Bar Skittles Spares

Table Skittles Lignum Vitae ball (45mm diam. Hole through it and recess for knot)

Approx dimensions: approx. 55g

Ball for Jaques Home Table Skittles

Ball for Jaques League Table Skittles

Ball (birch) and chain for 2 x 1 foot hand-made Oak Table Skittles (chain length customisable)

Approx dimensions: 38mm diameter ball, 100cm chain

Ball (hardwood) and chain for 3 x 2 foot Table Skittles (chain length customisable)

Approx dimensions: 50mm diameter ball, 120cm chain

Set of 9 pins for Jaques Home Table Skittles

Approx dimensions: 90mm high

Set of 9 pins for Jaques League Table Skittles

Approx dimensions: 90mm high

9 Table Skittles pins (Oak, hollowed bottoms for 2 x 1 foot hand-made Table Skittles)

Approx dimensions: 95mm high, diameter 30mm, base 20mm diameter

9 Table Skittles pins (Oak, customised - customer to supply height, mid-diameter, end diameter, and base type - hollows or flat)

Pole, ball race and chain for Jaques League Table Skittles (ball not incl.)

Pole, ball race and chain for Jaques Home Table Skittles (ball not incl.)

Brass chain, swivel and connecting parts for 3 x 2 foot Oak Table Skittles (ball not incl.)

The Origin of Table Skittles

Skittles or Nine Pins as played on an alley is still one of the most popular pub games and is the ancestor of a number of games including ten-pin bowling.  However, it does take up a lot of space and so it's no surprise that miniaturised versions of the pastime eventually started to appear.  

Just like alley skittles itself, different miniaturised versions of the game are particular to certain regions of Britain - Hood skittles is popular in and around Northamptonshire whereas Daddlums has only ever been found in Kent.  But the most popular and well known table-top version of Skittles pictured above, was invented sometime in the 18th century.  Known variously as Table Skittles, Bar Skittles and Pub Skittles it also goes by the name "Devil amongst the Tailors".   The latter name came about in the year 1783 during which the Theatre Royal, Haymarket ran a play that, for some reason, offended the tailoring profession so much that a group of tailors and theatre-goers rioted at the theatre one day.  This upset caused the Dragoons to be summoned to restore public order and, upon arrival, the Dragoons were reported to have ploughed through the rioting tailors like a wooden ball through table skittles.  And the game has been known as "Devil amongst the Tailors" ever since.

To prepare each nine miniature pins are positioned on a small platform within the square game board.  In the corner of the board, stands a pole with a ball suspended by a chain from its top.  The ball is swung around the pole in such a way that upon its return, it ploughs through nine skittles on a platform.  Aside from the equipment and the location on a table top, the rules are pretty much the same as skittles with the maximum theoretical score in one turn being 27 points.   As with several pub games, scoring is often performed on a cribbage board.

You can learn more about the History of Table Skittles from The Online Guide to Traditional Games.