Ashbourne Shrovetide Football

A photograph entitled 'Ashbourne Shrovetide Football', taken in February 1947 by Bert Abell for the Daily Herald.

Shrovetide football in Ashbourne, Derbyshire, has taken place annually for hundreds of years. Several thousand residents of Ashbourne compete, divided into two teams - the Up'ards (those who were born on the north side of the Henmore Brook), against the Down'ards (born on the South side).

This photograph shows players fighting for the ball across a frozen fishpond.