The Flemish Hercules – Iron Game History – January, 2000

One of Astley’s finest performers was Peter Ducrow, billed as the Flemish Hercules, having been born in Bruges around 1765. The inscription on his tombstone indicates that he died on 6 January 1815 at the age of forty-nine but the burial register of St Mary Lambeth Churchyard, where he was put to rest, records his age as 57. Ducrow performed noteworthy feats of strength, appearing before Royalty on several occasions. He was thoroughly professional and used his versatile talents in a great many acts and roles during his career. Eventually demand for his equestrian skills outpaced those for his feats of strength and he became known as an intrepid rider. Whether he was on horseback, the slack wire, or in acrobatics, his strength was obvious in the type of work he did.