When was croquet popular

From the pages of Alice in Wonderland to the sprawling greens of Downton Abbey , the British and their multi-hued croquet sets have been entertaining Americans for generations.

But how did a genteel game of mallets, wickets and wooden balls capture the imaginations of us folk across the pond, known for a more spirited brand of sportsmanship? The first recorded game of croquet ever recorded occurred in Gloucestershire, England in the s, around the time the All England Croquet Club was formed at Wimbledon outside London.

In his book Sports and Pastimes of the People of England , Joseph Strutt describes the way pall-mall was played in England in the early 17th century.

His description is not far off from the rules of the modern game. It is to be observed, that there are two of these arches, that is one at either end of the alley. Others claim croquet to be of Irish origin or possibly derived from a form of ground billiards, played in Western Europe since the 14th century. The level of physical activity involved in Croquet allows the players to chat and socialise between shots while they rest, and enjoy the game as a fun and social activity as opposed to a strenuous sport.

When buying a croquet set, choose one that would allow you to progress as you master the game. There are also 6 player sets available for larger families or events. Our Blog. Our Story. T's and C's. My Cart Items: items Value:.

View Menu. Croquet illustrates hoops run from circles rounding them on a square court with 4 baulks, 6 hoops and 2 pegs 1st below fifth hoop, 2nd above sixth hoop. The end game involved a peg-out at the peg below the fifth hoop. As croquet grew in popularity, so clubs were formed. A need to coordinate the activities of a growing number of clubs led to the formation of The Croquet Association CA in ; it remains today the national governing body for the sport in England and produces the Laws of Croquet for both Association and Golf.

The introduction of lawn tennis in challenged the popularity of croquet, but croquet continued to be played and perhaps benefited from the higher standards of lawn care that tennis demanded. Lawn mowers, first invented in , improved and evolved to suit the leisure market. The first official croquet competition was played in National, international and world championships continue to maintain the profile of the sport, while regional federations coordinate its development, including running croquet leagues.