Newspaper and magazine articles about John Hulley

1865 Jun 3 The Porcupine – The Opening of the Gymnasium
We have been inundated with letters, relative to the opening of the new gymnasium, each communication containing much abuse of the directors in general, and Mr Hulley in particular. “Gymnasiarch, Junior," says:- “Is this free England? Is this the 19th century, when a man is a man for all that, and can double up his perambulator, if he has a mind so to do? Why should we sons of labour, who are, toiling and moiling all day, and are only too anxious to completely exhaust our muscles by attending the Gymnasium, wait and hope for the opening of Mr Hulley's palatial residence in Myrtle-street? We are told that the delay is caused by the determination of the directors to wait till the Prince of Wales visits Liverpool, when he can formally open the Gymnasium. What, may I ask, Mr Editor, has the Prince of Wales to do with us? Can he increase our chests one iota or improve our biceps by the breadth of an inch? No. Her Majesty herself, I have also been informed, purposes coming down to preside at the opening, and inaugurate the proceedings by having a bout at single-stick with the great Gymnasiarch himself. However this may be, there is one fact that that must not be overlooked: we are panting for exercise, and must have it."

Of course, we have but little to say upon this matter, which “Gymnasiarch, Junior," takes so much to heart, but imagine that the Gymnasium is not opened for the simple reason that it is not finished. Mr Hulley or one of the directors walk through it daily, it is true, but still that operation does not aid the completion of the building.

1865 Jul 29 North Wales Chronicle – Llandudno – The Olympic Festival
Saturday, the 22nd will be a memorial day to many a boy who years hence, perhaps in far away is lands across the deep sea with think of his triumph and failures that day, when the glorious July sun streamed in a flood of brightness over of the rocky sides of sea-girt Orme.

On Saturday last a festival was held on the Croquet Ground above the Baths. A programme had been issued -- Judges had been appointed -- several gentlemen had accepted the post of Stewards -- and, as usual, the ladies of the place had lent time and good taste in adorning the bleak hillside and rendering the fete as attractive as possible. The organiser of the games, Mr Hulley, of Liverpool, spared neither personal exertion, time, nor trouble, to perfect his arrangements.

At shortly after six o'clock (on the first day) the crowd dispersed, streaming down the hill-sides towards the town, but long before nine o'clock, that evening, all Llandudno was astir to witness the promised Grand Procession of Illuminated Boats on the Bay, together with a Grand Swimming Race of 100 yards. And here are some disappointment was felt, caused by the cupidity of the Llandudno boatmen. Seven boats had been engaged by Mr Hulley, coloured lanterns provided for them, and music prepared. It was proposed to have the swimming-match, and that over a procession of boats, with the coloured lights and music on board. The boatmen, however, after having hired themselves to Mr Hulley, again let their boats for a higher sum, so that when that gentleman appeared, he was unable to fulfil his programme, and the swimming had to be adjourned to the following Monday. Surely the Commissioners of Llandudno will look into this matter. Mr Hulley had laboured hard to cater for the public amusement; and the miserable show on the water, which followed, was a grievous disappointment to him. It was a most unmerited requital of his great and philanthropic exertions. We will say no more; but once more express the whole that the municipal authorities of the town will put themselves in communication with Mr Hulley, and mete out justice to the offenders.

Colonel Walmsley, then rose and said inter alia “The thanks of company were due to Mr Hulley – the thanks of the people of Llandudno were due to him, and he begged that Mr Hulley would accept these thanks through his medium. And he further asked for three cheers for Mr Hulley. The cheers were heartily given, and a cheer for more being added, Mr Hulley addressed a few words to the meeting.

1865 Jul 29 North Wales Chronicle – Correspondence
To the Editor of the North Wales Chronicle
Dear Sir, For the last two or three years Mr Hulley has written much on the question of bathing at Llandudno, and has, otherwise, interested himself very greatly in the welfare of the town, and it would be ingratitude indeed, if such efforts, prompted by no personal motives, were not handsomely recognized. Arise you dons in the place !, Llandudno never was insensible of honour! Let the great Gymnasiarch see that we can admire his gratuitous efforts, if we can do no more!. Mr H. must pardon, if the writer hereof has offended.
I enclose my name, ARGUS

1865 Aug 5 North Wales Chronicle – Llandudno – The Olympic Festival
This athletic meeting held on the side of the Great Orme is still a favourite topic of conversation in Llandudno and its neighbourhood. It is still remembered with pleasure. Associated with this pleasant recollection are the names of Colonel McCorquodale, Mr Hulley, and Colonel Walmsley. Could not these gentlemen, assisted by any of the visitors or residents now at Llandudno, organise one more such a gathering. They would be doing a kindness to the town, and giving great gratification to both residents and visitors. The former gathering was a numerous one, but a second one would be far more so. We trust Mr Hulley will answer to our appeal.

1865 Aug 12 The Porcupine – Mr Hulley and the Abyssinian Captives
It is now definitely settled that the Gymnasiarch of Liverpool is to proceed to Abyssinia, and demand from King Theodorus the release of the captives at present in his dominions. We understand that Mr Hulley will proceed at once, in the bathing costume that he made so popular at New Brighton and Llandudno. He will make his first appearance before Theodorus going up a rope feet foremost, from the top of which he will bound into the presence of the King and demand satisfaction.

The King, it is supposed, would instantly have Mr Hulley seized, and order his right foot and left hand to be cut off and placed in the National Museum of the country. This has been stated to the Gymnasiarch, but he does not display the slightest symptoms of fear. When asked how he would fix the rope on which he proposed performing, he answered - “Anywhere, anywhere!" and it was supposed that he had been reading the “Bridge of Sighs." We trust that Mr Hulley will be successful in this his new undertaking, and that he will not meet with a similar fate to Mr Bassam's messenger.

1865 Aug 26 The Porcupine - Mr Hulley and the Abyssinian Captives
(From our own Correspondent) Llandudno, Friday evening
As announced in the periodical which I have the honour to represent, Mr Hulley started on his mission to King Theodorus last Monday, and, after much fatiguing travel has halted at the above place prior to proceeding on his journey. The great Gymnasiarch, though somewhat harassed-looking, is apparently hopeful of success in the difficult task he has undertaken. His costume is simple in the extreme, consisting of the bathing-dress in use at continental watering-places. He is undergoing an immense course of training, passing his time in walking up and down the mountains in the district, or swimming out to sea with nothing on, but a cigar in his mouth. He has, at an enormous cost, and after great difficulty, secured a piece of the Atlantic cable, on which he will make his first appearance before King Theodorus.

The little town of Llandudno has been one scene of revelry since the arrival of the Gymnasiarch: torch-light processions, feasts of lanterns, and tourneys have taken place in his honour. Despite the enthusiasm that has been displayed around him, the hero of the time is in no wise affected, walking about with a calm dignity he ever displays -, just as he appeared in playing with the sawdust on the stage of the Theatre Royal. Truly great men always have detractors, and there are people who call the Gymnasiarch a perambulating advertisement. It is also asserted that St. Paul went mad with over study, and that Mr John Hulley, the Gymnasiarch, displays symptoms of insanity, although produced from quite a different cause. He has lately issued a circular respecting certain sports that are about to take place at Llandudno, which displays symptoms of ingenious insanity that would give to qualified physicians every right to cause him to be placed in a lunatic asylum.

I will send you further particulars of progress next week.

1865 Sep 2 The Porcupine - Mr Hulley and the Abyssinian Captives
(From our own Correspondent) Llandudno, Friday evening
Still here! The bracing area of North Wales seems to have a fascination for the Gymnasiarch. Having just written the word “gymnasiarch" brings to mind a very characteristic anecdote of the great man, whose fortunes I am following and whose exploits I have to chronicle for you. He was wandering in a secluded mountain fastness, in his bathing-dress, when he was suddenly accosted by a mercantile-looking person, in drab inexpressibles, who said, “pardon me; but are you not the Gymnasiarch of Liverpool?" “I," said the great man, whose deeds I am watching, “am the Gymnasiarch of the world.” How like him, you will say when I tell you that, after thus replying, he rushed down the mountainside, which is almost perpendicular, and plunged into the sea, where he wallowed for some hours. Was it not grand, and like the man?

The life of the English resident here is very monotonous, eating, drinking, sleeping, and bathing form the chief amusement of my countrymen. The natives have, as I told you in my last letter, been keeping the town in a constant state of illumination since the arrival of the Gymnasiarch. Colonel Walmsley, the governor of the island, has shown everyone connected with the mission every courtesy and has been instrumental in getting up a “Feast of Lanterns” in honour of our arrival. We are all anxiously waiting to be once more on the march, and inwardly praying that the Gymnasiarch may soon take it into his head to proceed with the difficult task he has undertaken.

1865 Sep 6 Derby Mercury – Novel Fete at Llandudno
A novel water fete, organised by Mr Hulley, of Liverpool, took place at Llandudno, on Saturday evening. The whole of the houses facing the sea were lit up, and numbers of boats, elegantly decorated, and filled with ladies bearing coloured lampions, formed a procession and sailed around the bay. The rocks surrounding the town were brilliantly illuminated, and a carnival was held on the sands by thousands of visitors carrying variegated lanterns of every possible hue. During the procession, Mr and Mrs Howard Paul, who were in a boat, displayed a union jack, ingeniously composed of French lampions to represent the colours, sang “Rule Britannia” the chorus being taken up by thousands of voices. The night being favourable, the effect from the shore was brilliant in the extreme, resembling the mimic Venetian fetes in the Bois de Bologne, or the feasts of lanterns we read in Chinese fables.

1865 Oct 10 Liverpool Mercury Correspondence - A Testimony on to Mr Hulley
To the Editors of the Liverpool Mercury - Gentleman, Our town now possesses one of the finest gymnasiums in the world, for which we are principally indebted to Mr Hulley. I paid a visit there on Tuesday evening, and was quite surprised at the elegance of the building. It is well lighted and ventilated, and the gymnastics are of such a varied character that I do not wonder that it is so well patronised. A few of the athletes appear in white flannel trousers and shirts, with cricket shoes, which gives the place quite a charming appearance. During the evening the members are instructed by Mr Hulley in the art of practising with dumb-bells, clubs, etc. There is also a gallery for strangers, I recommend my youthful readers to join this gymnasium, for I do not think they can possibly find a more pleasant way of spending an evening.

Mr Hulley deserves the warmest praise for his exertions, for it is all owing to him that the establishment has been raised. We can't thank him too much, and I think the best way for the members and their friends to show their gratitude would be to make him a suitable testimonial. I should be happy to join in any undertaking to that effect, and I think a great many other members will not refuse their mite for such a praiseworthy object.
Yours etc
An Admirer of Myrtle-Street Gymnasium
Grove-street, October 5.

1865 Oct 28 The Porcupine – Mr Hulley’s Temple
Perhaps the greatest praise a new gymnasium in Hope-street has ever received was awarded it by Mr. Thomas Hughes, M.P., better known as the genial author of “Tom Brown's Schooldays." Praise from such a source is, like that from Sir Hubert Stanley, "praise indeed”. He is a muscular christian of the highest order, and his name is always associated with healthful exercise; so, when he spoke in the eulogistic terms he did of the building, Mr Hulley ought to have felt as proud as if royalty itself had been induced to open it. The Hope-street tower of strength is now an accomplished fact; and Mr Hulley may be looked upon as the Spurgeon of athletic society, for he has certainly worked with as much assiduity to erect this building as ever it did the divine to raise his tabernacle. It is now, we have remarked, an accomplished fact, but until its absolute completion, we had our doubts whether it would ever be finished, or that it might fall to decay, ere it's completion, like the melancholy theatrical ruins at the corner of London-road. Even after the internal fittings had been accomplished, its doors were shut to those anxious to commence operations, and the directors of the undertaking, anxious to give éclat to the opening, waited for the advent of some great personage, whose services they could secure to open their building. Even now, although the gymnasium is virtually open, and hundreds of the pride of our young men nightly assemble there to work, it is not formally open, the task of opening being reserved for Lord Stanley, who has consented to do it. We are not finding fault with the gentleman who have caused this delay, and think that they could not have selected a worthier gentleman to conduct the opening ceremonies of the gymnasium, but we are of opinion that they might have opened it, to speak in the words of Mr Harry Sydney, "in a quiet sort of way."

The building that we have designated as Mr Hulley's Temple is not a handsome one. Judging externally, it might be taken for a theatre, a market, a railway terminus, or public baths and wash-houses. What little ornamentation it possesses is confined to the front, and this consists of a row of windows, a large front door, over which is a stone sign bearing the designation of the building, while two doubtful looking French towers at either end of the roof complete the decorative portions of the frontage. The sides and back are plain brick, which is all well and good if other buildings are to be built in close proximity to it; but decidedly bad if the gymnasium is to stand alone. It is only upon entering the building that we begin to think that the interior compensates for this somewhat bald exterior. The entrance hall is pretty, but spoilt by the windows in the wall that separates it from the great hall. They are common looking, and the two at either end arr foolishly spoiled by having a portion of the arch built into the wall, giving them the most awkward and unartistic appearance. Passing through this outer hall or vestibule, on either side of which rooms devoted to ladies’ dressing-rooms, and apartments for the managing director, we come into the hall itself, and overlook the defects that do eventually dawn upon us, owing to the absolute impressiveness caused by its appearance and fittings.

Fancy a larger hall larger than the Philharmonic, filled with every variety of athletic instruments that has ever been invented. Ropes stretched taut with marvellous position, or hanging loosely from some elevation. Parallel bars, horizontal bars, swings, flying rings, ladders of every description, and in every possible position, swarming poles, imitation castle walls to scale, see-saws, that Marjorie Daw would scarcely have known the use of, are arranged all over the place in a most orderly manner. Ranged around the walls are a dumb-bells, ranging from tiny little things that an infant could lift up to large masses of iron that would look out of place in the hands of Hercules himself. In company with these are Indian clubs, like soda water bottles, but increasing in size till they appear like trunks of large trees, shaped by giant hands into their present form. Rings of wood, and sceptres formed of a like material, are also arranged with the clubs and dumbbells, together with light, elegant-looking javelins and pieces of apparatus that we know not by name, and which almost defies description. Placed here and there in various parts of the hall are all the heavier appliances for exercise, embracing every new invention that ingenious minds have contrived. Machines for every species of exercise are here, each having their individual uses for the development of a certain class of muscles.

The school of arms, where fencing, boxing, and broad-sword practice are carried on, is kept distinct from the gymnasium proper. It is situated at the south end of the building, and is reached by a staircase at either side of the hall, which staircase also reached the very pretty balcony that runs around the entire building. This balcony; which is very light and elegant, serves as a stand for visitors or spectators, who can witness the operations that are going on without fear of being in the way. The pride of the P.R., Jem Mace, has been engaged as professor of the noble art. And will hold his own in the school of arms. We stood up before “Jem" for at least five minutes when we visited the gymnasium, and felt all the fresher for it. It is right that we should state, we stood in our position of admiring and truthful critic -- not as an antagonist.

As the visitor enters the gymnasium the first thing that strikes him is the castellated erection at the far end of the apartment, which completely covers the wall at the north end. It is not only ornamental, being used for a most important branch of exercise, and the wall is so constructed that the very highest point on the construction can be reached by means of scaling. The roof seems to be a perfect network of rope, and, in addition to an intricate mass of rigging, several eccentric rope pathways to accustom the lightheaded to high places, - a species of exercise, by the by, that might be carried to an enormous extent in every-day life. The dressing rooms on the east and west sides of the building, and appear to be well arranged. The lavatories, however, do not appear to have had that attention paid to them that they should have had. The architect’s idea appears to have been that our ablutions should be conducted amongst the coals, for he has placed the baths and troughs in odd, dark out-of-the-way corners in the cellar, where it is impossible to see whether the cleansing operation has been properly carried out without the aid of a strong artificial light. We don't think that a large marble or tile bath, similar to the cement and brick room here in use, would have been at all out of place in an establishment of such magnitude. The wooden troughs are also common looking and imperfect, while the two small baths for hot water purposes are meaner than can be found in any decent private house. There certainly are washing-rooms upstairs, but these are for occasional use, and are fitted with those mysterious basins that were used at Aldershot, their peculiar construction consisting in all the bowls being filled or emptied, as the case may be, together.

While speaking highly of the building, and admiring the sight that its interior presents at night, when the hundreds of young athletes are exercising, we are not altogether satisfied with it. We think that much more might have done for the money, which has been expended. We do not think the architect has given the subject sufficient thought before making his plans, and also that he had no right to chop and change about in a way he has done; though, perhaps the interference of directors had something to do with this. Certainly it could not have induced him to abstain from giving sufficient light to the place, and to make a skylight after he had completed the building and discovered his error. The general effect of the interior is due rather to the beauty of the fittings than to that of the building. Will with the exception of the ornamental stonework that separates the school of arms from the gymnasium, Mr Hulley's temple consists of but four walls.

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