cheltonian lifestyle The History Hour by HannahWright Frederick
James Archer
The townis ramping up to the biggest event of the year, the National Hunt Festival held at Prestbury Park, close to where one of the greatest jockeys of all time was raised. Frederick JamesArcherwas
born on 11 January 1857 in St George'sCottage, now43 St George's Place.Hewas the second son of successful steeplechase jockey,William Archer,whowon the 1858 Grand National. His mother,Emma,was the daughter of the landlords of the King’sArms in Prestbury. When Emma’s father died in 1859, the familymoved in to the pub and took over its running. Itwas fromhere that Fred, alongside his brother Charlie,was taught by his father to box and to ride. Much to the annoyance of his mother, he barely attended school and grewup almost
illiterate.At the age of eight he began taking part in pony races; his first win in a donkey race.Hesoon caught the attention of local trainers, and at the age of eleven hewas offered an apprenticeship withMathewDawson in Newmarket. TheDawson’s did not have children of their own, and took Fred under their wing.Helived as part of the family andwas paid an extra two guineas.Hegrewto 5’10, which gave him someproblems in keeping hisweight downand he frequently resorted to saunas, extremediets and purging, which ultimately contributed to his sad demise. Fred’s first win under ruleswas in
Dawson. Theirwedding was a lavish affair which involved the whole town and concluded with a firework display which spelled “May they be happy.” Theymoved into Falmouth House, which Fred built andnamed after the principle owner and supporter he rode for. Sadly, within a year their first born child died a few hours after birth.Hewas namedWilliam, after Fred’s brotherwhohad been killed in a race at Cheltenham. Later that year, Rose gave birth to a daughter, Nellie. Fred
1870, and by 1874, hewas England’s champion jockey; a title he retained until his death. His record of 2,748 winners from8,084 starts, including 26 classics,was only beaten in 1933. By the 1880s, he had huge celebrity status andwas earning over £10,000 in retainer fees a year.Hegained the nickname ‘Tin Man’ fromhis peers, fromhis thriftiness withmoney.He was perhaps unfairly painted as a miser with the reputation of borrowing coins to boot hisweight, whichwere never returned. In contrast to this reputation, he sent a lot of hismoneyhometo his parents in Prestbury,whowere struggling financially.Healso gave donations to his friendswhowere in need, and hosted a ball each winter for his
associates.Alot of hismoneywas also gambled away. In 1883, Fred married Rose Nellie Dawson, the niece ofMathew
28 FEBRUARY /MARCH2018 THECHELTONIAN
received the telegramas he dismounted the winner in the LiverpoolCup, and rushed home, full of joy, to find that his beloved wife had taken a turn for theworse. She was unaware of his presence as four doctors fought to save her life, but she succumbed to post-natal eclampsia. Fredwas distraught, and fell into depression. InOctober 1886, Fred subjected
himself to a gruelling regime to lose 6lb over two days.Hesubsequently fell ill and his flu developed into a serious typhoid fever.On the 8th November, the day before the second anniversary of his wife’s death, and in a state of delirium he asked “are they coming?” and shot himself.Hewas 29 years old. There is a plaque on the door of
the KingsArms, marking the child hoodhomeof one of the greatest jockeys theworld has ever seen.
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