Pall mall ball and mallets

Title

Pall mall ball and mallets

Description

These mallets and ball were used to play a game called pall mall, which involved hitting the ball down a green playing field and through an iron hoop. The game was popular in England in the late 1600s and continued to be played into the early 1800s. This set is probably from the mid to late 1700s. The playing fields for the game were called Malls; the term came to be used for all long, open grassy areas where people walked or played.

Source

The British Museum, Online Collection. View original.

Coverage

Appearance

The ball is made of boxwood. The mallets are made of wooden hammers bound on each end by an iron ring. The long, thin handles of the mallets are wrapped with leather.

Size

The ball is 5.3 centimeters (2 inches) in diameter and weighs 160.05 grams (roughly a third of a pound). The mallets are 110.5 centimeters (43.5 inches) long.

Description

These mallets and ball were used to play a game called pall mall, which involved hitting the ball down a green playing field and through an iron hoop. The game was popular in England in the late 1600s and continued to be played into the early 1800s. This set is probably from the mid to late 1700s. The playing fields for the game were called Malls; the term came to be used for all long, open grassy areas where people walked or played.

Coverage

Pre-1800s

Source

The British Museum, Online Collection. View original.