A long history of marbles: Pop Maynard in the ring
When: 6th April 2012 (Good Friday), 10.30am – 5pm
Where: The Greyhound, Tinsley Green, West Sussex
What is it?
Tinsley Green in Sussex is known as the home of marbles. When the present day Greyhound pub at Tinsley Green was built by The Mellersh and Neale Brewery, three marbles rings were set in the grounds. This was to enable the continuation of a tradition of marbles, which had been played at the original Greyhound pub since the game’s revival in 1932. The first of the revival matches took place on Good Friday. This was the last day of the Sussex Marbles Season, as well as being the day locally to plant potatoes.
The present day game: Expert player Zachary takes a shot
In 1938 the Meux Brewery Company, who had taken over the Greyhound, introduced a silver cup for the Championships. The same cup is still awarded to winning teams. The Marbles Championships was a focal point of village life back then and so it continues to be today.
In the 1940s an International Championships was introduced, the first of which attracted competition from the Americans. Since then there have been players from France, Germany and Japan amongst others.
For the uninitiated, the object of the game is to knock one or more marbles off the ring by projecting a tolley (small glass or ceramic sphere) against them.
The Championships seem to appeal to everyone; men, women and children, aged from 8 to 80. So why not put the Wii controller down and head to the Greyhound in Tinsley Green for some traditional fun?
More info: www.greyhoundmarbles.com