No matter what part of British history you look at, there is evidence that people weren’t short of things to do to keep them entertained, no matter how limited their finances and despite non-existent technology.
From the Middle Ages onwards, if you were royal or noble – which is to say rich – you typically had plenty of time on your hands to dedicate to hunting, gambling, and parlour games. The working classes had a lot less free time: clocking off, weekends and annual leave are all relatively modern concepts. But that didn’t mean they never found the time to roll some dice or kick a pig’s bladder about.
Games and activities often denote class – that was the case hundreds of years ago and it is the case now – while others are universally inviting, whether played in a workhouse or at Court. Some were cruel and violent, others endearingly silly. But all, from gambling to jigsaw puzzles, give us fascinating insight
