First beard contest was hair today and gone tomorrow

VICTORIAN attempts to introduce the world’s first beard and moustache contest fell flat when fewer entrants than expected turned up to have their facial furniture judged, records show.

As hundreds of the world’s most hirsute hopefuls descend on Antwerp for the 2019 World Beard and Moustache Championships, historian Dr Alun Withey has unearthed new details about the very first such event.

Only 30 men turned up for the competition in London in July 1873.

It was reported that “the successful competitors seemed more anxious, when the ceremony was over, to evade rather than court, the observation of the multitude, proved very reluctant to parade in front of the audience, and were keen to leave as soon”.

The show, organised by a Mr Holland, proprietor of the North Woolwich Gardens pleasure park, was widely advertised. He had also organised a “Barmaid Show”, “a show of various brewings of malt and hops”, and “various displays of cats, dogs, beer and babies”. The judges comprised a panel of 12 ladies picked randomly from the audience and the novel show was billed as a chance for people to see the “handsomest beards and moustaches”.

Things began promisingly. One man even entered via post, sending a 40in specimen from his beard. Another had a 32in long moustache. According to the Greenock Telegraph, the “candidates came forward to show themselves to the assembled public” and the winner was given a medal.

The Daily Telegraph and Courier later reported that the show was organised to increase visitors to the “very pleasant summer resort” but added: “It cannot be said that the last experiment, in attracting public attention, has proved so successful as the preceding.”

The Hampshire Advertiser was even less enthusiastic, commenting that the show “was not much of a success”.

Dr Withey, from the University of Exeter, said: “It seems that poor Mr Holland was unfortunate in the timing of his competition, as he missed the peak of the Victorian beard movement by about 15 years. By this point men were beginning to tire of huge beards.

“It would have been fascinating to know who won, or why one man entered by post, but unfortunately this was never reported.”

Perhaps Mr Holland was ahead of his time – the next championships were not held until 1990, Dr Withey added.

He is writing a book on the history of facial hair and is a past judge for the Devon and Cornwall Beard and Moustache Championship.