For six decades during the 18th century, Robert Powell was famous for touring the country as a fire eater. Born around 1700 he first started performing in 1718 and until 1780 his programme was largely the same and copied those who had preceded him.
He performed in front of British and European royalty and in 1751 was awarded a purse of gold and a large silver medal.
Powell Visits Newport
In March 1753, The Gloucester Journal mentioned a tour that Powell was on which covered a large area of South Wales including Newport and Caerleon.
He had started in Hay then moved on to Brecon, the Angel in Abergavenny, Pontymoile, the King's Head in Newport and White Hart Caerleon and then travelled to Bristol and Bath.
He continued his tour visiting Neath on March 30th, Swansea on the 31st then Camarthen, Pembroke and Haverfordwest in April returning again to the Angel in Abergavenny , Pontymoile and finally Usk. The cost for the show was 1s.
What Would The Newport Show Have Been Like?
An advert in The Gloucester Journal on Monday 21st April, 1766 gives an insight into the type of show the residents of Newport would have witnessed.
1st, He eats red-hot Coals out of the Fire as natural as Bread.
2dly, He licks with his naked Tongue, red-hot Tobacco Pipes flaming with Brimstone.
3dly, He takes a large Bunch of Deal Matches, lights them all together, and holds them in his Mouth 'till the Flame is extinguished.
4thly, he takes a red0hot Heater out of the Fire, licks it with his naked Tongue several Times, and carries it round the Room between his Teeth.
5thly, He fills his Mouth with red-hot Charcoal, and broils a Slice of Beef or Mutton on his Tongue; and any Person may blow the Fire with a Pair of Bellows at the same Time.
He fills his Mouth with red-hot Charcoal, and broils a Slice of Beef or Mutton on his Tongue; and any Person may blow the Fire with a Pair of Bellows at the same Time.
And lastly, He takes a Quantity of Rosin, Pitch, Bees-wax, Sealing-wax, Brimstone, Allum, and Lead, melts them together over a Chaffing-Dish of Coals, and eats the said Combustibles with a Spoon as natural as a Porringer of Broth, (which he calls his Dish of Soup) to the great and agreeable Surprise of all the Spectators. Every Article above mentioned is justly performed without Fallacy.
Before he begins his Supper, he entertains the Ladies and Gentlemen with Half an Hour's Diversion on Dexterity of Hand, much superior to any Jew, or other Pretender.
He displaces Teeth or Stumps of Teeth so as scarce to be felt. This Advertisement does no mention half the he performs.
— The Gloucester Journal, Monday 21st April, 1766 (Subscription required)
A Second Visit to Newport
In July 1766, Powell returned to south Wales visiting Cardiff and then onto Newport, Caerleon, Pontypool, Usk, Abergavenny and Chepstow. It didn't specify where in Newport he visited but presumably it was the King's Head.
— The Gloucester Journal, Monday 30th June, 1766 (Subscription required)
1753 Review
A review in 1753 gives an insight into one of the shows and an incident that happened.
We hear from most of the Towns in South Wales, that Mr Powell, the celebrated Fire-eater, has exhibited, with universal Applause, to numerous Companies at each Place; particularly at Cowbridge, where a travelling Scotchman, and an Irish Barber, attempted to imitate the Infernal Monarch, but paid so dear for their Boldness, that they are now under the Doctor's Hands, and it's thought they cannot recover.
— The Gloucester Journal, Tuesday 10th April, 1753 (Subscription required)
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