All forms of Skittles (except Table Skittles) feature projectiles being propelled from one end of an alley in an effort to knock down nine pins stood in a square at the other end. That is about all that many of the games do have in common, though, and over the years, Skittles developed regional variations in skittle size and shape, skittle alley length, use of a kingpin, size and shape of the balls/cheeses and the rules began to vary quite radically across England. (From Skittles - History and Useful Information)
The Global Game
All about Skittles
About Skittles
The alleys are in various clubs/pubs with no particular surface and can
be quite uneven down the length of the alley - the balls are pitched
down the alley so they land on or just before a pin. the balls are of
varying sizes/materials (the most popular being wood but some alleys
have aluminium and plastic) depending on location but they are about 4"
in diameter and say 5" long.
The History of Skittles
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Origin of Skittles
From Masters Games
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Pepys' Diary - Ninepins
Discussion around ninepins mentioned in Samuel Pepys' Diary Monday, 23 April 1660 including: - "The Kingpin" -The centre pin of the diamond of 9 pins literally the 'main character'."there is a picture in the pyramids of people throwing balls/stones at sticks stuck upright in the sand"
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Skittles Online Guide
"There are two 14th century manuscripts which show a game called club Kayles (from the French "quilles" or skittles) and which depict a skittles game in which one skittle is bigger, differently shaped, and in most cases positioned so as to be the most difficult to knock over" Read on.....
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Brief History of London Skittles
"Some maintain that coloured pins were used, denoting different members of the Royal Court and each having differing values. Others show evidence of Low Country origin, such as 'Dutch pins' or games akin to 'Kegel' from Germany and 'Quilles' from France. Both the objects thrown and the objects hit vary from the thigh bones of various animals to logs of wood ('loggats' in Shakespeare). London Skittles...."
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Online Guide to Nine-Pins
History, Games being played today, with pictures of different shapes of skittles from different areas.
Skittles Rules
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Masters Games
Skittles Rules; Traditional West Country and Long Ally (the first 25 feet or so from the bowlers mark can be cobbles or any other rough ground because the ball or cheese never strikes this surface); Play details
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Rules and Scoring
From Sarnia, Gernsey.
Skittles Equipment
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Leisure Products
Supply all the equipment, including scorecards and mobile skittle allies and provide resources for building a skittle ally.
Skittles in Europe
Skittles in United Kingdom
Play/Watch Skittles in the United Kingdom
Skittles Competitions in the United Kingdom
Amateur Skittles in the United Kingdom
Skittles in England
Play/Watch Skittles in England
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Gloucestershire Skittles
Rules, alley layout and brief history
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London Skittles
(Hampstead)Unlike other forms of alley skittles it is played not with a ball but a cheese, which is thrown (not rolled) at the pins; where to play, how to play -the alley, the cheese, the game, FAQ, Links, history
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Cheltenham Skittles League
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Weymouth and Portland
News, cup and leagues information
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Stroud and District
Faq, message board, matching players and teams, calendar, rules, tables
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Evesham and District Skittle League
Divisions 1 to 5 clubs and tables
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Cybernetics
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Devizes
Events, leagues, fixtures, weekend breaks
Skittles Organisational bodies in England
Skittles Competitions in England
Skittles News in England
Skittles in Wales
Play/Watch Skittles in Wales
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