I recently visited the German Christmas market in Birmingham in search of authentic Currywurst while the rest of my family hit the shops. Walking past The Guardian (a 7 foot bronze statue of a bull) as well as the 10m tall moving bull sculpture at New Street station, I began wondering why the city seems obsessed with bulls and how the Bullring got its name.
After a bit of research, I had discovered the slightly grim truth. Birmingham's Bullring was the site of bull baiting until at least 1798. Bull baiting was (still is in some countries) an horrific activity where bulls are tethered and then have to fend off "bulldogs" and "pitbulls" which were bred exclusively for fighting bulls. The area was first known as Corn Cheaping in reference to the corn market on the site. The name Bull Ring referred to the green within Corn Cheaping that was used for bull-baiting. The 'ring' was a hoop of iron in Corn Cheaping to which bulls were tied for baiting before slaughter.
Rotunda, Rotunda, unveil your past!
The bloodiest sport that there has ever been
Played out below on Corn Cheading’s Green.
Tethered by collar to a fixed hoop of iron
A scared, irate bull sees the bleakest horizon.
Rotunda, Rotunda, how is this fair?
Pepper blown nostrils cause raw, stinging eyes.
Enraged but restrained by a chain ‘til he dies
As dogs are released, sinking fangs into flesh.
The crowd come to life with the imminent death.
Rotunda, Rotunda, how could they watch?
Barborous scenes so enjoyed by the masses.
Kings and queens, old and young, folk of all classes
Stood around cheering live torture up close.
Soon Enath’s seen enough: off to Taurus he goes.
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