ARCHERY IN THE GEORGIAN PERIOD

There is an increasing tendency to call the archery developments of the 1800’s ‘Victorian’, – an all-embracing term covering the century in its entirety and one denied only by the pedant, since Victoria’s reign saw most of the more significant archery events and developments.

It is tempting therefore to dismiss pre-Victorian (19th C) activity as a mere entrée to the main event; a disservice which calls for correction, and for proper observation of the many and varied facets of archery activity which took place during the reigns of the four kings George: that period from 1714 to 1820 which we archery nerds are justified in calling Georgian. Although we may trespass a little into the 19th C, as we follow the Georges, we will concentrate upon events within the preceding hundred years, including a look at the Georgian longbow.

During the previous century, and following the restitution of the monarchy, archery had flourished. The