Our History

In 1968 a small group of Old West enthusiasts in the Bristol area, founded The Lawmen.  In these early days, we were operating with just six to ten members, who researched and shared their knowledge of the Old West way of life.

In 1981, one of the members visited Tombstone, Arizona, which was celebrating its centenary of the famous gunfight at the OK Corral.  In 1989, he returned, this time with The Lawmen, and our picture was featured in the Tombstone Epitaph. 

In 2004, The Lawmen performed for the first time on the streets at Helldorado, Tombstone, and were invited back to perform another show as a larger group.  We returned in 2006, and did two performances of the Gunfight At The OK Corral.  It was our fresh and unique approach to the portrayal of this event that won us the Wyatt Earp award.  Wyatt Earp's own great-nephew was among the audience, and he later congratulated us on a brilliant show.

The Helldorado Parade 'Wyatt Earp Award' 2006

Within The Lawmen today, we still have four long-serving members from 'The Old Days', including some who've been with us from the very beginning, and our strong foundations are built upon their dedication.

    

They are (L-R): Black Jack Ketchum, Bill Tilghman, Jim Black,

and our Club Historian, Virgil Earp.

 
 
The focus of The Lawmen is still as it was in the beginning.  We are committed to providing entertainment for our audience, and enjoyment for our members during the shows. To the public, we aim to bring the Old West to life, being as faithful and as authentic as possible to the late 1860's to 1890's era.

We keep the entertainment fun where appropriate, and end with a good shoot out so that all ages enjoy our performances.  The public are always invited to talk to us after a show and to stand with us for photographs, once the Gun Marshall has cleared the area in the interest of safety.  We welcome questions and discussions from the public, we're always  happy to share our knowledge and experiences.  As we grow in numbers, and in our understanding of history, we've continued to improve, reach wider audiences, and build links with western friends across the Atlantic.