was a British weekly sporting paper published as a pink broadsheet between 1822 and 1886.
Bell's Life was founded by Robert Bell, a London printer-publisher.
Bell sold to William Innell Clement
, owner of the Observer, in 1824 or 1825, and the paper swallowed up a competitor, Pierce Egan
's Life in London and Sporting Guide. From 1824 to 1852 it was edited by Vincent George Dowling, "during which time Bell's Life became Britain's leading sporting newspaper, without which no gentleman's Sunday was quite complete." Dowling's son, Frank Lewis Dowling
, effectively edited the paper during the last year of his father's life, and succeeded him as editor from 1852 to 1867. By the 1860s Bell's Life was facing competition from The Field
, The Sportsman, the Sporting Life
, and the Sporting Times. In 1885 Edward Hulton bought Bell's Life and made it a daily, but in 1886 it was absorbed by Sporting Life
.
Contributors included Francis Frederick Brandt
, the agricultural writer Henry Corbet (1820-78), Charles Dickens
, Henry Hall Dixon
, the writer on angling Edward Fitzgibbon
(1803-57), the cricket writer Frederick Gale (1823-1904), W H Leverell, the writer on card games Henry Jones
(1831-1899), William Russell Macdonald (1787-1854), Rev. Charles Henry Newmarch (1824-1903), the sports writer William Ruff (1801-56), Robert Smith Surtees
, the chess writer George Walker (1803-79) and John Henry Walsh
.
Though Bell's Life is now best known as a racing paper it began life as an anti- establishment general newspaper aimed at the working class. From c1830 it gave increasing coverage to the Turf and this soon comprised more than a third of the paper, following general news and followed in its turn by other sporting news (notably boxing but all other sports too). For thirty years it remained the principal source of racing news while its general news with its acid comment, full coverage of scandal and cartoons provides an entertaining picture of Victorian Britain. Bell's problem was that it aimed at both the literate poor and the general sporting public who fall into all classes. It experimented variously with appearing more than once a week and, sadly, eventually eliminated all its general news, covering sport alone; but the changes came too late. Racing apart - and it is essential reading for those interested in the history of the Turf - its main news coverage is a much underused resource.
Bell's Life was founded by Robert Bell, a London printer-publisher.
Bell sold to William Innell Clement
William Innell Clement
William Innell Clement was an English newspaper proprietor.Though details of Clement's early years are unknown, it is likely that he was born in London. Starting as a newsagent at a young age, he soon became one of the leading vendors in London...
, owner of the Observer, in 1824 or 1825, and the paper swallowed up a competitor, Pierce Egan
Pierce Egan
Pierce Egan was an early British journalist, sportswriter, and writer on popular culture.Egan was born in the London suburbs, where he spent his life. By 1812 he had established himself as the country's leading 'reporter of sporting events', which at the time meant mainly prize-fights and...
's Life in London and Sporting Guide. From 1824 to 1852 it was edited by Vincent George Dowling, "during which time Bell's Life became Britain's leading sporting newspaper, without which no gentleman's Sunday was quite complete." Dowling's son, Frank Lewis Dowling
Frank Lewis Dowling
Frank Lewis Dowling was a British newspaper editor.Dowling, son of Vincent George Dowling, was probably born in London. He was called to the bar at the Middle Temple, 24 November 1848. He became editor of Bell's Life in London on the illness of his father in 1851...
, effectively edited the paper during the last year of his father's life, and succeeded him as editor from 1852 to 1867. By the 1860s Bell's Life was facing competition from The Field
The Field (magazine)
The Field is the world's oldest country and field sports magazine, having been published continuously since 1853.The famous sportsman Robert Smith Surtees, the creator of Jorrocks, was the driving force behind the initial publication...
, The Sportsman, the Sporting Life
Sporting Life (newspaper)
The Sporting Life was a British newspaper published between 1859 and 1998 that was best known for its coverage of horse racing. Latterly it has continued as a multi-sports website....
, and the Sporting Times. In 1885 Edward Hulton bought Bell's Life and made it a daily, but in 1886 it was absorbed by Sporting Life
Sporting Life (newspaper)
The Sporting Life was a British newspaper published between 1859 and 1998 that was best known for its coverage of horse racing. Latterly it has continued as a multi-sports website....
.
Contributors included Francis Frederick Brandt
Francis Frederick Brandt
Francis Frederick Brandt was an English barrister and author....
, the agricultural writer Henry Corbet (1820-78), Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
, Henry Hall Dixon
Henry Hall Dixon
Henry Hall Dixon was an English sporting writer known by his nom de plume, "The Druid."-Life:...
, the writer on angling Edward Fitzgibbon
Edward Fitzgibbon
Edward Fitzgibbon , was a writer.Fitzgibbon, who wrote under the pseudonym 'Ephemera,' son of a land agent, was born at Limerick in 1803. He was devotedly attached to fishing from boyhood. When he was fourteen years old his father died, and he came to London...
(1803-57), the cricket writer Frederick Gale (1823-1904), W H Leverell, the writer on card games Henry Jones
Henry Jones (writer)
Henry Jones was an English author well-known as a writer and authority on tennis and card games who wrote under the nom de plume "Cavendish".-Biography:...
(1831-1899), William Russell Macdonald (1787-1854), Rev. Charles Henry Newmarch (1824-1903), the sports writer William Ruff (1801-56), Robert Smith Surtees
Robert Smith Surtees
Robert Smith Surtees was an English editor, novelist and sporting writer. He was the second son of Anthony Surtees of Hamsterley Hall, a member of an old County Durham family.-Early life:...
, the chess writer George Walker (1803-79) and John Henry Walsh
John Henry Walsh
John Henry Walsh FRCS , English writer on sport under the pseudonym of "Stonehenge", was born at Hackney, London.He was educated at private schools, and became a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1844...
.
Though Bell's Life is now best known as a racing paper it began life as an anti- establishment general newspaper aimed at the working class. From c1830 it gave increasing coverage to the Turf and this soon comprised more than a third of the paper, following general news and followed in its turn by other sporting news (notably boxing but all other sports too). For thirty years it remained the principal source of racing news while its general news with its acid comment, full coverage of scandal and cartoons provides an entertaining picture of Victorian Britain. Bell's problem was that it aimed at both the literate poor and the general sporting public who fall into all classes. It experimented variously with appearing more than once a week and, sadly, eventually eliminated all its general news, covering sport alone; but the changes came too late. Racing apart - and it is essential reading for those interested in the history of the Turf - its main news coverage is a much underused resource.