320 Notes on the History of Mere. 
grand and substantial court has only been destroyed within the last 
twenty years; part of the wall still stands at the back of the Angel 
Inn. Old men can remember when it was well patronised. 
Tur Horst Rack on Mere Down. 
Sir R. C. Hoare gives full details of two days’ racing here in 
1733, which was patronised by all the leading men of the neigh- 
bourhood. 
BULL-BAITING. 
This sport was indulged in up to the beginning of this century. 
“The Bull Ring” retains its name at the present day. It is 
situated on the western side of the Castle Hill. Old men, living 
within the last ten years, could recollect an old woman, named 
Betty Dolby, called “ Bull-riding Betty,” who used to ride the bull 
to the scene of its torture. 
CouRSING, 
Mere Down was from time immemorial noted as being a centre 
for coursing. Thirty years ago it was the head-quarters of the 
Mere Down Coursing Club, when for a few years it attained great 
notoriety, but these days of wire fencing have entirely abolished it. 
Since Strick PLayIne. 
“The Annual Single Stick playing will take place at Mere on Tuesday, the 
19th instant for a Purse of Twenty Sovereigns, play to commence at ten o’clock 
in the forenoon precisely. Great encouragement will be given to young Players,” 
“ Ordinaries will be provided at the Ship, Angel, and George Inns at two 
o'clock.” (Salishury and Winchester Journal, May 18th, 1829.) 
MARKETS. 
In 1408 Henry IV. granted a charter for a market to be held at 
Mere on Wednesdays; to what proportions it attained there is no 
evidence to show, but it appears to have died out at the close of the 
last century, when an attempt was made to revive it, as appears by 
the following advertisement in the Salisbury Journal, 30th De- 
cember, 1799 :— 
