Mad Victorian Sport

In this episode of "The Rest Is History," Dominic Sandbrook and Tom explore the forgotten history of pedestrianism, a 19th-century sport where individuals competed in feats of walking endurance. They focus on Richard Manks's incredible achievement of walking 1,000 miles in 1,000 half-hours at the Kennington Oval in 1851, highlighting how this event foreshadowed modern sports with its detailed reporting, statistics, and innovations like floodlighting. The discussion also delves into the historical context of the Oval as a pioneering sporting venue, reflecting the rise of leisure culture, suburbanism, and the commercialization of sports in Victorian England, with figures like Charles Alcock instrumental in establishing codified sports like football and cricket.