The History of the Modena in England
Talking to Clive Thornton a while ago regarding a new Modena Handbook, we both agreed that we still have plenty in stock and the only item missing is the how and when the Modena arrived in this country, plus an update on the trophy award chart. Well, Clive's brother Dennis did an excellent job on the new updated trophy list so any member who requires one, please contact Dennis.
So that leaves me to fill you in on the history which I hope you will find interesting. The following I quote from 'The Modern Pigeon' by W F Holmes dated March 1921.
Mr Robt. C. Chavasse of Leamington, a present member of the Modena Club claims I believe with justice, that his father, the late Mr Charles E. Chavasse of Sutton Coldfield was the owner of the fist pair of Modenas brought to this country.
These birds were purchased from the late Henry Yardley of Birmingham and were imported by the latter from Berlin or Brussels, from Berlin in my opinion, as the first Modenas were brought to Germany in 1876 and a large number were exhibited at Halle in 1878.
From 1876 to 1878 is almost certainly the date that the late Mr. Chavasse first had his birds which were bronze Gazzi of a very good type, especially the cock, they bred blacks as well as bronzes and bred freely.
Mr. R. C. Chavasse writes that he remembers them well and that they were not large birds, about the size of his 1919 Dairy challenge cup hen, short in feather and perfect tip/toe carriage.
They were exhibited at the Crystal Palace, Birmingham, Alexandra Palace and Liverpool and are believed to have been claimed at the last show for about £10, a good price in those days. They were shown in pairs, I cannot discover what became of them afterwards and all definite trace of them seems to have disappeared.
The Little Livestock Journal and Farmers Gazette reports in December 1880, Birmingham, Chavasse 2nd Modena and at Birmingham Columbarian in 1881, Chavasse 1st, a Modena also.
This is an extract from Modena Matters, the full article appears in the November 2008 issue of Feathered World
