The Spangled Hamburgh Cockerel & Hen

A variation on the Spangled Polish breeds so popular at the time. Without the ruff they were Polish but with they were Hamburghs.

I must admit to be totally in love with Polish hens - they just look so wonderful.

Golden Spangled Pheasant Fowl Cockerel and Hen

Named for the markings, these chickens resembled the brown pheasant cockerel. They were much prized by poultry fanciers and went for considerable sums of money.

A handsome bird by all accounts, it's a shame they didn't have coloured photography in the 1800s.

Bolton Grays, Bolton Bays, Dutch Everyday Layers

For some reason Bolton in Lancashire was a centre for hens, importing them from Holland which was a poultry breeding centre in the 1800s.

These hens were known by a number of names including "Dutch Pencilled Fowl" or "Sutch Everyday Layers" and prized as pets by fine ladies.

They were primarily kept as pets or for show with the eggs being a bonus.

Game Fowl

In the 1800s the horrific sport cock fighting was legal and very popular. Like many sports today, it was big money competition with 20 sovereigns being wagered on top matches. Known as "cocking" it was particularly popular in the North East and in matches fought during a horse racing meeting over 1,000 cockerels met their death.

Cocking was not just a sport of the working class, patrons included such illustrious peers of the realm as the Earl of Derby and Sir William Wynne