FRIENDLY SONS
SHUFFLEBOARD
 | |
|
HISTORY
The original English ancestor of most of the games involving shoving discs of some sort on a table was called Shove-board and later Shovel-board. Popular in Tudor times, Shovelboard was played by the English upper classes on enormous narrow tables as long as 30 feet (9 metres). Players shoved metal weights down the tables, attempting to get them as near to the other end of the table without falling off. Presumably, the game is a formalized version of a pastime played on the long dining tables of the upper classes after dinner. One of the earliest references is from the Royal Privy Expenses of 1532 which show that Henry VIII lost £9 to Lord William at Shovelboard. Meanwhile, the subjects of this great King were banned from playing this and most other recreational games - an even earlier reference purportedly of 1522 says "None of the society shall play at the game called Shoffe boorde or Slypgrote".
By the 1800's Shovelboard had been abandoned by the aristocracy and nowadays, Shovelboard tables are confined to museums in England but it's direct descendant Shove Ha'penny still thrives and major derivatives also developed in Europe and in America.
LINKS
Zieglerworld Supplies (N.J. Based)
