Didsbury Wakes

Hone thought most of the sports still left at country festivals could be enjoyed at Didsbury Wakes, held in 1825 on 8, 9 and 10 August. The published bill offered ass races for purses of gold, prison bars and grinning through collars for ale, bag races for hats, foot races for money, and a maiden plate for young women under twenty with gown pieces and shawls as prizes. There was also treacled loaf eating, smoking matches, apple dumpling eating, wheelbarrow and bell races, and country dances each evening at the Cock and the King of Bells inns.