The history of the game can be traced back, alongside other similar games, to Ancient Egypt and perhaps beyond. Other ancient references include both Greek and Roman examples as well as the Lydians of Southern Turkey.
No one bowling game can claim to be the only game with an absolute pedigree. Bowls, skittles in various forms, ten pin bowling and a host of other games where an object is thrown at a set of pins or balls could all be descended from some of the games played in the ancient world.
Regarding its history in England, there are once again competing arguments as to origin and provenance. Variations have been described in both literature and in books on the games and pastimes of this country.
Some maintain that coloured pins were used, denoting different members of the Royal Court and each having differing values. Others show evidence of Low Country origin, such as 'Dutch pins' or games akin to 'Kegel' from Germany and 'Quilles' from France. Both the objects thrown and the objects hit vary from the thigh bones of various animals to logs of wood ('loggats' in Shakespeare).
The London game, also known as Old English Skittles, may have been brought over by seafarers from the Netherlands. Certainly the pubs where it was played were clustered about the River Thames.
The game was formalised towards the end of the nineteenth century with club constitutions being drawn up and an Amateur Skittles Association being formed. The heyday of London Skittles was between the wars when large numbers of clubs played in competitions.
Now for your skills...
You may only move two pencils, and you must end up, with the same 'spade' form, but with the matchbox... outside of the form.
Hahahaha...I did not succeed ...instead opened the link :)))) ...but it is late after midnight ...so try again later..or if the table would be larger it would be easy :) Great about and info! Ciao Ursula
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{K:14261} 1/17/2005
