ARCHERY MAGAZINES A BRIEF HISTORY
Hugh Soar on titles that have graced his coffee table.
Ever since archery ceased to be mandatory and became a competitive exercise with more and more advice to tax the eyes and muscles – and advances in equipment to tax the pocket – there have been books and magazines devoted to informing the already initiated of ways in which they might improve.
This article will look at just a selection of this genre, from which there is much to choose. Central to any such discussion – and the title drawn upon by most subsequent authors in one way or another – is Roger Ascham’s 1544 Toxophilus, truly the foundation of all recreational longbow knowledge and advice.
For all its enjoyment potential, the longbow had evolved as a weapon of war and, in 1590, a dissertation called Certain Discourses Military, by Sir John Smythe, extolled it as a primary weapon. This was followed some years later by an equally closely scripted argument from one Humphrey Barwick in favour of the hand gun. An ensuing war of words culminated in a personal challenge – fortunately declined – before tempers cooled. The longbow, still favoured by many late Middle Ages military commanders (and later) as a practical weapon, had a few more years to run.
Other supporting literature occasionally appeared, prominent being the Double-armed Man, a fanciful combination of bow fastened to pike. In 1625, this so intrigued King Charles I that he armed a company with the arrangement, and they served during the ensuing Civil War. Twelve years later, Gervase Markham’s The Art of Archerie (1637) re-presented Ascham’s earlier recreational work in full, with occasional personal commentary.
Books there have been, but here we are concerned with the magazine. Earliest to engage in debate over the recreational bow – at the time the exclusive province of the upper-class male – was Archaeologia,
an 18th-century gentlemen’s magazine with a wide remit. Volume VII of 1783 was distinguished by a 20-page Essay on Archery
by Mr Barrington. This was followed by a longer, 348-page, 1792 dissertation by Walter Michael Moseley in book form, also entitled An Essay on Archery. Each stressed the ancient use and history of the activity with some detail of 18th-century practice.
A later, unpublished work by Moseley, in draft form and seen by the author, carries this theme further; it is possible that publishing intent was thwarted by the appearance of The English Bowman in 1801, a 296page book of archery detail by Thomas Roberts. Snippets of archery lore also having already been served up by HG Oldfield and E Hargrove in their respective Anecdotes of Archery, published in 1791 and 1792.
“READING THROUGH IT NOW, IT IS NOTABLE HOW MANY ISSUES THAT WERE BOTHERING ARCHERS THEN – SUCH AS DRESS CODES – ARE STILL CAUSING CONTROVERSY NOW.”
Last of the earlier books extolling the longbow was The British Archer, subtitled Tracts on Archery, published in 1831 by Customs Officer Thomas Roberts. It drew upon earlier works but deserves more attention than it at present receives.
For many years, detailed news of archery events and general gossip was recorded by our sister publication, The Field, giving rise in 1865 to the first of the archery magazines, The Archer’s Register. The contents were drawn from newspaper entries and published annually in book form, listing in detail the
national and regional meetings held during the year, together with details of club events across the country. Averaging more than 160 pages of text (with 40 pages of advertising) it was popular and widely read.
The Archer’s Register was the prime source of archery details and news for more than 40 years, up to 1915. Following its demise, the first of the true archery magazines was published in 1922. Archery News, a monthly summary of club and national activity, was edited by distinguished archer Miss Christine Philips, with top archer Miss BM Legh as treasurer. Containing club results and general news from around the counties, within the modest limits of its 10-12 pages, together with obituaries and the occasional letter or feature, it reflected the wide scope of its predecessor; it lasted 27 years, ceasing in 1949.
When Archery News ceased, the baton was swiftly grasped by Patrick Clover who, in June 1949 founded and edited The British Archer. This proved a success from the start; a roomier version of its predecessor, it ran for more than 300 fortnightly issues covering local and countrywide archery activity in addition to national and regional meetings. Lively correspondence on current topics was coupled with a variety of articles and informed comment on newly available bows and associated equipment, and archery gossip.
Issue No 1 opened with a forthright defence of that most revered of archery tournaments, the Scorton Silver Arrow, followed by a diverting account of the revival of the 800-year-old Wine Festival of St Emilion, held near Bordeaux and traditionally including an archery contest. A group of English archers was invited and won the main prize: a 30 gallon vat of claret. Sadly, due to anticipated and unwelcome customs interest, this was left behind. To the author’s knowledge, an invitation is no longer forthcoming, however, it is one foreign meeting that might well be attended by those archers who enjoy red wine of character.
British Field Archer, a short-lived dip into field archery, lasted for just nine editions from October 1982 until May 1984. The British Archer, by this time run by John Histead, closed unexpectedly following the May/june Issue Vol 47, No 6, of 1996, possibly due to lack of support for a modest price increase.
Hot on its heels was The Glade, a magazine owned and edited by Ted Bradford and originating as a club newsletter in October 1978. It quickly made a national impression, continuing quarterly until 2008 when it was purchased by Geoff and Paul Tittensor and incorporated with the newly emergent Bow International. The Glade was the first UK archery magazine to gain an overseas following, giving equal prominence to club, national and international news. With a strong leaning towards the traditional longbow, a regular feature was a synopsis of battles involving the warbow, elaborated accounts of which were eventually compiled and published in a book entitled Of Bowmen and Battles, by Hugh Soar.
Other smaller magazines came and went. One of the more successful was Toxophilus, a compact, 30-page bimonthly journal based
in Cheltenham. The work of David Herboldt, this was an excellent outlet for West Country archery news from April 1978. Lasting for just 11 issues, it folded due to lack of finance in December 1979. Late on the scene was the short-lived International Archer, featuring input from leading archery historian Richard ‘Dick’ Galloway, which was notable for a lengthy debate about marks on the tips of ‘Mary Rose’ bows. Various explanations were offered for these, until it was recognised that they resulted from ‘side-nocking’; a solution secured by examination of an existing, 18thcentury, ‘side-nocked’ bow and reinforced by the discovery of just one complete nock from the Mary Rose.
A brief glance at European and North American contributions reveals the hugely successful German contribution to traditional archery, Traditionell Bogenschiessen (Traditional Archery). Edited by the talented Angelika Hornig, with excellent photography by Volker Alles, it attracts varied but always knowledgeable contributions from well-regarded authors; the standard of writing and photography shows no sign of diminishing in quality or quantity. We should also mention here the magazine Bogensport, covering the modern target side of archery, and with whom Bow occasionally shares articles and features.
As might be expected, although highly regarded as providing internationally competitive target archers, America’s literary archery interests lie largely with bow-hunting. Leading in this field are Primitive Archer, edited by Marie Luther, and Tradarchers’ World with Tom Colstad in charge. Although prominently featuring contributions from successful ‘harvesters’ using simple wooden bows, occasional descriptions of chequebook trophy hunting mar otherwise exemplary storylines. Room is always found in each, however, for articles on general historic archery, plus hints on such things as making traditional equipment and flint knapping for arrowheads.
The USA has produced dozens of magazines in the 20th century, including Bow & Arrow and the target-focused US & International Archer, which ran from 1981 to 2017. There are also numerous other longrunning magazines about bowhunting and several print and online magazines to serve the trade business.
In the UK, there was briefly a Londonbased magazine in the early 1980s called Archery International, with a modern international focus. Reading through it now, it is notable how many issues that were bothering archers then – such as dress codes – are still causing controversy now. It also featured several events that again are still part of the calendar, such as the Vegas Shoot. Not to forget, Archery UK, the quarterly magazine of Archery GB (known to oldtimers like myself as the Grand National
Archery Society). Now compiled by the talented Vicky Sartain, within its 82 pages are sensitively condensed a wide and varied selection of national and local features, including welcome mention of club archery – the bedrock of earlier magazines. It is also personally pleasing to see full respect paid to the traditional longbow and its achievements in the hands of established archers.
And, of course, Bow International, the magazine you have in your hands – or, these days, perhaps on your phone. Launched as The Bow by Richard and Daphne White in 1995, and in direct competition with
The Glade, its well-established rival, it ran successfully until eventually purchased by Geoff and Paul Tittensor, who put everything together into Bow International. In the recent 150th issue, all the previous editors contributed their memories of the past 24 years. (Bow International was bought by Blaze Publishing in 2001, which was then sold to Future PLC in 2016.)
This is not an exhaustive survey and there have been many other titles over the years, although the days of magazines, at some point in the future, may draw somewhat to a close – it is certainly hard to see anyone launching another print archery magazine. Finally, if this article has a purpose, it is to remind of past pleasures at receiving the monthly edition of one’s favoured archery mag; to read of both one’s own, and other, club activities; and, above all, to recall the sense of belonging to a close-knit community of fellow archers. Read and enjoy.