Here is some pretty odd footage from British Pathe in the 1930s

Woolston Lawn Billiards

& Bat-and-Trap Society

Here is some pretty odd footage from British Pathe in the 1930s

What is Lawn Billiards, then?

It’s oldIt’s harder than it looksIt’s competitiveIt’s convivial, andIt’s a great excuse to:

SocialiseWear great clothesAnd drink tea and other Delicious

Beverages

Lawn Billiards is many things:

The game is played as singles, each person playing their 2 balls alternately, or as doubles, each player controlling a single ball.

The objective of the game is to be the first to score a set number of

points, typically 21.

Points are scored viz: 1 point propelling the ball directly through the hoop 2 points propelling the ball directly through the hoop from

the shoe (the starting strip). 2 points propelling the ball through the hoop off a

cannon (first striking another ball). This only counts if the 2 balls involved start at more than 1 cue length apart.

To start, each ball is played from the shoe into the playing area and the

balls continue to be played in the same order, thereafter.

Rules of the Game

Here is the court:

… and here is a cue and a ball

Photo courtesy of Paul Robinson of the Hampstead Lawn Billiards and Skittles Society, last known place where the game was played.

Alrighty, so what is Bat-and-Trap?

Pitch & Equipment 1. The game shall be played on a grass pitch, 21

yards long and 13 feet 6 inches wide, marked with lines along each side. Across the width, the line at one end is the bowling line, and at the other, the batting line.

2. A pair of triangles of suitable construction is required. They will have a hole in the centre, into which a pole is inserted, 7 feet high measured from ground level. The triangles are set at the bowling end, on each side of the pitch, with the base on the bowling line, and the apex pointing along the sideline.

The Rules of Bat-and-Trap:

The Rules of Bat-and-Trap:This is the pitch, approximately the length

of a cricket pitch

… and this is the shoe. The trap is the target area in the front.


Very simply, knock the ball the length of the pitch. If you’re caught, you’re out.

The fielders bowl underarm at the trap, if they knock it down, the batter is out.

If the bowlers miss, the batter scores one run and goes again.

Once the batting team is all out, the fielders go in.

The winner is the best of three innings.


We have our games, now what?

Form a society!Elect officersApprove a constitutionApply to be registered

Find somewhere to playParks manager Martin McGregor has found a

couple of areas at Woolston Park at the Richardson Tce entrance.

…and here it is!

Joining fee $ 50.00Annual Pittance $ 20.00Club blazers (each) $

420.00Club trousers (each) $

68.00Club caps (each) $

20.00Club helmets (each) $

35.00

TOTAL $ 433.00

How much will that be?

President-For-LifePrinciple Despot of the Society

Temporary SecretaryChief Administration Officer of the Society

Master of the TreasuryChief Financial Officer of the Society

President of ViceMost Thankless and Pointless position in the Society

Equipment Master & GroundskeeperThere’s a bit of equipment… a bit of ground…

someone needs to look after it

Officers of the Society

3.0 Purposes of Society3.1 The Purposes of the Society are to:

Promote Lawn Billiards & Bat-and-Trap as Sports and Genteel Pursuits;

Promote Gentility, Politeness, Elegant Attire, the Taking of Tea and other Delicious Beverages, Gaiety, Fun and Civil Society;

Provide Instructions in the Rules and Skills of Lawn Billiards & Bat-and-Trap;

Do anything necessary or helpful to the above Purposes

3.2 Pecuniary gain is not a Purpose of the Society.

Rules of the Society

27.0 Winding up27.1 If the Society is wound up:

The Society’s debts, costs & liabilities shall be paid; Surplus Money & Other Assets of the Society may be disposed of:(i) By Resolution; or(ii) According to the provisions in the Incorporated

Societies Act 1908; but no distribution may be made to any Member;

The surplus Money and Other Assets shall be distributed to:(i) [(stipulate one or more organisations or Purposes].)

Rules of the Society

Documents

Here is some pretty odd footage from British Pathe in the 1930s