Shove Groat, Skittles and Quoits
Three games of skill all well known from the medieval
period and none as easy as they look! Some medieval rules survive but generally
these are games enjoy a rich element of improvisation and invention
Shove Groat
This
well known game, translated down the years into shove ha’penny
and now sadly into shove 50p, originated as a game known as Shoven Board
where small metal disks were slid down the length of a 30 foot table. Since
such large table tops were only owned by the very few, the more common form
of the game is much smaller and relies on the game’s concept
more than any strict rules to be enjoyed. It is likely that the
scoring system varied as much as the width and length of the board,
and
none of
this
would have been strictly recorded. The rules presented here are
mere suggestions and players will have just as much fun inventing
their own
games.
Skittles
Nine conical pins in oak, eight 9 inches high and one king pin 12 inches high, all approximately 3 inches diameter at the base and two wooden balls in beech approximately 3 inches diameter. Skittles and two balls - £45 |
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Table skittles
Price £18 |
Known
from the mid-1600’s table skittles were a popular indoor
diversion. The ten skittles were placed at one end of a long
table in a triangular pattern. Each player had two attempts to
knock down as many as possible with either small wooden balls
(supplied) or spinners.Quoits
Eight hemp rope quoits and a single wooden pin on a base. Quoits and wooden pin - £25 |
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