Archery, once a critical skill for protection and hunting, fell out of fashion in England sometime in the 1500s to be resurrected en masse by the upper classes as sport in the late 1700s. By the Regency era, it was an established pastimes for gentlemen and women.
Winter Evenings: Or Lucubrations on Life and Letters, 1805
It was particularly popular with the ladies because it provided an opportunity to show off their figures, flirt, and mingle with men (Johnes, Archery, Romance and Elite Culture in England and Wales, c.1780-1840). Fashion in the Regency era, with its simple lines and limited frills lended itself well to the sport and gave women a rare opportunity to engage in an active pastime.
The young lady’s book: a manual of elegant recreations, exercises, and pursuits, 1829
