A George III Act of Parliament printed in 1787 containing a clause banning the sport of Cock-Throwing, as part of plans For the better repairing, pavi

A George III Act of Parliament printed in 1787 containing a clause banning the sport of Cock-Throwing, as part of plans For the better repairing, paving, cleansing, lighting and watching the highways, streets and lanes of and in the town and port of Sandwich in Kent, the clause on pp.1548-1549 for a number of nuisances including throw at, or set up any cock or fowl to be thrown at, in the manner called cock-throwing Cock-throwing was a blood sport widely practiced in England until the late 18th century whereby a rooster was tied to a post whilst weighted sticks known as coksteles were thrown at the bird until it died. It was particularly popular with children. By the middle of the 18th century social values and animal welfare issues came to the fore and the popularity of the sport waned, whilst lawmakers and magistrates began to deal with the problem by imposing harsher fines under public order legislation, whilst at local level bye-laws were passed banning the practice.