The Ring Southwark | WW2 London Photos

The Ring was located on Blackfriars Road, Southwark, London. It was originally called the Surrey Chapel and was one of the first octagonal churches in England. It had a capacity of 1,200 people and was known for its innovative features such as gas lighting, underfloor heating and an organ with thunder and lightning effects.

The first fighter in The Ring, Blackfriars Road, Southwark was the Rev. Rowland Hill, eccentric revivalist who had chosen for his opponent the Devil. He built his strangely shaped Surrey Chapel (its first name) in 1783, he built it so there were no corners within where the Devil might lurk and preached for nearly 50 years from a pulpit in the centre.

The Ring Southwark
The Ring Southwark

In 1910 a raised, roped-in enclosure took the place of the preacher’s stand, and was the scene of less ambitious contests between well-known and ‘prentice prize-fighters. The Ring was famous as the forcing ground of boxing talent.

Spectators shouted their criticisms of fighters, or judge, or all three, in forcible English, but threw showers of “browns” (pennies) for a disabled man who had fought well. The Duke of Windsor, when Prince of Wales, joined these spectators one evening in 1928 with the late Harry Preston.

Hitler attacked The Ring twice with bombs in 1940; the wrecked site was cleared away in 1941.

The Ring Southwark WW2 Photos
The Ring Southwark WW2 Photos

These photos of WW2 bomb damage in London are from a collection of newspaper and magazine articles published in England just after the end World War Two. My late grandfather gave these to me as he knew I was interested in London history.

The Ring: A Boxing Legacy in Southwark

If you are a fan of boxing history, you might have heard of The Ring, a famous venue that hosted many legendary fights in the early 20th century. But did you know that The Ring was originally a chapel built in 1783 by the evangelical preacher Rowland Hill? And that it was destroyed by German bombs during World War II?

The chapel closed in 1881 and was converted into a boxing arena in 1910 by Dick Burge, a former middleweight champion. He renamed it The Ring and installed a circular stage surrounded by seats for spectators. The Ring became one of the most popular boxing venues in London and hosted many famous fighters such as Jack Kid Berg, Len Harvey, Ted Kid Lewis and Freddie Mills.

The Ring also attracted celebrities such as Charlie Chaplin, Winston Churchill and George Bernard Shaw who came to watch the bouts. The Ring was known for its lively atmosphere and its loyal fans who cheered for their favourite boxers.

However, The Ring’s glory days came to an end during World War II when it was hit by German bombs twice. During a daylight raid on 25th October 1940, a huge bomb landed on Blackfriars Road and seriously damaged The Ring but it remained open. Another bombing raid during March 1941 almost completely destroyed the building and it was eventually demolished.

Today, there is nothing left of The Ring except some photographs and memories. A pub called The Ring Bar stands opposite its former site and pays tribute to its boxing heritage with memorabilia and pictures on its walls. If you ever visit Southwark, you might want to stop by The Ring Bar and raise a glass to the fighters who made history at The Ring.

4 thoughts on “The Ring Southwark | WW2 London Photos”

  1. Does anyone know the date of the close of the boxing ring and club on the first floor of THE RING PUB ? Thanks for any help that you can give

    Reply
  2. any photos of light heavyweight boxers 1885-1939 My great great grandfather won the belt but photo of him in black tights and belt was lost when he died. he was named william {Bill } Lindsay 1864-1949 from Bermondsey old kent road. he also forght bare knuckles as well as gloves

    Reply
  3. I had a Exhibition studio in Great Suffolk Street during the 1970 – 1980’s and many times l would look at the Blue Plaque at the very site of the “THE RING” and think of my uncle many times boxing here.

    Reply
  4. Can anyone help me for any information regarding my uncle who “Boxed” at the “Ring” in the early 1930’s.
    His name is “George Harvey” and lived in Battersea area of South of London. Later in his career at Boxing he turned Professional, but in time he had to retired regarding his eyesight.

    Reply

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